Chongqing- A Korean expert from the South Korean company of SK Hynix received his work permit in Chongqing High-Tech Zone recently. This marks the first work permit for foreigners to come to China since the Chongqing High-tech Zone officially launched the pilot reform of work permits for foreigners to come to China.

A Korean expert from South Korean company SK Hynix received his work permit in Chongqing High-Tech Zone recently. (Picture from the Innovation Center of the Chongqing High-tech Zone)

Through effective and simplified measures to handle foreigner working matters, this facilitates the working environment in Chongqing High-tech Zone and encourages talents all over the world to come to the Western (Chongqing) Science City.

A foreigner’s work permit is a legal document for foreigners to work in China, which is necessary and important, like a passport. The permit is the same size as a personal ID, with an electronic chip card inside to guarantee one person with one code. Through scanning the QR code on the card, it will allow detailed information to be seen, including the time of issuance, a uniform number of work permits, talent category, and other related information.

A foreigner’s work permit is a legal document for foreigners to work in China, which is necessary and important, like a passport. (Picture from the Innovation Center of the Chongqing High-tech Zone)

At the end of 2020, Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau decided to open a pilot service window for foreigners working in Chongqing high-tech zone. Chongqing High-tech Zone became the city's first unit to launch the pilot program for the acceptance and service of foreigners working permit in China.

Starting from 2021, when an employer decides to hire foreign talent in Chongqing High-tech Zone, the talent can directly apply for and receive a foreigner’s work permit in the Chongqing High-tech Zone.

According to the relevant person from the Innovation Center of the Chongqing High-tech Zone, applying for foreigners' permission to come to China is easy to follow. The permit can be obtained without leaving the Zone. More importantly, the steps of filling in and submitting information can be performed online as well. 

(Fan Xingyan, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)