Work Permit and Residence Permit Guidelines

2025/8/4

Overview

All foreigners in China shall obey the Chinese laws and regulations, including the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners: 

1. Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China (Translation for reference only):

https://www.mps.gov.cn/n2255079/n6865805/n7355748/n7913217/c7917801/content.html 

2. Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (Translation for reference only):

http://english.www.gov.cn/archive/laws_regulations/2014/09/22/content_281474988553545.htm 

 

Work Permit and Residence Permit

1.     Application of Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit

Before you enter mainland China to commence your employment with Shantou University, you need to obtain the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit (or Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents) issued by China's Bureau of Foreign Experts as part of the recruitment procedures as well as visa application requirements. For detailed guidelines on documents required for the work permit notification letter application, please check the document lists shown below.

1.1 If you are employed by Shantou University as Professor, Associate Professor, Researcher, Associate Researcher, Post-doctoral Fellow or Senior Executive, please go to the ‘List of Required Documents for Work Permit Application of Foreign Employee in Category A’ Stream.

1.2 If you are employed by Shantou University as Lecturer, Teaching Assistant or Administrative Staff, please go to the ‘List of Required Documents for Work Permit Application of Foreign Employee in Category B’ Stream.

 

2.     Work Visa Application

Upon receiving the electronic copy of the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit, you can start the work visa (type: Z, or R for high level talents) application at local Chinese Embassy or Consulate General with such letter, your passport and other documents required. Visa applications may be processed in accordance with respective consular jurisdiction areas of Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in your country, please check issue place of your passport for confirming the jurisdiction areas. For detailed instructions on visa application, please contact the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General for enquiry. Please be aware that the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit has a validity of 3 months from date of issuing, the Confirmation Letter for High Level Foreign Talents has a validity of 6 months from date of issuing.

 

3.     Arrival and Accommodation Registration

According to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, foreigners shall, within 24 hours of their arrival, register their accomodation with the local police station by themselves or the host.

3.1 Accomodation Registration

Upon your entry with the R/Z visa and arrival in Shantou University, you need to report to duty to the Human Resources Department and finish the rest of recruitment procedures, including registration in the International Office of Shantou University and local police station.

Within 24 hours of your (and your family member’s) arrival on campus, you must submit the following to the International Office, either in person or via email:

---Scanned copies of passport main page, visa or valid residence permit page (if any), and latest entry stamp page.

This facilitates the International office’s submission to the Tuojiang Police Station Household Registration Office for Accommodation Registration.

(If the foreign faculty (and family members) resides off-campus, they must personally visit the local police station with their passport (accompanied by the host of their accommodation) to complete the registration. The issued Registration Form of Temporary Residence for Visitors must then be submitted to International Office.)

3.2 Update Registration

In case of passport reissue, residence permit/visa renewal or change of accommodation address, please contact International Office to update your registration with the local police station. Those who have changed their passports should submit their old and new passports to the International Office. (If you resides off-campus, please update your accommodation personally at the local police station and submit the registration form to Internaitonal Office).

3.3 Physical Examination

Within one week of arrival, please take the physical examination at the following address as soon as possible, then submit your physical examination record to International Office:

Shantou International Travel Healthcare Center

 Address: 1/F, Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, No.126 Jinsha Road, Longhu District, Shantou, Guangdong Province, P.R.China (中国广东省汕头市龙湖区金砂东路126号出入境检验检疫大楼1)

 Business Hours: Monday to Friday

 Tel: 0754-88548004

 Fees: around RMB400 per person (Mobile payment or bank card / Please consult the International Office before payment to obtain the school's official tax information required for invoicing.)

 Note: Empty stomach before physical examination. Carrying the following documents when you go: 3 Chinese Visa sized photos in blue background and passport

 

4.     Work Permit and Residence Permit Application

You are required to apply for both the work permit and residence permit (for work purpose) WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ENTRY INTO MAINLAND CHINA. The detailed instructions on work and residence permit applications are shown below.

4.1 Work Permit Application

The International Office will apply on your behalf for the work permit with the additional documents from you including copy of your valid work visa, work contract with Shantou University and original physical examination record issued by the International Travel Healthcare Center in Shantou.

4.Residence Permit Application

You need to go in person to the exit and entry administration authority of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in Shantou for residence permit (for work purpose) application with the required documents shown in the 'List of Required Documents for Residence Permit (for work purpose) Application'. Staff from International Office will accompany you if this is your first time applying.

The application will be processed and completed in normally 10 – 15 working days, subject to the issuer, with charges ranging from RMB 400/person (for less than 1 year), RMB 800/person (for 1 year or above but less than 3 years) to RMB 1,000/person (for 3 – 5 years), payable when the residence permit is issued and collected.

Once the application is accepted, a residence permit application receipt will be issued to you as evidence of the legality of your stay in China whereby you may use ONLY IN MAINLAND CHINA as a temporary ID for travelling (e.g. hotel/train/flight booking and check-in/out) in mainland China during the period when your passport is held in the PSB for residence permit application.

 

5.     Residence Permit Extension

All foreign faculty and their accompanying family members should pay close attention to the validity of their Residence Permits / Visas. To apply for Residence Permit renewal, please contact the International Office (via yutongchen@stu.edu.cn) at least one month before the expiry date.


List of Required Documents for Residence Permit (for work purpose) Application.doc

List of Required Documents for Work Permit Application of Foreign Employee in Category A.doc

List of Required Documents for Work Permit Application of Foreign Employee in Category B.doc

Appendix 3 - Physical Examination Record for Foreigner.pdf


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