WorkinChina

Practice in Beijing: Converting Student Visas to Category A Work Visas for Outstanding International Graduates in China

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With the acceleration of China's internationalization, the demand for outstanding international graduates in China to stay and work has been growing. Based on the Classification Standards for Foreigners Working in China (Trial) and the latest policies, this article briefly sorts out the whole process for outstanding international graduates to convert their student visas to Category A work visas, including policy basis, document preparation, online and offline application procedures, and precautions, providing practical guidance for international students and employers.

I. Policy Basis and Core Requirements

According to the Classification Standards for Foreigners Working in China (Trial), outstanding international graduates applying for conversion to Category A work visas must meet the following core requirements:

(1) Basic Qualification Requirements

Be at least 18 years old, in good health, with no criminal record, have a confirmed employer in China, and possess the professional skills or relevant knowledge required for the job.

The work engaged in shall meet the needs of China's economic and social development and be for professionals in short supply in China.

Foreign high-end talents (Category A) refer to scientists, technological leaders, international entrepreneurs, special talents, etc., who meet the "high-level, sophisticated, and urgently needed" criteria and market demand orientation, and are required for China's economic and social development, as well as those who meet the point-based scoring standards for foreign high-end talents. Foreign high-end talents are not restricted by age, education, or work experience.

Employer Qualifications: The employer must register on the "Foreigners Working in China Management Service System" and have the qualification to legally employ foreign employees.

Required Documents:

• Information registration form (stamped with the employer's official seal);
• Legal registration certificates (business license, organization code certificate, social insurance registration certificate, registration certificate of resident representative offices of foreign enterprises, or registration certificate of representative offices of overseas non-governmental organizations, etc.; those with a unified social credit code shall provide the unified social credit code certificate);
• Identification documents of the person in charge and the handler;
• Industry license documents (if pre-approval by the industry competent authority is required as stipulated by laws and regulations, the approval document from the industry competent authority shall be submitted).

(2) Special Policies for Category A Visas for Graduates of Domestic Universities

Foreign graduates must have 2 years of work experience to apply for a work visa after obtaining their bachelor's degree. However, to attract outstanding talents, graduates of domestic universities who meet the standards of "outstanding international students" can directly apply for Category A work visas (those meeting Category A requirements may be exempted from some additional requirements).

II. Offline Document Submission (Taking Beijing Government Affairs Hall as an Example)

Outstanding international students shall submit the following documents to the government affairs hall through their employers (all documents must be stamped with the employer's official seal):

Degree certificate (Chinese version): Provide the official graduation certificate and degree certificate issued by the domestic university; if in a foreign language, a translated version and the certification from the Ministry of Education must be attached.

Copy of the university's world ranking: Provide proof of the graduate's university ranking in authoritative lists such as QS.

Supporting documents for the company's strength: Including the employer's business license, industry qualification certificate, financial statements of the past year, etc., to prove the stability of the enterprise's operation.

Copy of the passport's bio page: Including the applicant's personal information and the valid visa page.

Employer's statement letter: Addressed to "Beijing Municipal Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs", which shall include:

Reasons for employment and the necessity of the position (e.g., filling the gap in international business);

Matching degree between the student's major and the position (e.g., the relevance of the major background to international communication, technology transfer, etc.);

The employer's main business, tax payment status (total tax paid in the past year), number of employees, and profit status.

Labor contract: Clearly specifying the specific position (e.g., "International Communication Specialist"), work location (must be accurate to the city; vague expressions such as "mainly" shall be deleted), salary standards, and contract term.

Explanation of the company's social insurance and tax payment status: Fill in according to the template specified by the government affairs hall, including social insurance payment records and tax certificates of the past 3 months.

Health commitment: Applicable when document collection is time-constrained; a medical examination certificate issued by a designated hospital (valid within 6 months) must be supplemented and uploaded during online submission.

Legal representative's power of attorney: If handled by an agent, a power of attorney signed by the employer's legal representative is required.

Copy of the agent's ID card (both front and back).

Review Period: The preliminary review is expected to be completed within 14 working days after submission.

III. Online Application and Filling Process

Employers must log in to the "Foreigners Working in China Management Service System" to complete the online application and upload the following attachments:

Application Form for Foreigners Working in China: Filled out online, signed by the applicant and stamped by the employer, then scanned and uploaded.

Work experience certificate: Category A applicants can directly upload their degree certificates (exempt from work experience proof).

Highest academic degree certificate: Graduates of domestic universities provide Chinese certificates; graduates of overseas universities must attach the certification from Chinese embassies or consulates abroad.

No criminal record certificate: Category A applicants can upload their degree certificates instead (Category A adopts a commitment system for this item; self-declaration of no criminal record without official proof is not accepted). (For Categories B and C, the no criminal record certificate shall be issued by the police, security, court, or other departments of the applicant's country of nationality or habitual residence, and authenticated by Chinese embassies/consulates abroad or foreign embassies/consulates in China.)

Medical examination certificate: Foreigner Health Examination Certificate issued by designated medical institutions in China.

Employment contract or appointment certificate: Clearly specifying working hours, location, content, salary, position, etc., including the signed and stamped page.

Applicant's passport or international travel document: Including the personal information page and valid visa page.

Front-facing bareheaded photo taken within 6 months.

Precautions for Filling: Online documents must be consistent with offline submissions; scanned copies must be clear and legible, in PDF or JPG format.

IV. Work Permit Conversion and Residence Permit Application

(1) Work Permit Approval

After waiting for 8 working days, if the review is approved, download the work permit notice and the administrative license approval decision from the website, and then go to the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (12367) to apply for the residence permit.

(2) Residence Permit Application

Applicants must go to the local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (inquiry hotline: 12367) to apply for a work-type residence permit with the following materials:

Application Form for Foreigner's Visa and Documents: Paste a 2-inch white-background ID photo (can be filled out on-site or online by appointment).

Valid accommodation registration certificate: Issued by the police station in the place of residence.

Medical examination certificate: Required for applications for residence permits with a validity period of more than 1 year.

Notice of Foreigner's Work Permit: Printed from the system.

Employer's letter of opinion on visa application: Including the applicant's basic information, job title, work period, and the enterprise's commitment to abide by the law (must be stamped with the official seal).

V. Precautions

Time Node: Applications must be submitted within 30 days before the expiration of the student visa to avoid overstaying.

Document Consistency: Online and offline documents must be completely consistent; translations of foreign-language documents must be stamped with the translation company's official seal.

Conclusion

The conversion of outstanding international graduates in China to Category A work visas is an important measure for China to attract international talents. Employers and international students must strictly follow policy requirements, prepare documents standardizedly, and ensure a smooth process. In the future, with further policy optimization, the channels for international students to work in China will become more convenient, injecting vitality into Sino-foreign talent exchanges and technological innovation.