Updated - 1st Jan 2023, The “Foreign Work Permit (FWP)” policy started since 1st April 2017. According to that policy, it divided the foreigner who works in China into 3 categories. Category A (Talent), Category B (Specialty), Category C (Normal). You have to reach at least Category C, then you can successfully obtain the FWP and working residence permit (which are necessary permits to work legally in Shanghai).
In January 2023, the shanghai government further expanded the scope of Category A and B. In following article, VisaInChina will introduce you the most update FWP categories in detail. Beside that, we will also give you a quick way to assess which category you might qualify in different scenario (which covers 80%+ situations).
Quick Way to Assess:
2023 Update Criteria of FWP - Category A, B and C:
Category-A:
The most popular Category-A expat is following <High Incoming Earners>:
Gross salary is over 600,000RMB/year and paying Incoming tax based on that amount.
And other Class-A criteria, please check following links:
http://www.visainchina.com/work_permit_class_A.htm
Category-B:
B1: You have Bachelor degree and 2 years full time related work experience after graduation.
B2: You are a Technology Worker and Your gross salary is equal or over 4 times of shanghai average wage in society (In Shanghai, it's about 33,400RMB/Month, the government will check your income tax receipt next year).
B3.
You are a foreign language teacher (native speaker) in China. You have Bachelor or higher degree and 2 years full time teaching experience (if your major is Education, Language or Teaching or if you have recognized TEFL certificate, then 2 years full time teaching experience can be exempt)
B4. Personal comprehensive quality – score over 60 points, score sheet below:
Item | Criteria | Points |
Annual Salary paid by domestic company (Highest possible score: 20) | 450,000 and above | 20 |
350,000 - 449,999 | 17 | |
250,000 - 349,999 | 14 | |
150,000 - 249,999 | 11 | |
70,000 - 149,999 | 8 | |
50,000 - 69,999 | 5 | |
Less than 50,000 | 0 | |
Level of Education or International Professional Qualification Certificate (Highest possible score: 20) | Doctor; Highest level International vocational qualification certificate; Senior technician or equivalent | 20 |
Master's; technician or equivalent | 15 | |
Bachelor's; Senior Worker or equivalent | 10 | |
Related work experience (Highest possible score: 20) |
One additional point for every year above 2 years | Maximum 20 |
2 years | 5 | |
Less than 2 years | 0 | |
Annual working time in China will be? (Highest possible score: 15) (Unit: Month) |
Above 9 months | 15 |
6 - 9 months | 10 | |
3 - 6 months | 5 | |
Less than 3 months | 0 | |
Level of Chinese (Highest possible score: 5) |
If you are Chinese before | 5 |
Bachelor's or Higher degree on Chinese study (Major) | 5 | |
HSK 5 and above | 5 | |
HSK 4 | 4 | |
HSK 3 | 3 | |
HSK 2 | 2 | |
HSK 1 | 1 | |
Age (Year) (Highest possible score: 15) |
18 - 25 years old | 10 |
26 - 45 years old | 15 | |
46 - 55 years old | 10 | |
56 - 60 years old | 5 | |
Above 60 years old | 0 | |
Globally recognized university or experience in top 500 company (Highest possible score: 5) |
Graduated from Globally recognized high level university in the world (Please check here for the ranking) |
5 |
Work experience in Fortune Global 500 company | 5 | |
You own patent or intellectual property | 5 | |
Continuously work in China over 5 years | 5 |
B5. 62 Job positions (In Trail), covering 4 industries of <Integrated Circuit>, <Biomedicine>, <Artificial Intelligence -AI>, <Finance>. which are ugently needed in shanghai.
Category-C:
C1. Fresh graduate in Shanghai (or a fresh graduate from top 500 overseas university) within 2 years, have a bachelor diploma. Employed by a company registered in Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) or Zhang Jiang national innovation demonstration zone, Lingang special area or Hongqiao central business district, any of the 5 new towns (Jiading, Qingpu, Songjiang, Fengxian and Nanhui) or to be employed by any company included in shanghai sci-tech innovation occupation list.
C2. Fresh graduate in China (or a fresh graduate from top 500 overseas university) within 2 years, have a Master or higher diploma (scores reach 80/100 or B+/B over average). Employed by a company registered in Shanghai
C3. French Intern <1000 plan as internship> or German intern <DIHK program> in Shanghai company. (Internship less than 6 month)
Because of the new policy was just implemented, inquiries increase a lot. Please communicate with us by email. we will reply you in detail and in time.
First time consulting: Please email or call us, walk-in directly is not recommend.
In the process of document submission: Better use SF express to deliver it to us instead of come in person, we need more time to check your case to make sure it will go smoothly.
Any unavoidable visit: Please make an appointment with us in advance.