How to Hire Foreign Employees in China: A Guide for Employers
A practical employer workflow from candidate screening and the work-permit notice to post-entry work and residence permits.
Published: 2026-11-12 · Updated: 2026-11-12
1. Confirm the employing entity, role and filing city
Before promising a start date, HR should confirm the actual employing entity, work location, job duties and salary. These facts must be assessed together with the candidate's education, relevant experience and current visa or residence status. A strong CV or signed contract does not, by itself, establish permission to work.
2. Screen the candidate before the offer becomes fixed
Collect enough information to identify the likely route and documentary gaps: passport validity, highest degree, relevant work history, criminal-record documentation, health-examination position and current China status. The employer should also check whether the role fits its real business and whether any industry approval is required.
3. Separate the three immigration stages
For an applicant outside China, the employer will commonly apply online for a Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit. The candidate then obtains the appropriate entry document where required. After entry, the work permit is completed, followed by the work-type residence permit through the exit-entry authority. The work permit and residence permit are separate authorisations with separate procedures.
4. Build one HR timeline and responsibility matrix
Assign every document to either the employer, candidate or adviser, and record authentication, translation, signature and company-chop requirements. Allow contingency time for supplementary requests. Do not set the lawful work start date from the flight date or employment contract alone; confirm it from the authorisation actually held.
5. Keep approval risk explicit
A professional pre-check can identify a workable route and likely risks, but it is not government approval. Requirements may change and may differ by applicant category and filing location. Reconfirm the official checklist immediately before submission and avoid promising an approval outcome.
Official sources
- Shanghai Government: How to get a work permit (updated 22 January 2026)
- Shanghai Government: Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit (updated 9 May 2025)
- Shanghai Government: Work-related residence permit process (updated 22 January 2026)
Requirements and administrative practice can change. Recheck the official guidance before filing.