Hiring foreigners in China can be daunting and requires careful attention.
Additionally, local regulations can override national provisions, so it is important to understand obligations before any hiring is conducted.
In the below we take a closer look at the administrative steps to hire foreigners.
Employment License
Before foreigners can be hired, employers shall obtain a license to employ foreigners. Therefore, an Application Form for the Employment for Foreigners (‘Application Form’). The procedure involves submitting the below valid documents the relevant industry supervisory department.
Afterwards, the examination and approval, the employer must submit the Application Form for approval to one of the following departments.
- the labour administration department of the province:
- autonomous region or directly administered municipality in which it is located; or
- the prefectural or municipal-level labour administration department.
The application approval is dependent on two factors:
- opinions of the relevant industry supervisory department; and
- demand in the labour market
Consequently, the relevant labour administration department shall specify the agency (the “issuing agency”) to issue the licence.
Employers who falsify, illegal change, falsely use, transfer, trade the Employment License or work permit shall be confiscated of illegal proceeds and a fine between ten thousand and one hundred thousand RMB shall be issued.
Special Provisions
Employers of central government-level or employers from industries which do not have a supervisory department shall directly submit the application to the issuing agency of the relevant labour administration department.
Foreign-funded joint ventures do not require the approval of their respective industry supervisory departments. Instead, they may apply directly to the issuing agency of the relevant labour administration department for the employment license by submitting the contract, articles of association, approval certificates, business licenses and those documents specified in items above.
Work Visa
Approved foreign hires shall apply for the work visa (Z) at the Chinese Embassies, Consulates or offices with permits issued by the Ministry of Labour with a valid passport or equivalent.
Work Permits
Within 15 days of entering China, foreign hires shall sign the labour contract and employers shall obtain the work permit at the original certificate issuing agency.
Residence Permits
Once the work permit is obtained, the residence permit shall be applied at the public security authorities within 30 days after entering China with the work permit. The residence permit shall be valid for the same period as the work permit.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns on employment law and related matters, please contact us at talktous@horizons-advisory.com to schedule a consultation session. Horizons can provide insight, expertise and the right solutions for you
