Full Nationwide Implementation Of Foreigners’ Work Permit System
Full Nationwide Implementation Of Foreigners’ Work Permit System
Full Nationwide Implementation of Foreigners’ Work Permit System
Lucy Weng, Labor and Compliance Department
On 28th March, four departments including the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs jointly distributed the Circular on Fully Implementing the Licensing System for Foreigners to Work in China 《关于全面实施外国人来华工作许可制度的通知》(the "Circular"). The Circular clearly states the measures to be taken from April 1, 2017, when the licensing system for foreigners to work in China goes into effect across the Country. The Circular has made great changes in comparison with that which is stipulated in the Implementation Plan for the Pilot Work Permit System for Foreigners Working in China 《外国人来华工作许可制度试点实施方案》 (the "Plan").
1ST CHANGE： Explicitly defined recognition criteria of high-end foreign talents (Category A)
2ND CHANGE：Relation of recognition criteria of professional foreign talents (Category B)
3RD CHANGE：Amendments on the application for General foreign personnel (Category C)
4TH CHANGE：Significant changes in scoring criteria and corresponding points
One of the most important reforms in the Plan is the adoption of the points-based system, under which different items such as annual salary, level of education, age, etc., are given different points.
According to the Circular, significant changes have been made to the scoring criteria and corresponding points, which might favor certain applicants over others.
Though the Circular was issued in March, it is notable that the acceptance departments in Shanghai have not received any new service guidance for licensing. That is to say, the Plan is still in force as of April 10, 2017. A&Z Law Firm will release further information in due course.
