teach English<\/a>) or provide a Ph.D. degree (if, for instance, you want to become a university professor).<\/p>\nThe logic behind this rule is the following: you have to prove that you are useful to China by bringing some skills and expertise that the country needs. If you can’t do anything, why should a Chinese company hire you instead of a Chinese person?<\/p>\n
So, if your employer is accredited to employ foreigners and you qualify as a foreign expert, it can apply for your Foreigner\u2019s Work Permit<\/p>\n
The work Visa also allows you to bring your wife, husband, or children to China. They will only need to provide a marriage or birth certificate. However, your family members can’t legally work unless they get their own Z Visa. <\/p>\n
What information does the invitation letter have to contain?<\/h2>\n
The invitation letter<\/strong> should contain:<\/p>\n\n- Information on the applicant<\/strong>: Full name, gender, date of birth, passport number, etcetera;<\/li>\n
- Information on the planned visit<\/strong>: The purpose of the visit, arrival, and departure dates, travel itinerary, the relationship between the applicant and the inviting entity or individual, the source of funds for expenditures;<\/li>\n
- Information on the inviting entity or individual<\/strong>: name, contact telephone number, address in China, the signature of the inviting individual or of the legal representative (if you\u2019ve been invited by a company), and an official stamp (if you\u2019ve been invited by a company).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
An invitation letter may only be issued by a Chinese citizen, a foreign citizen with a Chinese Resident Permit who lives in China or a Chinese entity (for instance a Chinese company or trade fair).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve been invited by an individual, he\/she must also attach a copy of his\/her Chinese ID or a copy of his\/her passport and Resident Permit<\/strong> (if he\/she is not a Chinese citizen). Note that if you’re applying for a Q Visa, the inviting individual must be a Chinese citizen or hold a Permanent Resident permit (Temporary Resident Permits are not allowed for Q Visa application invitation letters). <\/p>\nIn the case you\u2019ve been invited by an individual, he\/she shall also attach a copy of his\/her Chinese ID or a copy of his\/her passport and Resident Permit<\/strong> (if his\/her is not a Chinese citizen). Notice that if you’re applying for a Q Visa, the inviting individual must be a Chinese citizen or hold a Permanent Resident permit (Temporary Resident Permits are not allowed, for Q Visa application invitation letters). <\/p>\nIf you\u2019ve been invited by a Chinese entity, the company\u2019s business license<\/strong> – or other applicable documents – must be attached to the invitation letter. <\/p>\nFinally, if you\u2019re applying for a Z visa, the Invitation Letter must be issued by a \u201cDuly Authorized Unit\u201d; in other words, your Chinese employer must have a permit to hire foreign workers.<\/p>\n
What Visas must be converted into a Resident Permit once I enter China and how do so?<\/h2>\n
Be aware that D, J1, Q1, S1, X1, and Z Visas are only valid for 30 days<\/strong> starting from the day you enter China. Then you should transform them into a Temporary Resident Permit (or Permanent Resident Permit, in the case you’ve been granted a D Visa) at the PSB (Public Security Bureau Entry and Exit Administration Office). Your employer\/school should help you to do so, at least in the case of Z and X1 Visas.<\/p>\nIn order to get the Resident Permit, which must be renewed each year, you will have to provide a bunch of documents and a Health Certificate issued by China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau or HK public hospitals. <\/p>\n
![\"Chinese](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/chinese-visa-application.jpg\")
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How do I read a Chinese Visa?<\/h2>\n
With respect to the image above:<\/p>\n
\n- Visa Category<\/strong>: For instance, L Visa is a tourist Visa while Z Visa is a working Visa (see the table above for reading the explanations of each category);<\/li>\n
- Expiration Date<\/strong>: You must enter China before this date or the Visa expires;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Issue Date<\/strong>: This is the date on which the Visa was released. As you can see, the Visa on the photo had a validity of six months (from 29 May to 29 November);<\/li>\n
- Full Name<\/strong>: Your full name;<\/li>\n
- Date of Birth<\/strong>: Your date of birth;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Number of Entries<\/strong>: The number of times that you can enter and exit China with the same Visa. “1” means that you have a single entry Visa; that is once you exit China the first time the Visa becomes invalid (going to Hong Kong or Macau counts as an exit); “2” means that you can enter and exit China twice before the Visa becomes invalid; “M” means that you can enter and exit China as many times as you want, as long as your Visa is still valid and you don’t overstay it (see point 7);<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Duration of Each Stay<\/strong>: The number of days that you can stay in China after each entry; if for instance, you have a double entry Visa with the duration of each stay equal to 30 days, you must exit China within 30 days after your first entry; afterward you can enter China a second time (you must enter before the date of expiration) and you can stay for other 30 days. Notice that for Visas that require a Resident Permit (D, J1, Q1, S1, X1, and Z Visa), the duration is often 000. This means that you have 30 days starting from the date of entry to apply for your Resident Permit; if you fail to do so, the Visa will expire; <\/li>\n
- Place of Issue<\/strong>: The place where the Visa was issue;<\/li>\n
- Passport Number<\/strong>: Your passport number.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Can I extend\/change my Visa once I enter China?<\/h2>\n
Yes, you can require to extend or change your Visa at the PSB (Public Security Bureau Entry and Exit Administration Office) at least 7 days before the date of expiration of your Visa. However, there is no guarantee whatsoever that the PSB will accept your Visa extension or change request (they’ll decide case by case, according to your nationality, your situation, and the documents you’ll provide).<\/p>\n
What happens if I overstay my Visa?<\/h2>\n
The law states that for illegal residence of aliens, a warning shall be given; in serious cases, a penalty of 500 CNY per day shall be imposed on an illegal residence, not to exceed a total of 10,000 CNY, or a detention period shall be between 5 and 15 days.<\/p>\n
As usual, Chinese law is somewhat vague and it’s difficult to assess what a “serious case” is. Our suggestion is to avoid any overstay and always exit the country before the visa expires. <\/p>\n
![\"Chinese](\"https:\/\/www.saporedicina.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/chinese-visa.jpg\")
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