The Three Documents You Actually Need
Most foreign-friendly guides talk loosely about "getting a work visa," which hides the fact that China requires three separate, sequential documents to work legally:
- Work Permit Notification Letter — issued in China by the Ministry of Human Resources before you leave home. Your employer (or your own WFOE) files for this.
- Z-Visa — the entry stamp in your passport, issued by a Chinese consulate in your home country using the Notification Letter. Typically valid for 30 days on arrival.
- Residence Permit for Employment — issued by the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) within 30 days of arriving in China. This is the document that actually lets you live here.
Miss any step, or arrive in the wrong order, and you're back to the beginning. The total end-to-end timeline is typically 8-12 weeks for the visa process alone — longer if you're registering a WFOE first.
Working on any visa other than a Z-visa is illegal. Tourist (L), business (M), and student (X1 without work authorization) visas do not permit employment. Chinese authorities cross-check employer tax filings against visa types more aggressively in 2026. Penalties include fines of up to ¥50,000, deportation, and a ban on future entry.
The Four Pathways to Legal Long-Term Residence
The pathway that's right for you depends on one question: do you have a Chinese employer, or do you need to create your own?
Pathway 1 in Depth: WFOE Self-Sponsorship (Our Specialty)
The WFOE (Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise) route is by far the most common pathway we support, because it's the only one that gives you complete control — you're not dependent on any Chinese employer, and you can work with any client, anywhere in the world, through your own company.
Why most self-employed foreigners choose this route
- No Chinese employer needed. You're both the company owner and the sponsored employee.
- You can serve clients globally from Yiyang — the company's registration city doesn't restrict who you bill.
- Cost of living in Yiyang on $400/month means a modest consulting income goes very far.
- The WFOE can also own property, hold bank accounts, and hire Chinese staff if you grow.
What we handle for you
Full WFOE + Visa + Relocation Package
We manage the complete sequence: company registration, work permit filing, apartment search, and police registration accompaniment. You focus on the move; we handle the paperwork.
Timeline: WFOE registration (8-12 weeks) + Work Permit + Z-Visa + Residence Permit (8-12 weeks) = approximately 4-6 months from decision to legal residence.
See Full WFOE Pricing & Packages
The three costs to budget for
- WFOE registration: $6,000-$10,000 (legal fees, registration, first-year compliance setup). See our interactive cost calculator.
- Registered capital: You declare an amount and pay it into your company's own bank account within 5 years — this stays as your business asset, not a sunk cost. Typical range $40K-$130K declared.
- Annual compliance: ~$4,000/year (accounting, audit, annual report filings). Included in our package for the first year.
Pathway 2 in Depth: Employer-Sponsored Z-Visa
If you have a confirmed job offer from a licensed Chinese employer — a school, a company, a university — the employer-sponsored route is the most straightforward. The employer does most of the filing; you provide documents.
The exact sequence
Step-by-Step: Employer Z-Visa to Residence Permit
1
Employer applies for
Foreigner's Work Permit Notification Letter from local Human Resources authority
⏱ 7-15 business days
2
Employer sends you the Notification Letter; you use it to apply for
Z-Visa at your local Chinese consulate or embassy, along with employment contract, medical certificate, and degree certificates
⏱ 4-10 business days
3
You enter China on the Z-Visa — valid for 30 days from entry (not from issue date)
4
Within
24 hours of arriving at your accommodation: register temporary address at local police station (派出所)
⚠️ Hard 24-hour deadline
5
Get
mandatory medical exam at a government-designated hospital (for permits over 1 year)
⏱ Usually same day, results in 3-5 days
6
Submit
Residence Permit for Employment application at local PSB (Exit and Entry Administration) within 30 days of arrival. Submit passport, temporary residence form, medical report, employment contract, company business license, biometrics (photo + fingerprints)
⏱ Processing: 10-15 working days
7
Collect passport with Residence Permit sticker. Pay fee: ¥400 (under 1 year) or ¥800 (up to 3 years). You can now travel internationally on this permit.
Note: While your Residence Permit application is being processed (step 6→7), you cannot leave mainland China. Your passport stays with the PSB. You receive a receipt as your temporary legal status document.
What Happens the Day You Arrive: Police Registration
Regardless of which visa pathway you use, every foreigner in China must register their residential address with the local police station (派出所) within 24 hours of arriving at any accommodation. This is called Temporary Residence Registration (临时住宿登记).
- If you're in a hotel, the hotel registers you automatically.
- If you're in your own apartment, you must go to the nearest police station yourself — typically with your passport, lease contract, and landlord's ID.
- If you move to a new address (even same city), you re-register within 24 hours at the new district's police station.
- Failure to register is a fine-able offense; Chinese authorities do cross-check during routine verification.
Our Move-In Service
We Come With You to the Police Station
Apartment searchVideo tours arranged before you land
Lease negotiationFair terms, in writing, reviewed for you
Police registrationWe accompany you — no language barrier
Visa guidanceRight pathway for your situation
Bank account setupWeChat Pay, Alipay, Chinese bank
Emergency hotlineWhatsApp, 4-hour response
The One Thing That Confuses Everyone: Visa vs Residence Permit
A Chinese visa gets you through the border. A Residence Permit lets you actually live here. They are completely different documents, issued by different government bodies:
| Visa (Z, X1, S1…) | Residence Permit |
|---|
| Issued by | Chinese consulate in your home country | Local PSB (Public Security Bureau) |
| Issued when | Before you enter China | After you arrive in China |
| Valid for | Entry only (30-90 days) | Living in China (1-5 years) |
| Re-entry | Usually single-entry | Multiple entries freely |
| Opens bank accounts | No | Yes |
| Sign long-term leases | Limited | Yes |
| What it looks like | Stamp in passport | Sticker in passport |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I live in China without a job offer from a Chinese employer?＋
Yes — through the WFOE self-sponsorship pathway. You register your own Chinese company ($6,000-$10,000), and that company then sponsors your own Z-visa work permit and Residence Permit. You are simultaneously the owner and the sponsored employee. This route doesn't require any Chinese employer or job offer. It's the most common pathway for self-employed foreigners, freelancers, consultants, and remote workers who want to live in China on their own terms.
How long does the entire process take?＋
For the WFOE pathway: 8-12 weeks for company registration + 8-12 weeks for work permit/visa/residence permit = approximately 4-6 months from decision to legal residence. For the employer-sponsored pathway: 8-12 weeks total from job offer to Residence Permit. Documents that require notarization or apostille in your home country can add 2-4 weeks to either timeline.
Can my spouse and children come with me?＋
Yes. Once you hold a valid Residence Permit, your spouse, parents, and minor children (under 18) can apply for S1 dependent visas. The S1 visa allows them to live in China for the same duration as your Residence Permit. Note: S1 visa holders cannot work — if your spouse wants to work in China, they need their own independent work permit, which typically means getting hired by a Chinese employer or registering their own WFOE.
Do I need to register with the police when I move to a new apartment?＋
Yes, within 24 hours of any new address. This applies whether you're moving to Yiyang for the first time or moving within the city to a new apartment. You go to the local police station (派出所) with your passport, lease contract, and landlord's ID. It typically takes 15-30 minutes. YiyangFangchan accompanies clients for this as standard — no language required from you.
Does buying property in China give me a visa or residency?＋
No. China does not have a "golden visa" or property-linked residency program. Buying a home in Yiyang does not grant you any right to live here beyond your current visa. The relationship is actually reversed: you need 1+ year of legal residency before you become eligible to buy property as an individual. Property ownership and residency are completely separate in China. See our full guide:
Does Buying Property Give You a Visa?Are there salary requirements for the work visa?＋
For employer-sponsored Z-visas in 2026, China enforces salary thresholds that vary by city and worker category. Category B (most foreign professionals) requires at least 4× the local average salary in some cities; Category A (high-level talent) requires 6×. In practice, major cities like Shanghai and Beijing enforce these more strictly than smaller cities. For WFOE owners, you set your own salary through your company, but it must be reasonable relative to the local market and your company's declared registered capital.
Ready to Start? Here's What to Do Next
The right first move depends on your situation:
- If you're self-employed, a freelancer, or a remote worker: → Read the WFOE guide and run the cost calculator. Then message us to start.
- If you have a job offer in China: → Message us for an employer Z-visa checklist and we'll make sure your documentation is complete before you apply.
- If you want to learn Mandarin first: → We can connect you with local language school options in Yiyang and guide the X1 student visa process.
- If your partner is moving and you're coming as a dependent: → Message us — we handle S1 family visa documentation as part of our relocation support.
Not Sure Which Pathway Is Right for You?
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