China Implements New Unified Work Permit Pilot Scheme

By Winnie Jin

On September 9, 2016, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs’ (SAFEA) made an announcement that the existing Foreign Expert Permit and Alien Employment License will be merged into a single permit. The new permit will introduce a tiered classification system for foreign workers as well as a streamlined online application and tracking system in order to attract more high-level foreign talent.

Before the new foreign work permit is rolled out nationwide on April 1, 2017, the government will test the system by implementing a pilot scheme in select regions starting on October 1, 2016. Foreign workers in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Anhui, Guangdong, Hebei, Shandong, Sichuan, Ningxia, and potentially other regions will be included in the pilot program.

Current System

China’s current foreign employment system includes two foreign work permits: the Alien Employment Permit (Z-visa) and the Foreign Expert Permit (R-visa). While the Alien Employment Permit is issued for general employment, the Foreign Expert Permit is issued to “high-level” talent or candidates whose skills are urgently needed in China’s labor market. The two permits are issued by different government entities, with Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security managing the Alien Employment License and the SAFEA controlling the Foreign Expert Permit.
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Under the current system, it is sometimes unclear which permit candidates should apply for. The application system is also largely paper-based and highly bureaucratic, resulting in months-long turnaround times. Full details on the current application procedure can be seen here. To avoid deterring high-quality foreign candidates from working legally in China with these issues, the government has prioritized streamlining the foreign employment system from the application process to the permits themselves.

New System

Under the new system, there will be one single work permit document, which will likely take the form of an ID card. Each applicant will be assigned a unique ID number that does not change, regardless of permit renewal or change of employer. The Chinese government aims to optimize service quality and efficiency in managing these new foreign work permits.

Application Procedure

Instead of submitting paper applications, an online application system will be implemented and documentation requirements will be reduced by nearly 50 percent, with submissions like personal CVs and application letters no longer required.

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Tiered Classification

To evaluate which candidates qualify for the new work permit, SAFEA has introduced a points-based, three-tiered classification system for foreign workers. Points are assigned to applicants based on their education background, salary level, age, time spent working in China, and Chinese language level. Candidates applying to work in less developed areas may receive additional points. Applicants placed in the “A” tier with 85 points and over are eligible for service through a “green channel”, which offers a pre-entry visa, paperless verification, expedited approval and other facilitation measures. The tiers and their eligibility requirements are structured as follows:

Implications for Employers and Foreign Workers

The restructure of the foreign work permit system should mean a simpler, clearer and less time consuming application process. Not only will applicants need to provide fewer materials, but SAFEA appears to be showing more transparency in its evaluation process and criteria. Foreign employees with existing work permits can choose to either retain their documents or apply for the new permit when it becomes available. However, the tier system may facilitate tighter admissions standards, as China has become more selective about foreign workers coming to China, especially in tier 1 cities like Beijing and Shanghai where there are higher concentrations of foreign employees.

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