China Z Visa (Work) Application

What is a China Z Visa (Work) ?

Starting from April 3, 2017 all Z Visa applicants need to go to the San Francisco Chinese Consulate in person to have finger print collected.
Z Visa is issued to those who intend to work in China.

Basic Documents:

1. Passport
   
   Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate.
2. Visa Application Form and Photo
   
   One completed and signed COVA form and confirmation page. If photo uploading was failed during filling COVA form, please attach a passport photo.
3. 18岁以下申请者请注意： 无论是否是第一次申请中国签证，必须提交出生纸的复印件，父母护照及绿卡的复印件；如果曾有签证， 请提供复印件。
   
   If the applicant is under age 18， please provide photocopy of the kid’s Birth Certificate and photocopy of parents passport(and green card). If the application had China visa before, please provide a photocopy of previous China visa.
4. Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)
   
   If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid visa of stay, residence, employment or student status of the country where you are currently staying.
5. 出生在中国大陆的华人请注意：第一次申请中国签证必须提交中国护照原件和照片页的复印件； 如果中国护照上的名字与外籍护照上名字不一致， 请提供改名文件。
   
   出生在香港，澳门和台湾地区的华人请注意：第一次申请中国签证必须提交一份中文姓名的正式文件复印件：如香港护照，台湾护照或出生公证。
   
   Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable to those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship)
   
   If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide your previous Chinese passport and a photocopy of its data page.
   
   If you have obtained Chinese visas before and want to apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport’s data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page. (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change.)

Supporting Documents:

Please note: starting from 2016/09/01, the consulate only accept new version of Invitation Letter, the letter must to “Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco” with Bar Code on the top right corner.

One of the following documents:

1. Foreigners Employment Permit of the People’s Republic of China issued by Chinese government authorities for Human Resources and Social Security, as well as Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Entity or Confirmation Letter of Invitation issued by relevant Chinese entities.
2. Permit for Foreign Experts Working in China issued by the State Bureau of Foreign Experts as well as Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Entity or Confirmation Letter of Invitation issued by relevant Chinese entities.
3. Registration Certificate of Resident Representative Offices of enterprises of foreign countries(regions) issued by Chinese authorities of industrial and commercial administration, as well as Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Entity or Confirmation Letter of Invitation issued by relevant Chinese entities as well as Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Entity or Confirmation Letter of Invitation issued by relevant Chinese entities.
4. An approval document for commercial performances issued by the Chinese government authorities for cultural affairs or Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Entity or Confirmation Letter of Invitation issued by relevant Foreign Affairs Office of provincial governments of China.
5. Letter of Invitation to Foreigners for Offshore Petroleum Operations in China issued by China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

Special Reminder

1. Holders of Z Visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administrations of public security organs under local people’s governments at or above the county level in the proposed places of residence for foreigners’ residence permits.
2. The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout, but the consular officer may require the applicant to submit the original of the invitation letter.
3. If necessary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.
4. The consular officer will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.