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 [email protected].
Fragomen in China is Fragomen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in China.
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler outlines the key compliance considerations for employers with employees working across the EU.
Podcast
Associates Julia Manacher and Stephanie Weaver examine immigration issues emerging in a popular reality television series, including K-1 visa denials, consular non-reviewability, fraud findings and changing adjudication policies.
Blog post
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt examines common misconceptions in German citizenship law, including birthright citizenship, dual citizenship, citizenship by descent and naturalization processing, and explains why eligibility often depends on specific legal requirements, timelines and documentation.
Awards
Partner Audrea Golding, Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Senior Talent Development Director Wendy Milici have been named finalists in the 2026 TLC Lions Human Awards Americas, recognizing their contributions to human-centered leadership, workplace culture and inclusion.
Media mentions
Fragomen and SICPA have launched a global joint venture to develop an end-to-end digital identity platform that enables secure identity verification, document authentication and verifiable credential management.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how potential changes to H-1B visas, employment-based green cards and OPT could impact employers’ workforce planning and compliance obligations.
Media mentions
In a Leaders in Motion interview with World Business Travel Forum, Partner Ali Haider and Nomadic CEO Carsten Østberg discuss recent travel and mobility developments across the Middle East and practical considerations for employers managing cross-border talent in the region.
Media mentions
Partner Rachel Beardsley explains how new DHS guidance clarifies that dairy employers may use the H-2A program when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and SICPA announced the formation of a global joint venture to advance next-generation digital identity solutions for governments, enterprises and individuals.
Media mentions
Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Associate Isabel Schnitzler outlines the key compliance considerations for employers with employees working across the EU.
Podcast
Associates Julia Manacher and Stephanie Weaver examine immigration issues emerging in a popular reality television series, including K-1 visa denials, consular non-reviewability, fraud findings and changing adjudication policies.
Blog post
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt examines common misconceptions in German citizenship law, including birthright citizenship, dual citizenship, citizenship by descent and naturalization processing, and explains why eligibility often depends on specific legal requirements, timelines and documentation.
Awards
Partner Audrea Golding, Senior Associate Kyle Sommer and Senior Talent Development Director Wendy Milici have been named finalists in the 2026 TLC Lions Human Awards Americas, recognizing their contributions to human-centered leadership, workplace culture and inclusion.
Media mentions
Fragomen and SICPA have launched a global joint venture to develop an end-to-end digital identity platform that enables secure identity verification, document authentication and verifiable credential management.
Media mentions
Senior Counsel Mitch Wexler discusses how potential changes to H-1B visas, employment-based green cards and OPT could impact employers’ workforce planning and compliance obligations.
Media mentions
In a Leaders in Motion interview with World Business Travel Forum, Partner Ali Haider and Nomadic CEO Carsten Østberg discuss recent travel and mobility developments across the Middle East and practical considerations for employers managing cross-border talent in the region.
Media mentions
Partner Rachel Beardsley explains how new DHS guidance clarifies that dairy employers may use the H-2A program when they can demonstrate a temporary or seasonal labor need.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and SICPA announced the formation of a global joint venture to advance next-generation digital identity solutions for governments, enterprises and individuals.
