It’s a tedious process for foreigners applying for the Alien Employment Permit in Shanghai, be it as a new applicant, applying for an extension, changing employers, or even a change in job title. Paperwork is plenty, and unless you’re a legal representative or the like, chances are this is a yearly procedure for you. Employment Permits are only valid for a year, and your residence permit is tied to the validity of your employment permit. Lucky ones amongst us have a runner in the company’s HR who will settle everything for you, but if you’re asked to do it yourself, or if you’re between jobs but have the necessary documents to apply, then here’s a guide that will likely help you. Alternatively, you can hire an agent to settle everything for you, but why spend that 1000-2000RMB when you can do it yourself?
Please note that this guide is for those who already have an existing Alien Employment Permit and are looking to apply for a new one with a new employer. First-timers have to go through a different procedure altogether, needing a health check, and a possible trip back to Hong Kong or your home country. Please see here for more detailed information for that. Other instructions for permit extension, changing job positions, etc are also available here.
For a more official guide, please refer to the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau’s Instructions for Applying for Foreigner’s Switching Employer. The following guide is from my personal experience.
Documents You Will Need:
- 3 passport photos (2 to be pasted on the Employment Registration Forms, 1 is for the new Alien Employment Permit)
- 2 completed Employment Registration Form for Foreign Employees in China (downloadable here) (You’d really want to print it out and complete it beforehand because there are no forms at the Administrative Centre, and you need your employer’s company stamp)
- Release letter from previous company (离职证明), and ensure that it has the company stamp
- Copies of your current employer’s valid Business License (营业执照), Organization Code Certificate (组织机构代码证), and Certificate of Approval (批准证书) for foreign-invested enterprises (1 copy each will be submitted at this stage, but you might want to make 2 copies as you will need to submit these to the Exit-Entry Bureau when you apply for your Residence Permit)
- Chinese CV, with current employer’s company stamp
- Reference letter with company stamp (especially if you’re working in a completely different role from your previous job, which is actually not recommended for foreigners. They take about 10 working days to process this, and there might be a higher chance of it being unapproved. Foreigners are encouraged to stay in similar work to their previous job. If your new role is similar with your previous role, then this reference letter is not needed.)
- Education certificates (your highest attained qualification, or certificates relevant with current job position)
- Copy of labour contract with current company, signed by both you and your employer, with company stamp
- Existing Alien Employment Permit
- Valid passport and residence permit (original and copy)
- If there are other things that is to be amended, e.g. your residential address, then you need to attach the temporary residence form that you get from the police station (派出所). The copy is acceptable, as you need to submit the original to the Exit-Entry Bureau when you apply for your Residence Permit
- Current employer’s User Card (用户卡), if the employer has previously applied for this card with the Administrative Centre. It looks like this:
Application Procedure:
- Bring these documents with you to Shanghai Administrative Center for Employment of Foreigners (上海市外国人就业中心) in the building called Shanghai Talent Center (上海人才大厦). Address: 77 Meiyuan Road, 4th floor. It’s close to Hengtong Road, and just across the street from Hanzhong Road station (汉中路), Metro Line 1, exit 2. Business Hours from Monday to Thursday: 9: 00AM-11: 30AM, 1:30PM-5:00PM. Business Hours for Friday: 9: 00AM-11: 30AM, 1: 30PM-3: 30PM. Tip: Queue numbers are still issued during lunch time.
- After submitting your documents, they will issue you a pink sheet of paper stating the date of collection. If there’s no issue, your Alien Employment Permit should be ready in 5 business days.
- On the collection day, hand over the pink sheet to the person at the Collection Counter. You will be handed a pink envelope that contains your old Alien Employment Permit (with 2 perforated holes), your new Alien Employment Permit, and one Employment Registration Form, which you will need to submit to the Exit-Entry Bureau for your Residence Permit.
You’re now ready to apply for your Residence Permit.
