China Work Permit Documents Indians Must Give Their Employer

Your employer uses these to obtain the Notification Letter for Foreigner's Work Permit, and you cannot apply for a Z (work) visa in India until that notice exists. The requirements below are as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For China visa fees and centres in general, see our China visa guide for Indians.

What is the full document list for a China work permit?

The employer files everything through the Management and Service System for Foreigners Working in China, on the National Human Resources and Social Security Government Affairs Service Platform (www.12333.gov.cn). The full list is in the Ministry of Commerce guide to working in China.

How must your degree certificates be authenticated?

The guide accepts two routes. Certificates issued in a country that is party to the Apostille Convention are authenticated by apostille. Otherwise they are authenticated by a Chinese embassy or consulate. Confirm with your employer which form the local work-permit authority expects for Indian certificates before you start, because authentication takes time and your employer cannot file without it.

Keep names consistent with your passport. China's general visa checklist asks for a name-change document where names on your documents differ, so sort out any mismatch early.

How do your documents decide your work permit category?

Work permits are graded Category A, B or C. Under the points route, Category A needs at least 85 points and Category B needs 60 to 85 points, according to the Shanghai Municipal Government's August 2026 guide to the national points system. Your documents prove the points:

• Salary paid in China: up to 20 points, from the contract.
• Education: bachelor's 10, master's 15, doctorate 20; only the highest counts.
• Work experience: 5 points for the first two years plus 1 for each additional year, up to 20.
• Chinese-language ability: up to 5 points.
• Age, and extras such as a high-level overseas university or Fortune Global 500 experience (up to 5).

Other provinces may add local bonus points, so your employer's city may score you slightly differently. China publishes no official processing time for the work permit itself.

What do you need for the Z visa once the notice arrives?

With the valid 'Notice for Foreigner's Work Permit' in hand, you apply online and then at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center for your state: New Delhi (most of India), Mumbai (Maharashtra and Karnataka) or Kolkata (Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal). Add the common documents: the online form and confirmation page, your passport valid at least 6 months with 2 or more blank pages, two 48mm x 33mm colour photos, and copies of any earlier Chinese visa.

Z applicants attend an interview at the Embassy for New Delhi jurisdiction, or at the Consulate General in Mumbai or Kolkata if informed, and give fingerprints. The Embassy's fee table for Indian passport holders is set by entries, not visa type:

The Embassy decides the number of entries. Reduced fees apply until 31 December 2026; the express fee (Rs 1,800) or urgent fee (Rs 2,700) and the visa centre's service fee are extra. The Embassy's usual processing is 4 working days regular or 3 express for qualified applications, but the interview can add time.

What happens after you land in China?

If your job lasts no more than 90 days, you work within the time shown on the Z visa. For longer jobs, apply for a residence permit for work within 30 days of entry and work only within the work permit's validity. The residence permit needs your passport, the Foreigner Visa Application Form, a 33x48mm bareheaded colour photo on a white background and documents supporting the purpose. Extensions are requested 30 days before expiry, and a new passport must be updated on the permit within 10 days.

Mistakes to avoid with a China work permit file

• Applying for a Z visa before the work permit notice is issued.
• Travelling on a tourist visa to look for work: the Embassy's visa list has no job-seeker category.
• Sending certificates that are not authenticated.
• Leaving out family documents if your spouse or children will join you.

Work permit filings are made by your employer in China. For family members' tourist trips to China, Yatra For Fun prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters, from INR 1,000 to INR 3,000; WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go to China on a tourist visa and arrange the work permit there?

The Embassy's list of ordinary visa types has no job-seeker category, and the only work visa, Z, requires the employer's work permit notice before you apply. Plan to apply for the Z visa from India once the notice is issued.

How long does a China work permit take?

China publishes no official processing time for the Foreigner's Work Permit itself or for the Z visa interview stage. For qualified Z visa applications, the Embassy's usual processing is 4 working days regular or 3 working days express, plus the interview.

How can my family join me in China?

Family of foreigners working in China apply for S1 (over 180 days) or S2 visas with an invitation letter, a copy of your passport and residence permit, and original and copy of relationship proof such as marriage or birth certificates. Fingerprints are collected for S1 visas.

Are fingerprints needed for a China Z visa?

Yes. The short-term fingerprint exemption, extended to 31 December 2026, does not apply to Z visas; fingerprints are still collected for D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z visas.