China
Guide to Obtaining a Chinese Visa
With a huge demand for English language education, China presents a fantastic opportunity for you to share your skills with eager learners. However, before you start packing your bags, it’s important to know the steps to obtaining a visa to teach in China.
The Work Permit
Before moving onto the visa application, you’ll first need to obtain a work permit from your prospective employer. This is probably the most time intensive part required by you.
Items to prepare are:
- Passport – a full two-page scan of the information and signature pages. Must have at least one year of validity left.
- Resume
- A Bachelor degree in any subject that is legalized by the Chinese consulate or embassy.
- Bachelor’s degree transcripts
- Two years work experience or TEFL certificate (ideally 120 hours)
- Photos – must have been taken in the last 6 months.
- Medical Forms
- Physical Examination Form
- Reference Letter
- Social Security Number (if from the US)
- Criminal Background Check – must be valid within 6 months of applying for your work permit.
These are typical documents, and some requirements may be relaxed depending on the school hiring you.
Now that you have your work permit, it’s time to move onto the next step.
Which Visas To Apply For?
There are many different types of visas available for those wishing to head to China. Here’s the list if you really must know.
| Purpose of Visit | Visa | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tourism | L | Independent tourist or group member. |
| Exchanges, visits, study tours or other relevant activities. | F | Academic exchanges; Cultural exchanges (eg: non-profit performance); Religious exchanges; NGO activities; Volunteering (90 days or less); Foreign expert with pre-approved letters of invitation; Geographic surveying and mapping activities. |
| Commercial Trade Activities | M | Trade; Participation in Competition; Other commercial activities. |
| Family member or relative of Chinese citizen or foreigner with permanent residence status in China. | Q1 | Family member of Chinese citizen applying for residence in China for family reunion; Family member of foreigner with permanent residence status in China who is applying for residence in China for a family reunion; Residence visa for child to be fostered in China. |
| Family member or relative of Chinese citizen or foreigner with permanent residence status in China. | Q2 | Relative of Chinese citizen living in China applying for a visa for visit less than 180 days; Relative of foreigner with permanent residence status in China applying for a visa for visit less than 180 days. |
| Family member of foreigner staying or residence in China or person who needs to come to China for personal matters. | S1 | Spouse, parent, child under the age of 18 or parent-in-law of foreigner residing in China for work, study or other purposes who visit China for 180 days or more; Person who needs to reside in China for other personal matters. |
| Family member of foreigner staying or residence in China or person who needs to come to China for personal matters. | S2 | Family member of foreigner staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes who visit China for less than 180 days; Applying for a visa to stay in China for other personal matters, such as handling litigation, inheritance, real estate or medical treatment. |
| Work | Z | Foreign expert working in China; For commercial performance; Chief representative or representative of a foreign company; Offshore oil operations; Volunteering (more than 90 days); Foreigner working in China with a Work Permit issued by the Chinese government. |
| Study | X1 | Long term study (more than 180 days). |
| Study | X2 | Short term study (no more than 180 days). |
| Journalist | J1 | Resident foreign journalist of permanent office of a foreign news agency in China. |
| Journalist | J2 | Foreign journalist visiting China for short-term news coverage. |
| Crew Member | C | Crew member performing duties on board an international train; Crew member performing duties on board an international aircraft; Crew member performing duties on board an international vessel or accompanying family member; Vehicle driver engaged in international transportation services. |
| Transit | G | Transit through China. |
| Permanent Residence | D | Person coming to China to take up permanent residence. |
| Foreigner of High Talent or Specialist | R | Foreigner of high talent or specialist needed by China. |
The most common one for English teachers is the Z visa. Once you arrive in China, you’ll then have 30 days to sort out the paperwork for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP), which is valid for a minimum of 90 days and maximum of 5 years.
Of course, the Z visa isn’t the only option out there. There’s also the F visa for short-term visits like academic exchanges, the R visa for high talent and specialists, and the X visa for students studying in China. But if you’re planning to teach English in China, the Z visa is the way to go.
Applying for the Z Visa
To obtain a Z visa, you will need to apply through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country. The application process typically requires several documents, including a valid passport, a signed employment contract with a Chinese employer, a letter of invitation from the Chinese government or a Chinese employer and a work permit.
Allow up to 10 working days for your Z visa to complete. Once approved, it will be valid for up to 90 days from the date of issuance.
Once issued, you can now board your flight and head to China. Let the journey begin!
FAQ's
No, unfortunately, you cannot. The Z visa can only be obtained outside of China, through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country.
Yes, you can transfer your Z visa to a new employer while still in China, however there’s a fair bit of red-tape to cut through, and so it may be easier to just start the whole process over again. It’s best to consult with a visa specialist on the best path forward.
Yes. The Z visa allows you to bring your spouse, children or even parents with you to China. They will however need to apply and obtain the appropriate visa such as the S1 visa to enter the country.
Bachelor of Business Administration – Course Overview
Buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are all part of the built environment, which is [...]
Read MoreJun
Bachelor of Civil Engineering – Course Overview
Buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure are all part of the built environment, which is [...]
Read MoreApr
Guide to Obtaining a Chinese Visa
Are you looking to work in China? Find out about applying for a Chinese work [...]
Read More