Work Permit Renewal Filing Rule to be Strictly Enforced

Executive summary

Starting February 28, 2018, authorities will enforce the requirement for Work Permit renewal applications to be filed at least 30 days prior to expiry of the existing Work Permit.

The situation

Starting February 28, 2018, all renewal Work Permit applications will need to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the expiry of the existing Work Permit. This stricter requirement will apply nationwide.

Impact

• Formal authorization required earlier. To ensure that the renewal application is filed before the deadline, employers will need to grant the necessary renewal authorization to Fragomen at least two months prior to the expiration of their employees’ existing Work Permits. This involves the employer submitting a formal authorization for legal representation for the renewal.
• Planning in advance. Moreover, employers and foreign nationals are strongly recommended to plan for renewal applications in advance, including preparing their documents and planning their travel arrangements. Employers and foreign nationals should contact their immigration professional regarding any special circumstances that may impact such situations.

Background

The rule for renewal applications to be filed at least 30 days prior to expiry of the existing Work Permit has existed since April 1, 2017, but authorities will start to strictly enforce this rule starting February 28, 2018.  Until then, renewal applications can still be submitted up until the expiry of the current Work Permit.

This alert is for informational purposes only.  If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to CNInitiations@fragomen.com.

Fragomen in China is Fragomen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in China.