Z Work Visa (with Foreigner Work Permit and Residence Permit)

Overview

If you have a confirmed job with an employer in mainland China, the Z visa is normally how you get there. It is a three-part process: your employer first obtains a Foreigner Work Permit Notification on your behalf, you then apply for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate, and after you arrive you convert it into a work-type residence permit (usually within 30 days). The residence permit is what lets you live and work long term. Good to know: the official English National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal is partial, and the authoritative detail sits in the Chinese-language State Council regulations on the entry and exit of foreigners, so always confirm the current rule against the official page before you rely on it.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm your job offer is genuine and ask your employer to obtain the Foreigner Work Permit Notification.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather your passport, contract and qualification documents for the visa application.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy or consulate, then enter China.

4. 04

   After approval

   After arrival, finalise the Foreigner Work Permit and apply for the work-type residence permit within the required window.

Matches these professions

Also explored by

Compare People's Republic of China with

• 🇸🇬 Republic of Singapore
• 🇯🇵 Japan
• 🇭🇰 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China

Related routes

• R Talent Visa (high-level and urgently needed talent)

  For you if you are a recognised high-level expert or have skills China urgently needs: the R visa is the talent route, normally used alongside a top-tier Foreigner Work Permit and, after arrival, a residence permit.

• K Visa (young science and technology talent)

  For you if you are a young scientist, engineer or technologist: the K visa is a new route (effective 1 October 2025) that lets eligible STEM talent enter China without a domestic employer first inviting you - but read the honesty note below, because it does not by itself let you work.

• Q Family Reunion Visa (Q1 and Q2)

  For you if you are family of a Chinese citizen or a permanent resident of China: the Q visa is the family-reunion route, with a long-stay Q1 (leading to a residence permit) and a short-stay Q2 for visits.

• Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card)

  For you if you want to settle in China long term: the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card - nicknamed the Five-Star Card - is China's actual permanent residence document, issued by the National Immigration Administration once your permanent-residence application is approved.