China (CN)

China is one of the world's largest economies and most important expat destinations, combining global business hubs such as Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou with deep history, fast infrastructure, and a highly digital daily-life ecosystem.

Capital: Beijing

Region: Asia

Language: Mandarin Chinese

Currency: CNY (RMB)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 50)

Emergency: 110

Jobs & Work Permits

Everything you need to find work and get authorised to work in China.

National Government Service Platform / local human resources bureaus

Renli ziyuan he shehui baozhang bu / difang rensheju

Foreign job seekers normally secure an employer first. The employer or agent then handles the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit, Z visa support, work permit card, and residence permit conversion.

Services offered:

✓Labour policy information
✓Social insurance administration
✓Local employment service centres
✓Work permit coordination through science and foreign expert platforms

Expat eligibility: Most foreign residents use private recruiters, direct employer hiring, chamber networks, and international school or university recruitment rather than public job centres.

Visit National Government Service Platform / local human resources bureaus

💼 Work Permits

EU Citizens

EU citizens do not have automatic work rights in China. They need an appropriate visa, Foreigner's Work Permit, and residence permit for work.

Non-EU Citizens

All foreign nationals need employer sponsorship for most work. The work permit system groups applicants into category A, B, or C based on qualifications, salary, points, and scarcity.

EU Blue Card

China has no EU Blue Card. High-level foreign talent may qualify for category A treatment, faster processing, and in some cities talent residence benefits.

Freelancer Visa

China has no general self-sponsored freelancer visa. Freelancing for Chinese clients without correct work authorisation is risky; entrepreneurs usually form or join a company structure.

⏱️ Work Culture

Typical hours Nominally 40 hours per week, commonly 9am-6pm. Tech, startups, education, and manufacturing management can involve overtime; "996" culture is restricted but still appears informally.

Annual leave Statutory paid annual leave is 5 days after 1 year of cumulative work, 10 days after 10 years, and 15 days after 20 years, plus national holidays. Many expat contracts offer more.

Sick leave Medical certificates from recognised hospitals or clinics are usually required. Sick-pay rules vary by city, tenure, and contract.

Trial period Probation can range from 1 to 6 months depending on contract length under labour contract law.

Notice period 30 days written notice is common for employee resignation after probation; 3 days during probation. Employer termination is more regulated and document-heavy.

Salary range International teachers: RMB 20,000-45,000/month; senior tech/product: RMB 35,000-90,000/month; finance/legal/management roles vary widely by city and employer.

Pay frequency Monthly salary paid to a Chinese bank account. Bonus cycles often follow Chinese New Year or company fiscal calendars.

Contract types

·Fixed-term labour contract
·Open-ended labour contract
·Service agreement
·Secondment agreement
·Representative office assignment

🔍 Job Boards

BOSS Zhipin

Major Chinese job app for direct recruiter and hiring-manager chats.

Liepin

Mid-to-senior professional platform used by recruiters.

51job

Large general job board with many corporate listings.

Zhaopin

Large job platform for white-collar and graduate roles.

Still useful for multinational, executive, and cross-border roles even though local functionality has changed.

🌍 Expat-Friendly Resources

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eChinaCareers

English-language China jobs, especially education, marketing, and international business.

🌍

HiredChina

Foreigner-focused China job board and recruitment resource.

🌍

AmCham China / European Chamber job boards

Chamber networks and member-company roles in Beijing, Shanghai, and regional chapters.

🌍

International school recruiters

Search Associates, Schrole, TES, and school websites for licensed teachers.

📝 Application Tips

CV format: Use a concise English CV for multinational roles and a Chinese CV for local roles. Include degree, nationality, visa/work permit status, city, and WeChat ID.

Cover letter: Expected

Language: Mandarin is a major advantage and required for many local-company roles. English-only roles exist in international schools, MNCs, research, and some tech/export positions.

Interviews: Expect fast WeChat follow-up, salary discussions earlier than in Europe, and document checks for degree, criminal record, reference letters, and work permit eligibility.

🤝 Networking Tips

→Build a professional WeChat profile and prepare a QR code for networking.
→Join city chambers of commerce, alumni groups, and industry WeChat groups.
→Ask employers early whether they have sponsored foreign work permits before.
→Confirm whether salary is gross or net and whether housing, flights, school fees, tax support, and insurance are included.

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