In short
A Z visa is only an entry visa: to stay and work in China you need a work-type residence permit. The Exit and Entry Administration Law says to apply within 30 days of entry where your visa requires it, at the local public security exit-entry office, and to register where you live within 24 hours of arriving. The law gives the authority 15 days to decide, and a work-type permit runs from 90 days to five years. Beijing’s government lists fees of 400 to 1,000 yuan depending on length, and a medical exam for permits over one year.
Last updated: 23 October 2026. This guide is based on China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law (NIA English page, dated 10 March 2021), the Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (2013), and the Beijing and Shanghai government English sites, read on 23 October 2026. Local rules, fees and processing times differ by city and change. It is general information, not legal advice: confirm your steps with your employer, the local exit-entry office or the Chinese embassy or visa centre in your country.
How do you turn a Z visa into a residence permit in China? The Z visa only lets you enter China to work. After you arrive, you apply for a work-type residence permit at the exit-entry office of the local public security bureau, normally within 30 days of entry, and you register where you live within 24 hours of arriving. The law gives the authority 15 days to decide, and a work-type permit is valid from 90 days to five years.
That is the short version. Going from a Z visa to residence permit in China is where many new arrivals lose time, so this guide walks through the order of events, the documents, the medical exam, the fees, and the places where official sources do not agree.
Z visa to residence permit in China: why you need both
A Z visa is the visa issued to people who apply to work in China. The Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners say so directly: “The Z visa is issued to persons who apply for work in China”, and the applicant submits the work permit and other certification documents. It gets you through the border. It is not what lets you live and work in the country for the length of your contract.
That is the job of the residence permit. The Exit and Entry Administration Law says: “Foreigners who work in China shall obtain work permits and work-type residence permits.” Working without a work permit or a work-type residence permit counts as unlawful employment, which carries a fine of RMB 5,000 to 20,000 under the same law. We cover the full sequence in our work visa guide; this article picks up the moment you land.
The Regulations add that the visa itself should tell you the deadline. Where a residence permit is needed after entry, “the visa authority shall specify on the visa the time limit for applying for such permit after entry”. So read the visa in your passport, not just a blog post (including this one).
The order of events after you land
Here is the usual sequence, based on the national law and the city pages we could read.
- Enter China on your Z visa. Check the entry count and the “enter before” date on the visa.
- Register where you are staying, within 24 hours. The law says hotels register guests themselves. For any other place, “they or the persons who accommodate them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners’ arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs”. If you move into a rented flat, this is the landlord’s or your own job at the local police station. Beijing lists a valid accommodation registration among the documents for the residence permit.
- Get the medical exam, if your permit will be longer than one year. See the section below.
- Finish the work permit, if your employer has not already. Shanghai’s government says the Notification of Foreigner’s Work Permit can be processed entirely online by the employer or an agency before you travel, and that the Foreigner’s Work Permit itself is applied for “within 15 days after your entry”.
- Apply for the residence permit within 30 days of entry. You go in person to the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau where you will live, and give your fingerprints.
- Wait for the decision, then collect the permit. Your employer or HR contact usually handles the booking, but the law expects the applicant to attend.
The 15-day and 30-day figures are different deadlines for different steps. The 15 days comes from Shanghai’s work permit page; the 30 days comes from the national law and the Beijing government’s residence permit page. If your employer’s timetable looks different, ask them which rule they are working from.
The 30-day deadline
Article 30 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law says foreigners who need a residence permit after entry must apply “within 30 days from the date of their entry”, at the exit-entry administration of the public security organ at the proposed place of residence. Beijing’s government says the same: apply to your local Public Security Bureau’s Exit-Entry Administration “within 30 days of their date of entry”.
Two cautions. First, the national law says this applies where your visa requires it, and the Regulations say the visa should state the time limit, so the date on your visa wins if it differs. Second, we could not find an official page that spells out the penalty for missing the 30 days. Do not assume a grace period: tell your employer on day one and book early.
Documents you will need
The national texts name only the main items. For the work-type permit, the Regulations list “such certification documents as a work permit”. Beijing’s work-type permit page gives a more concrete list:
| Item | Source |
|---|---|
| Valid passport (with your Z visa) | Beijing government, work-type permit page |
| Application form with a photo | Beijing government |
| Valid accommodation registration in Beijing | Beijing government |
| Foreigner’s Work Permit, or the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit (working period over 90 days) | Beijing government |
| Administrative licence decision and the current employer’s consent letter | Beijing government |
| Health certificate, if the permit is valid for more than one year | Regulations (art. 16); Beijing government |
Shanghai’s government lists a certificate of physical examination, your valid visa or residence permit and “other documents” for the work permit, but its page does not cover the residence permit itself. Local offices often ask for extra items, so use the checklist your employer or the local office gives you.
Who applies? The Regulations say the applicant goes “in person”. Someone else, such as an inviting entity, a relative or a service agency, can apply for you only in limited cases: you are under 16 or over 60, you are ill or cannot travel, or (for a residence permit) you are a high-level or urgently needed talent.
The medical exam
When applying for a residence permit valid for more than one year, the Regulations say you must submit a health certificate, valid for six months. Beijing’s government gives the age range: foreigners aged 18 to 70 applying for a permit valid for more than one year submit the Verification Certificate of Medical Examination Records of Overseas Personnel, within six months.
In practice that means a medical exam done before you travel, or at an approved centre in China, depending on the city and your employer’s arrangements. We did not find an official page that lists approved centres or prices, so ask HR which route they use. If your permit is for one year or less, these sources do not require the certificate.
How long it takes and what it costs
On processing time, the sources do not match:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Exit and Entry Administration Law (art. 30) | The authority decides “within 15 days upon the date of receipt” |
| Regulations (art. 18, 36) | The receipt of acceptance is valid for no more than 15 days; periods are counted in working days |
| Beijing government | “within seven working days” after complete materials are submitted |
So plan for up to about three weeks in the national text and about a week in Beijing’s. The Regulations add something useful: while the office holds your passport, the receipt of acceptance lets you stay legally.
Beijing’s residence permit page lists these fees per applicant: 400 yuan for under one year, 800 yuan for one to under three years, and 1,000 yuan for three to five years. We did not find fee tables for Shanghai or other cities on the pages we read, so treat these as Beijing figures. Many employers pay the fee; ask before you sign.
How long the permit lasts, and what comes next
A work-type residence permit is valid for at least 90 days and at most five years, according to the national law. Beijing says the same. In practice, the length usually follows your work permit and contract. Beijing’s FAQ (19 June 2023) adds that with a Notification Letter you may first receive a 90-day work-type residence permit, and once you receive your work permit you should extend the residence permit’s validity in time.
Extensions: apply “within 30 days prior to the expiry” (Law, art. 32; Beijing says the same). If your registered details change, the law says to report within 10 days (art. 33). If you resign or change work location, the employer must report it to the public security organ (Regulations, art. 26), so your permit is tied to that job: a new job means a new work permit and, in practice, an updated residence permit.
Your class under China’s points-based system affects the work permit, not the residence permit directly; see our guide to the work permit points system.
Common problems and how to avoid them
- Missing the 30 days. Book the appointment as soon as you land and keep your visa page handy.
- Skipping the 24-hour registration. This is the step people forget in a rental flat. Ask the landlord to register you, or go to the local police station yourself, and keep the paper.
- Entering on the wrong visa. Tourist, F (exchange) and student visas do not give you the right to work. If you are unsure, read our criminal record check and apostille guide before you start the paperwork, and check internships in China for foreigners if your plan is a placement.
- Leaving China with your passport at the office. Do not travel while your passport is being processed; the receipt is your proof of stay.
- Assuming one city’s process applies everywhere. Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen differ on fees, timing and extra documents.
Check which jobs sponsor your visa
On 23 October 2026, SilkPath listed 464 live jobs. In our 20 October analysis of 285 LinkedIn descriptions, 13 stated explicitly that the employer sponsors a visa. That is a small share, so ask every employer who handles the work permit and residence permit, and who pays. Browse China jobs, jobs in Shanghai or teaching jobs and ask before you sign. If you are still looking, start with how to get hired in China.
FAQ
How long do I have to apply for a residence permit after arriving on a Z visa?
The national Exit and Entry Administration Law and Beijing’s government both say within 30 days of entry, where your visa requires a residence permit. The visa should state the time limit, so check yours.
Do I need a residence permit if I have a Z visa?
If you will work in China, yes. The law says foreigners who work in China must obtain a work permit and a work-type residence permit. The Z visa only covers entry.
How long does a China residence permit take to process?
The national law says the authority decides within 15 days of receiving the application. Beijing’s government says within seven working days once the materials are complete. Local times vary, so ask your employer.
How much does a China work residence permit cost?
Beijing’s government lists 400 yuan for under one year, 800 yuan for one to under three years and 1,000 yuan for three to five years. We found no official fee table for other cities, so ask your employer or the local office.
Can I leave China while my residence permit is being processed?
The sources we read do not say that you can, only that the receipt of acceptance lets you stay legally while the office holds your passport. Ask the office before you book a trip, and check with the embassy or visa centre if you are unsure.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration, Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, English page dated 10 March 2021: en.nia.gov.cn
- Regulations of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, promulgated 12 July 2013, effective 1 September 2013 (translation from the China Consular Affairs site): chinajusticeobserver.com
- Beijing government, “Residence Permit” (undated page): english.beijing.gov.cn
- Beijing government, “Work Residence Permit” (undated page): english.beijing.gov.cn
- Shanghai government, “How to get a work permit”, 22 January 2026: english.shanghai.gov.cn