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Step-2: Applying for Invitation Letter
The companies who invite foreigners to China for short-term work other than commercial shows
should apply for an invitation letter from the local HRSSB or other authorized departments.
The show organizer should apply for the invitation letter from the provincial level foreign affairs
department where the first show is held.
Step-3: Applying Z-visa
With the Invitation Letter, Employment License (or Approval Letter from the Cultural Department
for commercial shows) and Short-TermWork Certificate, the foreigner can apply for a Z-visa.
For short-term work, the medical check-up and the Employment Permit are not required.
Foreigners working in China for less than 30 days are not required to apply for the Residence Permit.
Instead, their Short-TermWork Certificate and Z-visa will stipulate how many days they are allowed
to stay. For stays over 30 days, the foreigner needs to apply for a Residence Permit.
Reason for coming to China
Considered as
short-term work
Visa type
• Sports training at a local sports organization (athletes and coaches).
• Tasks involving technology, research, management or guidance at or with a local partner.
• Filming (including advertisements and documentaries).
• Fashion show (including car shows and photo shoots for advertising).
• Foreign-related, commercial shows and performances.
• Additional categories stipulated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
Yes
Z-visa
• Maintaining, installing, testing, disassembling or providing guidance and training for the use
of machinery and equipment.
• Guiding, supervising and inspecting a project that has won bidding in China.
• Dispatching personnel to work at branches, subsidiaries or Representative Offices (ROs).
• Participating in sports events (athletes, coaches, doctors, assistants and other related personnel).
No
M-visa
• Unpaid work or volunteer work in China that is paid for by a foreign institution.
• Performances approved by the Culture Department but not marked as ‘foreign related show or
performance for commercial ends’.
No
F-visa