| rk legally in China, you need the following: | | | | non-invasive, and must be completed within a month of |
| *Z-visa (aka working visa) | | | | your arrival in China. |
| *Foreign Expert/Work Certificate | | | | 3. Foreign Expert/Work Certificate |
| *Residence permit | | | | Approximately a week after receiving the medical |
| BEFORE LEAVING YOUR COUNTRY | | | | report, the Foreign Expert/Work Certificate, or Red |
| Before leaving your country, you need to obtain a | | | | Book, can be issued. |
| Z-visa. The other two certificates are obtained in | | | | 4. Interview with PSB |
| China. | | | | In some cities, you could also be called in for an |
| In order to enter China, you can apply for one of four | | | | interview with the PSB. |
| different types of visas. | | | | 5. Residence permit |
| 1. Working (Z) visa | | | | Finally, your employer can obtain your residence permit |
| 2. Tourist (L) visa | | | | for you. |
| 3. Business (F) visa | | | | You need the Z-visa to enter China, but you need a |
| 4. Student (X) visa | | | | Foreign Expert/Work Certificate and a residence |
| Z-VISA | | | | permit in order to legally work in China. |
| The Z-visa allows you to come into China with the | | | | GENERAL INFORMATION |
| intention to work. It is a single-entry visa that is valid for | | | | In China, the visa process is decentralized, which |
| 30 days after arriving in China. | | | | means that depending on where you live and what |
| In order to be approved for a Z-visa, you will need the | | | | sort of license your employer has, your visa procedure |
| following: | | | | may vary. There are city specific, district specific, and |
| * Letter of invitation from your employer | | | | license specific regulations. |
| * Work permit that your employer obtains on your | | | | In most cases, to extend a Z-visa requires you to |
| behalf | | | | return to your original country. This means if you are |
| * Medical check (in some cases) | | | | currently in China on a different visa, you need to |
| China only issues Z-visas to those they consider to be | | | | return and apply for a new visa in your original country |
| experts in a particular field. For example, being a native | | | | before starting work in China. Some employers will |
| English speaker allows one to teach English in China. | | | | provide airfare compensation. |
| Having a Master’s Degree, quantifiable work | | | | WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW THIS? |
| experience, or professional accreditation also qualifies | | | | To work abroad in any country requires an official |
| you for a Z-visa. | | | | work visa in order to enter. China also requires a visa if |
| To obtain a Z-visa to teach English in China, you must | | | | foreigners plans to visit for tourism or leisure. Without |
| have the following: | | | | the correct documentation, you will be denied entry. If |
| * A university degree | | | | you do not complete the full visa process or work |
| * Professional work experience | | | | without a working, or Z-visa, you and your employer |
| * A teaching English as a foreign language certificate | | | | will both be fined upwards of 50,000 RMB, and you will |
| (TEFL) | | | | be deported. From the moment you enter the country, |
| AFTER ARRIVAL | | | | your identification information will be registered into a |
| 1. Register with the Public Security Bureau (PSB) | | | | national database and tracked. Thus, it is highly |
| After arriving in China, within 48 hours, you need to | | | | recommended that you are familiar with all the visa |
| register with the Public Security Bureau (PSB). | | | | requirements, although they are subject to change |
| 2. Medical Examination | | | | regularly without notice. |
| Next, you need to pass a medical examination. It is | | | | |