Analysis of the whole process of working visa processing for foreign employees in Beijing: a complete guide from qualification examination to certificate application

Analysis of the whole process of working visa processing for foreign employees in Beijing: a complete guide from qualification examination to certificate application

With the acceleration of globalization, Beijing, as an international metropolis, it attracts a lot of foreign talent. However, foreign employees need to apply for a work visa to work legally in Beijing, which involves multi-department approval and material preparation. This paper combines the latest policies and practical cases to systematically sort out the core points and operational paths of working visas for foreign employees in Beijing.

1. processing premise: clear job requirements and qualification conditions

The processing of work visa for foreign employees must meet two conditions: employer qualification and individual qualification .

1. employer qualification :
• must be an enterprise, institution or social organization established according to law, and there is no record of serious violation of law and dishonesty.
• The employment position must meet the requirements of "suitable candidates are temporarily unavailable in China", for example, technical positions must provide job description and proof of recruitment difficulties.
• the salary paid to foreign employees shall not be lower than the minimum wage standard in Beijing (e.g. 18,000 yuan/month in 2024).

1. personal qualifications :
• age 18-60 years old, in good health, no criminal record.
• Have a bachelor degree or above and more than 2 years of relevant working experience (some high-end talents can relax restrictions).
• Have a valid passport and a certificate of no criminal record abroad (subject to certification by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad).

Case : A technology company plans to employ a German engineer as its technical director. The engineer's academic certificate and 5-year relevant working experience are required, it also explains that there is no candidate of the same level in China for the time being before the process can be started.

2. core process: four steps to complete work visa application

The four major steps of employment permit application, occupational visa application, work permit application and residence permit application must be completed in order to process the work visa for foreign employees in Beijing.

1. employment permit application: material preparation and approval
• the employer must submit : copy of business license, foreign-related unit filing certificate, labor contract, enterprise tax payment certificate (nearly 6 months).
• foreign employees are required to submit : passport, education certificate (certification required), proof of no criminal record (notarized certification required), medical report (issued by the designated agency), Chinese resume, and work qualification certificate (recommendation letter from former employer).
• key points of approval : Beijing municipal science and technology Commission or human resources and social security bureau will review whether the post meets the conditions of "temporary vacancy in China" and check the qualification of the employing unit. After the approval is passed, the employer will obtain the Notice of Work Permit for Foreigners.

1. professional visa processing: notification letter and embassy application
• the employer should go to the foreign affairs office to handle the notification letter with the "foreigner work permit notice, foreign employees apply for occupational visa (Z visa) at Chinese embassies abroad with notification letter and permit.
• Note : The Z visa is valid for 3 months. You need to enter the country within the validity period, otherwise you need to apply again.

1. work permit application: completed within 15 days after entry
• after foreign employees enter the country with z visa, the employer needs to log in the "foreigners' work management service system" within 15 days ", submit the Application Form for Work Permit for Foreigners in China and paper materials (including passport, Z visa, Notice of Work Permit for Foreigners, medical examination report, labor contract, etc.).
• approval time limit : Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission or Human Resources and Social Security Bureau will complete the approval within 5 working days and issue the Foreigner Work Permit.

1. residence permit processing: completed within 30 days after entering the country
• foreign employees need to apply for a work-type residence permit at the exit and entry administration of Beijing municipal public security bureau with the "foreigner work permit", passport, z visa and recent photos.
• Approval Time Limit : Approval is completed within 7 working days, and the residence permit is usually valid for 1-5 years.

3. key risks and prevention suggestions: avoid compliance traps

in the process of handling work visas for foreign employees, enterprises need to focus on preventing three types of risks:

1. risk of material fraud : if false academic certificates and no criminal record certificates are provided, they will be included in the "blacklist" once verified, which will affect the subsequent employment of foreign personnel by enterprises.
2. overdue processing risk : failure to apply for a work permit or residence permit within the specified time may result in foreign employees being fined, leaving the country within a time limit and other penalties.
3. post discrepancy risk : if the actual post of foreign employees does not match the registered post of employment certificate, the enterprise may face administrative punishment.

Suggest :

• Establish a foreign employee file management system to regularly check the validity of certificates and the matching of positions.
• Introduce professional legal counsel to review the compliance of employment contracts and materials.
• Keep communication with the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Bureau to keep abreast of policy updates.

4. typical case: efficient handling experience of a multinational enterprise

An automobile manufacturing enterprise plans to hire a Japanese expert as R & D director, efficient handling is achieved through the following measures:

1. pre-audit : communicate with Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission in advance to confirm that the conditions of "domestic temporary shortage" are met.
2. pre-examination of materials : entrust professional institutions to translate and notarize materials such as academic certificates and certificates of no criminal record to ensure that they meet the requirements.
3. parallel processing : while applying for an employment permit, make an appointment for the visa processing time of the Chinese embassy in Japan to shorten the overall cycle.
4. Follow-up : Establish a reminder mechanism for the validity period of the certificate, and start the extension procedure 30 days in advance to avoid the risk of overdue.

In the end, the enterprise completed the entire process in only 45 days, 30% shorter than the average cycle time.

5. policy optimization and convenience measures: improving processing efficiency

In recent years, Beijing has introduced a number of policy optimization measures to simplify the processing process of work visas for foreign employees:

1. "one netcom" pilot : some regions support online submission of materials to reduce the number of offline runs.
2. material simplification : cancel some academic certification requirements (such as 100 college graduates before QS), and pilot electronic proof of no criminal record (mutual recognition with 15 countries).
3. time limit shortened : work permit notice approval time limit shortened from 10 days to 5 days, residence permit approval time limit shortened from 15 days to 7 days.

the processing of work visa for foreign employees in Beijing is a systematic project, which needs to build a whole chain management system from qualification examination, material preparation, process connection to risk prevention and control. By accurately grasping policy requirements, optimizing operation paths, and strengthening compliance management, companies can not only improve the efficiency of foreign talent introduction, but also provide lasting support for globalization strategies.