China: Work Permit Card Enhancements to Lead to Temporary Shutdown of Work Permit System

Starting December 1, 2024, foreign nationals’ work permits and social security cards (SSC) will be merged into a single card, including both the work permit and social security information. To prepare for the new single card system, the government will shut down its online work permit system from November 29, 2024, at 18:00 local time until December 1, 2024, at 18:00 local time, while it updates the system. More details about the combined card are expected to be forthcoming. While work permit application and processing will be suspended during the temporary system shutdown, processing delays are not expected since the shutdown falls on the weekend. However, processing delays may be possible during the initial stages of implementation of the new combined work permit and social security card. Fragomen will report on relevant details as they become available.