摘要：With the internationalization of China's job market, an increasing number of foreigners hope to work in China. However, due to Chi

With the internationalization of China's job market, an increasing number of foreigners hope to work in China. However, due to China's strict legal and regulatory requirements for foreigners working in the country, there are situations where they may not meet the relevant conditions. Below, we analyze this from six key aspects.

随着中国就业市场的国际化，越来越多的外国人希望来华工作。然而，由于中国对于外国人在华就业有着严格的法律法规要求，部分情况下他们可能不符合相关条件。下面我们从六个关键方面逐一解析。

I. Visa and Residence Permit Requirements

一、签证与居留许可要求

1. Ineligible Visa Type

1. 签证类型不符合

To work in China, one must apply for a work visa (Z visa). Foreigners holding other visas such as a tourist visa (L visa), a visit visa (F visa), or a student visa (X visa) are not allowed to engage in paid work.

在中国就业需要申请工作签证（Z签证），持有旅游签证（L签证）、访问签证（F签证）或学生签证（X签证）等其他签证的外国人，不能从事有偿工作。

Case: A company hired a foreign intern who held an X2 visa. The intern started working without converting to a Z visa and was subsequently fined by the labor department.

案例：某公司招聘了一名外籍实习生，但该实习生持X2签证，没有转为Z签证便直接上岗，结果被劳动部门罚款。

Advice: Ensure that foreign employees hold a Z visa before starting work and promptly apply for a work-related residence permit after entering the country.

建议：确保外籍员工在入职前持有Z签证，并在入境后及时申请工作类居留许可。

2.Expired Residence Permit

2. 居留许可过期

Holding a work-related residence permit is a necessary condition for legal employment. If the residence permit expires or is revoked, foreign employees will lose their qualification to work legally.

持有工作类居留许可是合法工作的必要条件。如果居留许可过期或被吊销，外籍员工将失去合法工作的资格。

Solution: The HR department needs to establish a reminder mechanism, using a professional human resources management system to dynamically monitor the expiration of visas and residence permits of foreign employees.

解决方案：HR部门需建立提醒机制，使用专业人事管理系统，对外籍员工的签证和居留许可到期情况进行动态监控。

II. Work Permit Application Requirements

二、工作许可申请条件

1.Failure to Obtain a Valid Work Permit

1. 未取得有效工作许可

According to the latest regulations in 2025, all foreigners must obtain a "Work Permit for Foreigners" before working in China. Working without permission will be considered illegal.

根据2025年的最新规定，所有外国人在中国就业前必须获得《外国人工作许可证》。未经许可直接工作的行为将被视为非法。

Reason for the issue: Some companies, in an attempt to save time and costs, overlook the process of obtaining a work permit, leading to subsequent risks.

问题原因：部分公司为了节省时间和成本，忽略了工作许可的办理流程，导致后续风险。

Experience Sharing: When applying for a work permit, HR should focus on whether the foreign employee's qualifications meet the standards of "high-end foreign talent" or "professional and technical category" to avoid the application being rejected.

经验分享：办理工作许可时，HR需重点关注外籍员工的个人资质是否符合“外国高端人才”或“专业技术类”标准，避免申请被驳回。

2.Age Restrictions

2. 年龄限制

China generally requires that foreign employees be between the ages of 18 and 60 (with some flexibility for special high-end talents). Those below or above this age range are usually not eligible to apply for a work permit.

中国要求外籍员工的年龄一般在18岁至60岁之间（特殊高端人才可适当放宽）。低于或超过这个年龄范围，通常无法申请工作许可。

Reminder: If recruiting high-end talents or short-term special trades, it is advisable to consult professional agencies or local exit-entry administration departments to confirm the applicable policies.

提醒：如招聘高端人才或短期特殊工种，建议咨询专业机构或当地出入境管理部门，以确认适用的政策。

III. Health Requirements

三、健康状况要求

1.Failure to Pass Health Examination

1. 健康体检未通过

Foreign individuals are required to pass a health examination conducted by designated medical institutions in China to prove that their physical condition meets the work requirements. If infectious diseases (such as tuberculosis) or serious chronic diseases are detected, they will not pass the examination.

外籍人士需通过中国指定医疗机构的健康体检，以证明其身体状况符合工作要求。如果检测出传染性疾病（如结核病或严重慢性疾病），将无法通过体检。

Common issue: Some foreign employees' overseas health examination reports are not recognized by Chinese medical institutions, leading to delays in work permit applications.

常见问题：部分外籍员工提供的海外体检报告未获中国医疗机构承认，导致工作许可申请被延误。

Advice: Require foreign employees to undergo health examinations at designated local hospitals and understand in advance the main reasons for failing the examination.

建议：要求外籍员工到当地指定医院进行体检，并提前了解体检不通过的主要原因。

2.Health Condition Mismatch with Job Requirements

2. 健康状况与岗位要求不匹配

Certain high-intensity or hazardous jobs have specific physical fitness requirements for employees. If the health condition of a foreign employee does not meet the job requirements, they may also fail to obtain the relevant permits.

某些高强度或危险工种对员工的身体素质有特定要求。如果外籍员工的健康状况达不到岗位需求，也可能无法获批相关许可。

IV. Certificate of No Criminal Record

四、无犯罪记录证明

1.Inability to Provide a Valid Certificate

1. 无法提供有效证明

When applying for a work permit, foreigners are required to provide a certificate of no criminal record from their country of residence or habitual residence. In some countries, the processing period for such certificates is long, or the document translation and notarization do not meet China's requirements.

申请工作许可时，外国人需提供其居住国或常住地的无犯罪记录证明。部分国家的证明办理周期长，或文件翻译与公证不符合中国要求。

Case: A foreign employee with a background of living in multiple countries failed to provide a certificate of no criminal record from all the countries, resulting in the rejection of the application.

案例：某外籍员工来自多国居住背景，但未能提供所有国家的无犯罪记录证明，导致申请被拒。

Strategy: It is recommended that HR assist foreign employees in clarifying the required document format and notarization requirements, and allow ample time for processing in advance.

对策：建议HR协助外籍员工明确所需文件格式与公证要求，并提前留出充分时间办理。

V. Educational Qualifications and Professional Skill Certification

五、学历与专业技能认证

1.Educational Level Does Not Meet Minimum Requirements

1. 学历未达到最低要求

Depending on the industry and job position, China generally requires foreign employees to have a bachelor's degree or above. If the educational level does not meet the corresponding standards, the application will usually be rejected.

根据行业和岗位要求，中国对外籍员工的学历普遍要求本科以上。若学历未达到相应标准，申请通常会被拒绝。

Special Reminder: Fake educational qualifications are a common issue. Once discovered, both the company and the individual will face legal responsibilities.

特别提醒：虚假学历是常见问题。一旦发现，企业与个人将面临法律责任。

2.Mismatch of Professional Skills

2. 专业技能不匹配

Some positions require international qualification certifications or skill certifications that are consistent with Chinese standards. If foreign employees lack the relevant qualifications, they will not be able to obtain a work permit.

部分岗位要求国际资格认证或与中国标准一致的技能认证。如果外籍员工缺乏相关资质，将无法获得工作许可。

Solution: It is recommended that companies introduce digital tools to review and track the qualifications of foreign employees, thereby improving recruitment efficiency.

解决方法：建议企业引入数字化工具，对外籍员工的资质进行审核和追踪，提升招聘效率。

VI. Industry-specific Restrictions and Regulations

六、行业特定限制与规定

1.Restrictions in Specific Industries

1. 特定行业限制

Some industries (such as national security, government departments, core positions in state-owned enterprises, etc.) have strict restrictions on the employment of foreigners. For example, foreigners are generally not allowed to work in positions involving state secrets or policy research.

部分行业（如国家安全、政府部门、国企核心岗位等）对外国人的就业有严格限制。例如，外国人通常不能从事涉及国家机密或政策研究的岗位。

2.Professional Qualification Restrictions

2. 职业资格限制

Industries such as education, healthcare, and law have high requirements for professional qualifications. Foreigners must hold professional qualifications certified by China in order to start work.

教育、医疗、法律等行业对职业资格要求较高，外国人需持有中国认证的执业资格方可上岗。

Practical Suggestions: When recruiting for positions with specific industry requirements, HR should carefully check the national and industry access standards to ensure that the qualifications of foreign employees meet the requirements.

实践建议：在招聘涉及行业特定要求的岗位时，HR应详细核对国家及行业的准入标准，确保外籍员工的资格符合要求。

来源：外事商务咨询中心