DetailsChina State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (“SAFEA”) issued the Implementation Plan for the Pilot Work Permit System for Foreigners Working in China (“Implementation Plan”) on September 27, 2016. The pilot work permit system started at Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai, Anhui, Shandong, Sichuan and Ningxia from October 2016 to March 2017, and will be implemented to the whole nation from April 1, 2017.
According to this Implementation Plan, the previous Working Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China (《外国专家来华工作许可证》) and the Alien Employment License (《外国人就业许可证书》) are consolidated as the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit (《外国人工作许可通知》). The Foreign Expert Certificate (《外国专家证》) and the Alien Employment Permit (《外国人就业证》) are consolidated as the Foreigners’ Work Permit (《外国人工作许可证》). Each alien will be issued one personal code and will enjoy this code for a lifetime.
All foreigners will be ranked in three different categories: Class A (top level talent), Class B (professional) and Class C (temporary and seasonal employees in service or unskilled). The categories will be divided according to qualification standards and score system. Class A is highly welcomed to work in China, Class B is generally controlled, and Class C is strictly limited. Foreigners ranked in Class A can apply for a work permit with 3-5 years of validity.
Aliens with top level talent are highly welcomed to work in Hubei Province. Hope a detailed execution measure of this Implementation Plan will be announced in the recent future to optimize service quality and efficiency in managing these new foreign work permits, and to attract more foreign employees to Hubei.