Documents for a Working Permit and China Working Visa Application
To apply for a Chinese working visa and employment residence permit, you should have an employer or have your own company as the very first step. If you haven’t got your company registered in China, you can also see how Hongda helps you form your WFOE, Joint Venture, or Representative Office to start your business here.
Applying for the work permit and employment visa for foreign staff requires mutual contributions from both the employer and employee.
Materials for a working visa and employment residence permit from the employer:
- Company’s business license;
- Information about legal representative: copy of ID or passport, valid telephone number and email address;
- Information about a contact person in the company: copy of ID, valid telephone number and email address;
- Company’s contact number;
- Certificate or contract of office renting;
Materials for a working visa and employment residence permit from the employee:
- Scan copy of passport information page;
- Copy of highest degree diploma, certified and notarized by Chinese embassy or consulates;
- No criminal record issued within 6 months, certified and notarized by Chinese embassy or consulates;
- Certificate letter from your previous employer covering at least 2 years of your working experience;
- Labor contract with your Chinese employer, including details such as job position, location, responsibilities and monthly salary;
- Your Résumé about previous education backgrounds and working experience within previous 10 years;
- Physical examination report;
- White background ID photo;
- Personal information such as telephone number, email address, marriage status, etc.
Hongda's Service Process for Work Permit and Employment Visa Application
Hongda will guide and help you throughout your materials gathering and application procedures. When you have all the documents prepared, Hongda will apply for your work permit and residence permit through online and offline application processes. This whole process includes:
- Guidance on materials preparation;
- Evaluation of applicant’s background and situation to provide an appropriate application plan;
- Application form filling and submitting to relevant government departments;
- Visits to police and government offices for permit collections;
- Guidance on residence permit interview preparation;
What Makes Hongda a Better Partner for Working Visa Application
Thanks to Hongda’s close and strong public relationship with local government departments, your visa and residence permit application in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Beijing can be processed faster, making the whole process easier and more reliable.
If you meet a higher standard recognized by the Chinese government, you can apply for the visa in a shorter period of time and obtain the working visa to a maximum of 5 years!
Who this work permit and residence permit service is for
This service is for China employers hiring foreign employees, foreign managers joining a China entity, and companies that need the work permit, working visa, and residence permit steps coordinated with onboarding.
How Hongda helps with the application path
- Review the employer setup, job role, candidate background, and document readiness.
- Prepare a practical checklist based on the employer and employee situation.
- Coordinate the filing steps while keeping the company aware of what depends on employer sponsorship.
- Connect the immigration work with WFOE registration in China or China bookkeeping support when the employer is newly established or expanding.
If you are hiring a foreign employee or relocating a key manager, talk with Hongda before making employment promises. The right setup depends on the employer, role, and document trail.
Service FAQ
Who needs work permit and residence permit support?
This service is for companies hiring foreign employees in China and foreign managers or specialists who need an employer-sponsored work authorization route.
What should be checked before applying?
The employer setup, job role, candidate background, documents, and local filing requirements should be reviewed before documents are submitted.
Can this page replace the old visa service URL?
Yes. This page is the live service page now used for China work permit, Chinese working visa, and employment residence permit intent.
How does Hongda help?
Hongda reviews the case, prepares the document checklist, coordinates the application steps, and helps employers keep the work authorization process aligned with company operations.
2026 update: work visa, work permit and residence permit are not the same step
Last reviewed: July 2026. A China employment case normally involves several connected but different concepts: an entry visa used for coming to China, the employer-sponsored work authorization process, and a work-type residence permit for lawful stay after entry. The exact sequence, documents and local review practice can vary by city, employer, role and applicant background.
For employers, the safer planning sequence is to confirm the hiring entity, job role, company documentation, candidate background and local filing route before making a start-date promise. For newly established WFOEs, this should be coordinated with WFOE registration in China, payroll setup and China bookkeeping support so onboarding records stay consistent.
Common execution risks
- Treating an entry visa as permission to work long term in China.
- Starting work before the employer-sponsored work authorization and residence steps are properly handled.
- Using a job title, employer file or supporting documents that do not match the actual role.
- Assuming one city checklist applies nationwide without checking local implementation.
Employer and applicant responsibilities
The employer usually needs to prepare company-side materials and coordinate the role, contract and onboarding record. The applicant usually needs personal identity, qualification and background documents. Hongda does not publish a one-size-fits-all checklist here because local authorities may ask for different supporting evidence based on the case.
FAQ
Can Hongda guarantee approval? No. Approval depends on the authority review, employer eligibility, applicant background and document consistency. Hongda helps prepare and coordinate the case, but does not promise a result.
Can a tourist or business visa be used for employment? Do not treat a short-stay entry purpose as a substitute for employment authorization. If the person will work for a China entity, check the work authorization route first.
Does every city follow the same document list? No. National rules provide the framework, but city-level implementation and case review can differ.
What if the employee changes employer? Employer changes, renewals and cancellation steps should be checked before the transition starts, because the employer record and work authorization are connected.
When should a new WFOE start planning this? Ideally before hiring promises are made, especially when the legal representative, senior manager or technical employee needs to relocate to China.
Official reference checked: State Council of the PRC; NPC / State Council publication. This page summarizes practical service planning and is not a substitute for authority-specific legal advice.
