According to the top 10 FAQs about the Foreigner’s Work Permit in China received by Shanghai’s science and technology 114 service hotline in 2023, we hereby provide a comprehensive policy interpretation for employers and foreigners working in Shanghai.
一．问：外国人在华工作是否有60岁退休年龄的规定？若单位拟聘用超过60岁的外国人，是否需要/可以为其申请工作许可证？签订何种合同？
答：外国人持有有效的工作许可证和工作类居留许可，可在华合法工作。申请人若符合高端人才条件申请A类工作许可，没有年龄限制；对确有需要，符合创新创业人才、专业技能类人才、符合计点积分外国专业人才标准的以及执行政府间协议或协定的，可适当放宽年龄、学历或工作经历等限制。
1. Q: Does China’s mandatory retirement age of 60 apply to foreign employees? If an employer plans to hire a foreigner over 60, must it/can it apply for a work permit for him/her? What kind of contract will be signed?
A: Foreigners with valid work permits and work-type residence permits can legally work in China. There is no age restriction on applicants for a Category A work permit as high-level talents. Restrictions on age, educational qualifications, and work experience may be relaxed for foreigners who qualify as innovative and entrepreneurial talents or professional and technical talents, who meet the points-based criteria, and who implement intergovernmental agreements or arrangements.
二．问：持有外国人在华永久居留证的外国人在本单位工作，单位是否还需要为其申请外国人工作许可证？
答：获得《外国人永久居留身份证》的外籍人士，无需办理外国人工作许可证。但是为了外籍人士在上海能享受更多的生活便利（例如：薪酬购付汇FASTPASS），也可办理外国人工作许可证。
2. Q: Does an employer still need to apply for a Foreigner’s Work Permit for its foreign employees holding a Permanent Residence Permit?
A: A foreigner holding a Permanent Residence Permit is exempt from applying for a Foreigner’s Work Permit. However, they may choose to do so to access Shanghai’s additional benefits such as FAST PASS.
答：根据《中华人民共和国出入境管理法》，外籍员工应在工作许可限定的范围内工作，不可跨省市工作，不可兼职工作。短期出差不在此列。
3. Q: Can an employer assign a foreign employee to work outside Shanghai on a long-term basis, or to hold additional posts in an affiliated company in Shanghai?
A: According to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China, foreign employees must work within the scope prescribed in their work permits. They are prohibited from cross-provincial/municipal or part-time work, but short-term business travel is not included in these restrictions.
答：单位可在外国人来华工作管理服务系统中通过法人方式找回法人账号密码，登陆系统后首先进行单位信息变更（经办人变更），经线下窗口核验通过后，新经办人可为单位办理外国人来华工作许可业务。
4. Q: If the operator at an employer has resigned without completing the transfer of duties, how can one log to the system to process work permits for foreigners?
A: The employer can retrieve the legal representative’s account and password via the Service System for Foreigners Working in China. Once logged in, the employer must update its information (operator) change. Upon offline window verification, the new operator may proceed with applying for a Foreigner’s Work Permit.
五．问：单位与外国人解除劳动关系，外国人不同意签字，单位能否为其注销工作许可证？
答：双方劳动关系解除之日起十个工作日内，需申请工作许可证注销。注销所需材料包括双方签字盖章的申请表、离职证明等材料，由用人单位账号在外国人来华工作管理服务系统中提出申请，单方无法注销工作许可证。
5. Q: If an employer terminates the labor relationship with a foreigner who refuses to sign, can the employer cancel his/her work permit?
A: The application for cancelling a Foreigner’s Work Permit must be made within ten working days of the termination of the labor relationship. The documents required include an application form and a separation certificate signed and stamped by both parties. The application must be submitted by the employer in the Service System for Foreigners Working in China. Work permits cannot be cancelled unilaterally.
六．问：单位能否招聘在读外籍学生暑期进行实习？
答：根据国家有关规定，目前用人单位可以为符合条件的德国、法国、新加坡国籍实习生申请C类工作许可在华实习。
6. Q: Can an employer recruit foreign students for summer internships?
A: In line with national regulations, employers may apply for Category C work permits for qualified interns from Germany, France, and Singapore.
七．问：外国人想要补缴社保，现有工作许可证的制证信息不能体现过去的办证记录，外专局能否提供相应记录给到社保部门？
答：外国人可以向受理所在行政区外专窗口提交材料，申请开具工作经历相关证明。如涉及2017年之前的在沪工作经历相关证明，可向市研发公共服务平台管理中心提出申请。
7. Q: If foreigners intend to catch up on social security payments, but their current work permits do not reflect past certification records, can the Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) provide these records to the social security department?
A: Foreigners can submit documents to the SAFEA’s window in the administrative district of application to request for work experience certificates. For work experience in Shanghai before 2017, applications should be directed to the Administrative Center of Shanghai R&D Public Service Platforms.
答：《外国人工作许可通知》下发后不能变更，需前往办理通知时勾选对应我驻外使、领事馆申请工作签证，其他国家或地区我驻外使、领事馆无法为其办理工作签证。建议用人单位与外国人申请工作许可通知时，协商后谨慎勾选工作签证申请地。
8. Q: After receiving the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit but facing a visa appointment at the embassy or consulate months later, can foreigners apply for a work visa at China’s embassy and consulate in another country or region, or alter the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit?
A: Once issued, the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit cannot be altered. The application for a work visa must be made to the embassy or consulate as indicated on the Notification Letter. Embassies and consulates in other countries or regions cannot process this work visa. Employers are advised to carefully select the visa application location in consultation with the foreign applicant when applying for the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit.
答：外国人在境外拟入境工作的，需境外申请《外国人工作许可通知》，持通知办理工作签证入境。符合下列情形之一的，可在境内直接申请外国人来华工作许可，应按申请《外国人工作许可通知》和申领《外国人工作许可证》提交全部申请材料：
（1）持其他签证或有效居留证件已入境的外国高端人才（A类）；
（2）在华工作的外国人变换用人单位，但工作岗位（职业）未变动，且工作类居留许可在有效期内的；
（3）中国公民的外籍配偶或子女、在华永久居留或工作的外国人的配偶或子女，持有效签证或在有效期内的居留许可的；
（4）符合自由贸易区、全面创新改革试验区相关优惠政策的；
（5）用人单位符合享有跨国公司在华地区总部相关优惠政策的；
（6）企业集团内部人员流动的；
（7）执行政府间协议或协定的；
（8）已持工作签证依法入境的驻华机构代表人员；已获得来华工作90日以下的外国人来华工作许可，在其停留有效期内，被境内用人单位依法聘用的；
（9）近5年内，连续在华合法工作1年以上且信用良好的（含1年）；
（10）其他审批机构认定符合条件的。
9. Q: After receiving the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit, but due to the prolonged work visa application, foreigners have entered China on a tourist or visitor visa. Can they apply for a work permit directly?
A: Foreigners intending to work in China must apply for the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit from abroad and enter China on a work visa. Direct application is only allowed with all application documents required for the Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit and the Foreigner’s Work Permit under any of the following conditions:
(1) Foreign high-end talents (Category A) who have entered China with a visa or a valid residence permit;
(2) Foreigners working in China who change their employer but not their job (occupation), provided that their Residence Permit for Work remains valid;
(3) Foreign spouses or children of Chinese citizens, or spouses or children of foreigners who permanently reside or work in China with a valid visa or residence permit;
(4) Foreigners who are eligible for the related preferential policies of a free trade zone or a pilot zone for comprehensive innovation reform;
(5) Employers who conform to the relevant preferential policies for MNC headquarters in China;
(6) Foreigners who are subject to personnel flow within the corporation;
(7) Foreigners who execute intergovernmental agreements or arrangements;
(8) Representatives of foreign organizations in China who have entered China on a work visa, and foreigners with a valid Foreigner’s Work Permit less than 90 days who are legally hired by an employer in China during their stay;
(9) Foreigners who have worked legally in China in good faith for no less than one consecutive year;
(10) Foreigners identified eligible by other approval agencies.
十．问：外国人持有B类工作许可证，已在本单位工作多年，工作许可证延期时能否给到更长时间？
答：外国专业人才（B类）在不变更单位的情况下，连续办理2次外国人工作许可证（包括1次新办，1次延期），当再次申请办理延期时可根据合同期限给予有效期2年的《外国人工作许可证》。
10. Q: Can a foreigner with a Category B Work Permit, who has been working for the same employer for many years, have his/her work permit further extended?
A: Foreign professionals (Category B) who have applied for a Foreigner’s Work Permit twice (a new application and an extension) without changing employers will be entitled to a two-year validity period according to the terms of the contract when applying for a subsequent extension.
（文章来源：外国人才在上海）