Guide to Application for Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts for Short-term Stay in China

Applicable Objects

1. Having the status of a legal person and the ability to employ foreign experts.

2. Having clear tasks to work in China.

3. Having a detailed schedule in China.

4. Having sufficient fees to ensure that foreign experts come to China.

5. In accordance with the requirements for Foreign High-end Talents (Category A) or the Notice on Further Improving Relevant Handling Procedures for the Short-Term Stay of Foreign Experts in China (No. 176 [2015] of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs).

Law Bases

1. Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs on Further Improving Relevant Handling Procedures for the Short-Term Stay of Foreign Experts in China (No. 176 [2015] of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs).

2. Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs on Issuing the Service Guide to the Foreigners Work Permit in China (Trial) (No. 36 [2017] of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs).

 Requirements for Documents Provided

1. All paper versions of original documents and the translated versions must be electronically uploaded in color to the Service System for Foreigners Working in China.

2. Non-Chinese credentials shall be translated into Chinese and stamped with the official seal of the employer (except for passports and international travel certificates).

3. No paper documents shall be submitted for verification.

 Documents Required

1. The Application Form of the Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts in China (which specifies the applicant’s basic information, the reason for coming to China, the length of stay in China, the specific cost arrangement, and the employer’s commitment to the authenticity of the invitation and the guarantee of the payment of fees in China) shall be stamped with an official seal of the employer.

2. The Application Form for the Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts in China shall be stamped with an official seal of the employer.

3. Foreign expert’s passport or the international travel certificate.

4. A copy of the short-term employment contract or dispatch (invitation) letter shall be affixed with an official seal of the employer and signed by the legal person or the person in charge of the Foreign Affairs Department.

5. Other credentials that the issuing authority deems necessary (e.g. those who conform to Foreign High-end Talents (Category A) shall submit the relevant certificate).

 Notes:

1. The applicant with the Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts in China who applies for F visa have no need to apply for a work-type residence permit after entering China.

2. For pre-approval by the industry competent authority by law or those who are qualified for relevant accessible occupations, an approval document of the industry competent authority or a certificate of work qualification shall be provided.

 Handling Procedure

1. The employer of the foreign expert shall submit an application in the Service System for Foreigners Working in China.

2. The handling authority shall receive the application of the employer and inform the  reception result within five working days (the date on which the documents are submitted shall not be counted).

3. Upon reception online, the decision-making authority shall, within five working days from the date of reception, conduct an examination and make a decision, and no paper documents shall be submitted for verification no longer.

4. Those foreign experts approved by the handling authority will be issued with the Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts in China.

5. Foreign experts shall apply for an F visa within 90 days to the visa authority with the Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts in China and relevant documents.

6. The handling authority has the right to refuse the application of the employer with a reason.

 Examination and Approval Period

Reception period: Five working days (after the complete and qualified documents are submitted online by the employer)

Review and decision-making period: Five working days (from the date of reception)

In case of special circumstances requiring an extension of time limit, the reception authority or the decision-making authority shall handle the matter as appropriate.

Reception way and time

Reception way

1. Reception at the window

Reception Department: Shanghai R&D Public Service Platform (Shanghai Scientific and Technological Talents Development Center/Shanghai Service Center for Foreigners Working in China)

Address: 1F 77 Meiyuan Road Jing’an District

2. Online reception

Please directly access to the Service System for Foreigners Working in China https://fwp.safea.gov.cn; or access to it via the government affairs service platform of the Ministry of Science and Technology at https://fuwu.most.gov.cn

  Reception time