Work Visa (Z-visa) is issued to a foreign citizen who is to take up a post or employment in China and his or her accompanying family members, or to give commercial performances in China.

    i.Please provide the following documents:

    (i) Original passport which has more than 6 months left before it expires from the date of application and sufficient blank visa pages (18 months and more left if intended stay in China is more than one year).

    (ii) One completed Visa Application Form (e-Form / Download) with a recently-taken passport photo. All the items on the application form should be fully filled in with genuine information; if the applicant has a Chinese name, the Chinese name should be filled in; false or incomplete information and illegible characters may lead to refusal of a visa.

    (iii) Employment Approval Documents required:

         (A) Foreigners who come to China to take up employment as experts, scholars, teachers, managerial personnel and as personnel working in related state or local organizations should provide:

         1. Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China(original) issued by the State  Bureau of Foreign Experts (original);

         2. A visa notification form (should be used within 6 months since its issuing date) issued by an authorized unit in China (original).

         (B) Foreign technical personnel who come to China for Offshore petroleum operations should provide：Letter of Invitation to Foreigners for Offshore Petroleum Operations in China issued by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (original);

         (C) Chief representative or representative of foreign offices resident in China should provide:

         1. The registration certificate of resident representative office of foreign (regional) enterprises issued by related administrative department of industry and commerce; OR The approval document for the resident representative offices of foreign enterprises issued by related commercial departments.

         2. A visa notification form (should be used within 6 months since its issuing date) issued by an authorized unit in China (original). 

         (D) Personnel who come to China to implement aid or technical cooperative projects should provide:

         1. Bilateral or multilateral agreement between the Chinese Government and foreign government or international organization, for cooperation and exchange;

         2. A visa notification form (should be used within 6 months since its issuing date) issued by an authorized unit in China (original).

         (E) Personnel who come to China for commercial performance should provide:

         1. Approval document (also copy) issued by the Ministry of Culture or the Cultural Department of related province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government;

         2. A visa notification form (should be used within 6 months since its issuing date) issued by the Ministry of Culture or the foreign affairs office of related province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the Central Government.

         (F) Personnel other than those mentioned above should provide:

         1. The Employment Permit for Foreigners issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security;

         2. A visa notification form (should be used within 6 months since its issuing date) issued by an authorized unit in China (original).

         (G) Accompanying family dependents of personnel working in China should provide related note, letter or visa notification (should be used within 6 months since its issuing date) issued by an authorized unit and documents proving their status as dependents.

    ii.Method and Time for Submission of Application

    (i) Method: An applicant may submit his or her visa application to the Centre in person or entrusts someone or a travel agent to submit on his or her behalf. You should make an online appointment in advance via the Centre's website before submission. If you select to apply by post, you need to follow Guidelines on Postal Application in addition to preparing for all the documents provided for above. You may be required to go to the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General for an interview if the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General deems it necessary.  

    (ii)Time: Regular visa processing time is 4 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Thursday. Express visa processing time is 3 working days. For example, customers applying on Monday will pick up their visas on Wednesday. Please note that express service is only available to those customers who submit applications to the visa counter before 12:00 at noon, Monday to Friday. Therefore, if you request express service, please select the time slot before 12:00 at noon for submission when making an online appointment.  

    iii.Schedule of fees, period of validity and duration of stay

    (i) Pay visa and service fees when collecting passport;

    (ii) You may select cash or debit card when making payment;

    (iii)Schedule of visa Fees and Service Fees (Unit: British Pound):

  

Fee category		Amount
		UK Citizen	US Citizen	Third Country Citizen
Visa  Fees	Single entry	30	70	20
	Double entries	45	70	30
	Multiple entries / 6Months	90	70	40
	Multiple entries / 1 year	150	70	60
	Extra visa fee (3rd working day collection)	15 (if you apply for Express service)
Application  Service  Fees	Regular Service (4th working day collection)	35.25 (VAT inclusive)
	Express Service (3rd working day collection)	47.00 (VAT inclusive)
	Postal Service  (apply by post)	52.88 (VAT inclusive)

Notes:
    1. The total amount of the fees to be paid by an applicant = visa fees + application service fees.
    2. Visa Fees are collected on behalf of the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate General;Application Service Fees are charged by the Centre.
    3. We do not provide either same day service or next day service. 4 working days regular service and 3 working days express service are available for applications submitted directly to the Centre. Postal applications will be processed and returned within 5 to 14 working days assuming the documentation is in good order and no further requirements are necessary .
    4. Cash or debit card can be accepted. ( For postal applications debit card only )

      (iv) Z-visa issued by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General is usually with a single entry, valid for 3 months and with no duration of stay（that is 000 day of stay）. Holders of work visa should go through the formalities for a residence permit at a local public security bureau within 30 days after entry into China, to avoid illegal stay in China. The period of validity of the residence permit is its holder's duration of stay in China. 

    (v) Consular officers decide on the visa's period of validity, duration of stay and number of entry in the light of China's laws and regulations.

    (vi) Whether a visa is to be issued or not to be issued, and what type of visa to be issued shall be decided by Consular officers in the light of China’s relevant laws and regulations.

    iv.Please note：

    (i) Please apply for a visa about one month in advance of your intended date of entry into China, and do not apply 3 months earlier than your intended date of entry into China. You should take upon yourself any consequences resulting from your failure to submit visa application at an appropriate time, which may lead to either your already-issued visa becoming expired or it would be too late to get a visa before your planned departure date.   

    (ii) The visa application form should be fully filled in and signed by the applicant upon completion (application for an applicant under 18 years of age should be signed by one of his or her parents). Items which are not applicable should be filled in with N/A.  

    (iii) Consular officers may request an applicant to provide additional supporting documents when called for. The applicant should provide it as soon as possible.