FAQ Foreigners' China Work Permits and Certificates (2025 version)

1. What department is responsible for the implementation of foreigners' work permits system in Nanjing, China?

Answer: The Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology is responsible for the implementation of the foreigners' work permits, and Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs is responsible for the specific organization and implementation. Nanjing municipal employers submit business applications to the Nanjing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau. The business acceptance point is located at windows A314 and A315 on the first floor of the Nanjing Municipal Government Service Center, No. 265 Jiangdong Middle Road, Jianye District. Consultation hotline is 68505314 and 68505315.

Provincial (ministerial) employers stationed in Nanjing submit business applications to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology. The business acceptance point is located at window RC04, Zone C, Jiangsu Provincial Government Center, No. 145 Hanzhongmen Street, Nanjing City. Consultation hotline is 83666281.
Employers registered in Jiangbei New Area (including Nanjing Free Trade Zone) shall submit business applications to the Science and Technology Innovation and Big Data Management Bureau of Nanjing Jiangbei New Area Management Committee. The business acceptance point is located at windows B17 and B22 of the International Talent Service Center on the 3rd floor of 292 Binjiang Avenue, Jiangbei New Area. Consultation telephone number is 83146818.
Employers registered in the Jiangning District – the Jiangning District Science and Technology Bureau is responsible for accepting application materials. (Acceptance point address: window F01, 3rd floor, Civic Center, No. 2 Yangjiawei Road, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Consultation telephone: 87180602).
Employers registered within Jiangning Development Zone -- the Jiangning Development Zone Science and Technology Talent Bureau is responsible for accepting application materials. (Acceptance point address: 1st floor, Building C1, Jiulonghu International Enterprise Headquarters Park, No. 19 Suyuan Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Consultation hotline: 52110731).

2. What procedures should Nanjing municipal units follow to legally employ foreigners?
Answer: To legally employ foreigners to work in Nanjing, the following procedures should be followed:
(1) Employers log in to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security's National Human Resources and Social Security Service Platform (https://www.12333.gov.cn/), select "Legal Entity User" (法人用户) then submit the required information and materials as prompted. After the system review is approved, select "Employer Service"（用人单位服务）- "Human Resources"（人才人事） - "Foreigners' Work Permits"（外国人来华工作许可）, enter the "Service system for foreigners working in China"（外国人来华工作管理服务系统）, select "Complete User Information"（完善用户资料）, and submit relevant information and materials according to the prompts on the page. After the system review is approved, bring the original and photocopies of the required documents for account registration to windows A314 and A315 on the 1st floor of Nanjing Municipal Government Service Center, No. 265 Jiangdong Middle Road, Jianye District, for real name registration (employers registered in Jiangbei New Area (including Nanjing Free Trade Zone) should go to the Jiangbei New Area acceptance point for processing);

(2) The employer applies to Nanjing Science and Technology Bureau for the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit in China ;

(3) Foreigners can apply for work visas from Chinese embassies and consulates abroad on the strength of the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit in China and other necessary materials;

(4) After foreigners enter China with a work visa, they can scan the QR code information on the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit in China, register then obtain the electronic social security card loaded with work permit information;

(5) Within 30 days after entering China with a work visa, foreigners shall apply to the Exit-Entry Administration Branch of the Nanjing Public Security Bureau for a foreigner's work residence permit.

3. What materials should the employer submit when applying for a Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit in China for a foreigner to be hired?
(1) Application Form For Foreigner's Work Permit. This form is printed online through the application system, signed by the applicant, and chopped with the employer's official seal.

（2）Proof of Work Experience Certificate. The applicant's previous employer must issue a proof of work experience certificate related to the current position, including the job title, duration of employment, or projects previously undertaken. The document must bear the official seal of the employer or the signature of the unit's responsible person, and include the contact information of the certifier (or contact person).
For foreign high-end talents (Category A) who meet the “Classification Standards for Foreigners Working in China”, specifically those who (I) have been selected for domestic talent programs or (II) meet internationally recognized standards for professional achievements, the proof of work experience may be submitted under a commitment-based system.

(3) The applicant's highest degree (educational background) certificate or relevant approval document, professional qualification certificate.
The highest degree (education) certificate obtained abroad should be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, or by the embassy or consulate of the country where the applicant obtained the degree (education), or by a Chinese academic accreditation agency.
The highest degree (educational) certificate obtained in the Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan region should be certified by a Chinese academic certification agency or notarized by a notary public in the region where it is located.
The highest degree (diploma) certificate obtained within China shall only provide the original diploma (diploma) certificate.
According to the laws and regulations of China, if it is required to obtain pre-approval from the industry regulatory department or possess the corresponding professional qualifications for admission in China, the approval document or professional qualification certificate from the industry regulatory department should be provided. (For example: foreign enterprise representative offices in Nanjing, chief representatives and representatives of overseas non-governmental organizations, presidents of foreign banks, foreign doctors, foreign pilots, etc.).
Among them, foreign high-end talents (Class A) in line with the “Classification Standards for Foreigners Working in China” (1) have been selected into relevant domestic talent plans;（2）Meets internationally recognized professional achievement recognition standards;（3）Foreign talents who meet the needs of market-oriented and encouraged jobs;
For innovative and entrepreneurial talents, the highest degree (education) certificate adopts a commitment system.

(4) Proof of no criminal record for the applicant.
The applicant's certificate of no criminal record should be issued by the police, security, court and other departments of the applicant's country of nationality or habitual residence, and authenticated by a Chinese embassy/consulate abroad or foreign embassies or consulates in China. “Frequent residence” refers to the country or region where the applicant has resided continuously for more than one year after leaving their country of nationality, excluding those within the territory of China. The issuance of a criminal record should be within 6 months.
The certificate of no criminal record issued by the applicant in the Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan should be notarized by the notary public in their respective regions.
The non-sworn criminal record issued by the diplomatic missions (including foreign embassies and consulates in China) is accepted and no longer authenticated.
The sworn criminal record that only declares that the applicant has no crime is not accepted.
The criminal record certificate of foreign high-end talents (Class A) adopts the commitment system.

(5) Medical examination certificate.
The physical examination record verification certificate or health examination certificate for overseas personnel issued by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution, or the physical examination certificate issued by overseas health and medical institutions recognized by Chinese inspection and quarantine institutions, shall be issued within 6 months. The health examination institution for overseas personnel in Nanjing is Jiangsu International Travel Health Care Center (address: 39 Chuangzhi Road).
Before entry, a commitment system can be adopted, and after entry, a physical examination record verification certificate or health examination certificate for overseas personnel issued by the domestic inspection and quarantine institution in China can be supplemented.

(6) Employment contract or employment certificate (including multinational company dispatch letter).

Provide a Chinese contract, signed by the applicant and chopped with the company seal, and no alterations are allowed. The employment contract or employment certificate (including the multinational company dispatch letter) should include the work location, job content, salary, working hours in China, position, and necessary information on the chopped page (signature).
The employment certificate is applicable to personnel who execute agreements or agreements between governments and international organizations, chief representatives and representatives of various representative offices in China, and overseas contract service providers. If the employment certificate (including dispatch letter) lacks necessary content, a separate certificate must be issued to supplement the explanation.
The applicable situation for dispatch letters is for multinational corporations or regional headquarters to dispatch senior management personnel such as managers and professional technical personnel from overseas to work in domestic subsidiaries or branches, issued by the multinational corporation headquarters or regional headquarters.
If a multinational corporation dispatches senior management personnel such as managers and professional technicians from its headquarters in China to work in its domestic subsidiaries or branches, a dispatch letter and an employment contract signed with the multinational corporation's headquarters in China shall be submitted.

(7) Applicant's passport or international travel document.
The validity period of the passport shall not be less than 6 months.

(8) If there are accompanying family members, the following supporting documents should be provided.

• Accompanying family members' passport (or international travel document) information page.
• Proof of family relationship (spouse marriage certificate, child birth certificate or adoption certificate, parents or spouse parents applicant birth certificate or marriage certificate or notarized certificate).
• Medical examination report (for family members over 18 years old) and electronic photos.

Note: All non-Chinese materials mentioned above require a Chinese translation with the official seal of the translation company, except for passports or international travel documents. The original materials and Chinese translations should be uploaded to the processing system electronically. If the nationality of a foreign applicant changes, he/she shall reapply for the foreigner's work permit in China.

4. What materials should the employer submit to apply for a work permit extension for the intended foreign employee?
Answer:
(1) Application Form for Extension of Foreigner's Work Permit. This form should be printed online through the application system, signed by the applicant, and chopped with the official seal of the employer.

(2) Applicant's passport, including the information page, visa page, the most recent entry stamp page, or the page with valid residence permit information.

(3) Employment contract.

5. What materials should the employer submit to apply for changes to the foreigner's work permit information?
Answer:
(1) Application Form for Change of Foreigner's Work Permit . This form should be printed online through the application system, signed by the applicant, and stamped with the official seal of the employer.

(2) Supporting documents for the requested changes.

Note: If changes occur to the applicant's personal information (such as name, passport number, position, or category), the employer must submit the application to the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology within 10 working days from the date of the change.

6 What materials should the employer submit to apply for the cancellation of a foreigner's work permit upon termination of the employment relationship?
Answer:
(1) Application Form for Cancellation of Foreigner's Work Permit . This form should be printed online through the application system, signed by the applicant, and stamped with the official seal of the employer.

(2) Original supporting documents for the termination of the employment relationship, contract termination, or other reasons for cancellation. The termination of the employment relationship or contract must be signed by both parties.

Note:
A foreigner's work permit in China will be automatically canceled if its validity period expires without renewal.
If the permit is revoked, withdrawn, or invalidated according to the law, it will be canceled by the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology.
If the applicant dies, loses capacity for civil conduct, or terminates the contract or employment relationship prematurely, the employer must apply for cancellation with the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology within 10 working days from the date of the occurrence.
If the employer is terminated, the applicant may apply to the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology for cancellation of the work permit.