Work Permit Sponsors Subject to New Online Preapproval Requirement in Beijing
December 8, 2015

Sponsoring companies in Beijing applying for work permits must apply for preapproval online prior to submitting applications to the Beijing Labour Bureau on or after January 4, 2016, according to the Labour Bureau’s announcement of a new work permit application system.
Work Permit Types Subject to New System
Applications for the following work permit types will require online preapproval system:
- Short-Term Work Authorization;
- Employment License;
- Work Permit (including permits for Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao nationals); and
- Expert Certificate.
The new system will likely prolong work permit processing times.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Sponsoring companies should ensure that they complete the following tasks as soon as possible, but definitely prior to January 4:
- Apply for a digital certificate with the Labor Bureau; and
- Activate the certificate online and fill in company information.
The Labor Bureau will review each application after the sponsor completes the above steps and makes an appointment to submit the application.
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.
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