China: Location-Specific Wage Standards May Result in Increased Wage Requirements for Some Employees
February 9, 2026
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At a Glance
- China has increased its enforcement of average wage standards for work permit applications nationwide. Beijing and Shanghai now strictly apply the latest average wage benchmarks for foreign work permits.
- As a result, employers of Category A and Category B work permit holders may need to review or increase these salaries to comply with the newly-enforced amounts.
- Where Category A permits are downgraded to Category B, additional supporting documentation may be required, potentially resulting in longer processing times for renewal applications.
- Average wage standards are expected to be adjusted annually.
The situation
Effective February 3, 2026, according to the China Expert Bureau’s online immigration portal, authorities in Shanghai and Beijing will fully align Category A and B work permit salary thresholds with the latest published average wage standards (called “social average wage standards’ per Chinese regulations), resulting in a notable increase in required salary levels for these categories.
A closer look
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- Beijing. The newly published monthly average wage is CNY 11,937. Accordingly, the Category B work permit salary threshold is now CNY 572,976 per year, or CNY 47,748 per month. The Category A salary requirement rises to CNY 859,464 per year, or CNY 71,622 per month.
- Shanghai. The newly published monthly average wage is CNY 12,434. Accordingly, the Category B work permit salary threshold is now CNY 596,832 per year, or CNY 49,736 per month. The Category A salary requirement rises to CNY 895,248 per year, or CNY 74,604 per month.
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Impact
The increased average wage standards in Shanghai and Beijing will:
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- Affect new Category A and Category B work permit applications submitted under the salary commitment channel.
- Impact renewals of existing Category A and certain Category B permits, particularly where current compensation no longer meets the revised thresholds.
- Where Category A permits are downgraded to Category B, additional supporting documentation may be required, potentially resulting in longer processing times for renewal applications.
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Employers of Category A and Category B work permit holders may need to review or increase these salaries to comply with the newly-enforced amounts.
Background
Since 2017, Beijing and Shanghai have not adjusted the average wage standards in line with annual changes to the average wage. During this period, many Category A applications were approved based on salary levels below the newly enforced thresholds.
In contrast, other major cities—such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou—have updated these benchmarks on an annual basis. The 2026 enforcement represents a significant policy shift, bringing Beijing and Shanghai back in line with national practice.
Looking ahead
These amounts are expected to be updated annually. Fragomen will continue to monitor policy developments and provide updates as further details become available. Each impacted case should be assessed individually, and tailored solutions may be considered based on the applicant’s profile and employment structure.
Fragomen in China is Fragomen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in China. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
