Application for the Foreigner's Work Permit in the People's Republic of China (Category C–International Youth Internship Exchange Program)

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I. Application for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China for Interns from France and Germany

(I) Target Applicants

1. Basic Requirements for Employers

(1) They must be legally established, have an actual place of business, comply with tax obligations, pay social insurance, and have no serious records of legal violations or dishonesty.

(2) If laws or regulations require prior approval by the competent industry authority, the employer shall obtain such approval.

2. Basic Requirements for Applicants

(1) French interns should be current students or graduates within one year from mutually recognized universities (including vocational and technical colleges);

German interns should meet the following criteria:

① German Universities: Current students (including undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD students) who have completed at least four semesters of higher education or graduates who have graduated within the last 12 months.

② German Vocational Schools (including technical colleges): Current students or graduates who have graduated within the last 12 months.

(2) French interns should be between 18 and 30 years old.

German interns should be between18 and 35 years old.

(3) They must have a confirmed internship unit operating normally and legally within the municipal administrative area.

(4) Internship period shall not exceed six months, and applicants cannot hold employee status simultaneously.

The internship period includes: ①90 days or less; ②exceeding 90 days but within six months.

(5) No criminal record.

(6) Good health.

(7) Hold a valid passport or other international travel documents that can substitute for a passport.

(8) Other conditions prescribed by laws and regulations.

(II) Required Documents

1. For internship periods of 90 days or less

Application Form for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China: To be completed and printed online. The applicant must sign the form, and it must be stamped with the employer's official seal before being uploaded to the system.

Wearing hats or headscarves is not recommended. If required for religious reasons, the accessory must not cover the applicant's full face.

(3) Internship Contract: A Chinese version must be provided. Alterations are not permitted.

(4) Internship Confirmation Letter: For French interns, the confirmation letter shall be issued by the SCAC of the Embassy of France in China. For German interns, the confirmation letter shall be issued by the DIHK's institution in China – German Industry & Commerce Greater China, including its offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

(5) Applicant's Passport or International Travel Document: Information page of the passport or international travel document. The passport must have a remaining validity of no less than six months.

(6) Other Documents: Additional materials as required by the acceptance or decision-making authority based on specific needs.

2. Internships exceeding 90 days but within six months.

(1) Application Form for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China: To be completed and printed online. The applicant must sign the form, and it must be stamped with the employer's official seal before being uploaded to the system.

(2) Applicant's Front-Facing Bareheaded Photo Taken Within the Last Six Months: A recent electronic photo with a white background, no border, full facial features visible, clear image, and free of spots, blemishes, or ink defects. Wearing hats or headscarves is not recommended. If required for religious reasons, the accessory must not cover the applicant's full face.

(3) Internship Contract: A Chinese version of the contract must be provided. No alterations are allowed.

(5) Certificate of No Criminal Record: It shall be issued by the police, security authorities, or courts of the applicant's country of nationality or place of habitual residence, and shall be authenticated by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, or by the embassy or consulate of the applicant's country of nationality in China.

(6) Applicant's Passport or International Travel Document: Information page of the passport or international travel document. The passport must have a remaining validity of no less than six months.

(7) Medical Examination Certificate: A physical examination record verification certificate or health check certificate issued by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution for foreign nationals shall be provided, and the date of issuance must be within the past six months. For overseas application for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China, a commitment-based approach may be adopted where applicants can submit a Medical Examination Commitment Letter.

(8) Other Documents: Additional materials as required by the acceptance or decision-making authority based on specific needs.

(III) Verification Requirements

The Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China is processed entirely online (Original application materials must be verified for new applications). Applicants with an internship period exceeding 90 days but within six months shall carry all original documents upon entry into China. For overseas application: after obtaining the work permit and entering China, the applicant shall present the original documents to the accepting authority for verification within one month and before applying for the Residence Permit for Work. For domestic application: after passing the pre-review, the applicant shall bring the original documents to the accepting authority for verification.

(IV) Important Notes

1. The internship contract period shall not exceed six months.

2. French students studying in China may apply for internships directly within China without returning to their home country.

3. The internship field for German interns shall be relevant to the degree or qualification they are about to obtain or have already obtained.

4. When entering information into the system, the employer must specify "Internship" in the job title field.

5. The validity period of the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China must not exceed the validity of the applicant’s passport, internship contract, or the employer’s business license or other legal registration documents.

6. After the internship ends, the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China bearing the designation "Internship" may not be extended.

(V) Approval Timeframes

Pre-Review Period: Five working days (based on the submission of complete and compliant documents; preliminary review and acceptance are processed together).

Review Period: Five working days (based on the documents accepted online).

In special circumstances where an extension of the review period is required, the accepting or decision-making authority will handle the matter at its discretion.

II. Application for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China by Singaporean Interns

(I) Target Applicants

1. Basic Requirements for Employers

(1) They must be legally established, have an actual place of business, comply with tax obligations, pay social insurance, and have no serious records of legal violations or dishonesty.

(2) If laws or regulations require prior approval by the competent industry authority, the employer shall obtain such approval.

2. Basic Requirements for Applicants

(1) Singaporean interns shall be full-time students enrolled in public institutions of higher education (including universities and polytechnics), or graduates from these institutions who apply for a visa within one year of graduation, in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on the Youth Interns Exchange Scheme.

(2) Applicants must hold Singaporean nationality and must not have previously participated in this program.

(3) Applicants shall be at least 18 years old.

(4) They must have a confirmed internship unit operating normally and legally within the municipal administrative area.

(5) Internship period shall not exceed six months, and applicants cannot hold employee status simultaneously.

The internship period includes: ① 90 days or less; ② exceeding 90 days but within six months.

(6) No criminal record.

(7) Good health.

(8) Hold a valid passport or other international travel documents that can substitute for a passport.

(9) Other conditions prescribed by laws and regulations.

(II) Required Documents

1. Application Form for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China: To be completed and printed online. The applicant must sign the form, and it must be stamped with the employer's official seal before being uploaded to the system.

2. Internship Agreement: The accepted Singaporean intern must sign an internship agreement with their employer (A Chinese version of the contract must be provided and must not contain any alterations).

The internship agreement shall comply with Chinese laws and regulations and include the following clauses:

(1) Job responsibilities based on the intern's abilities, training objectives, or career goals;

(2) Description of the internship position;

(3) Start and end dates of the internship;

(4) Maximum weekly working hours.

The total of regular and overtime hours must not exceed this maximum;

(5) Amount and payment method of internship allowance and overtime compensation (if applicable);

(6) Welfare benefits available to the intern (if any);

(7) Insurance coverage during the internship period;

(8) Responsibilities of the internship supervisor;

(9) Terms for suspension or termination of the internship;

(10) Conditions under which the intern may take leave;

(11) Internal regulations of their employer that the intern must follow (with special emphasis on the duty of care and confidentiality obligations).

3. Internship Confirmation Letter: Singaporean interns must apply for the confirmation letter through their institution of higher education to Business China.

4. Applicant's Passport or International Travel Document: Information page of the passport or international travel document.

The passport must have a remaining validity of no less than six months.

5. Certificate of No Criminal Record: It shall be issued by the police, security authorities, or courts of the applicant's country of nationality or place of habitual residence, and shall be authenticated by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, or by the embassy or consulate of the applicant's country of nationality in China.

6. Medical Examination Certificate: A physical examination record verification certificate or health check certificate issued by a Chinese inspection and quarantine institution for foreign nationals shall be provided, and the date of issuance must be within the past six months.

7. Other Documents: Additional documents as required by the acceptance or decision-making authority based on specific needs.

(III) Verification Requirements

(IV) Important Notes

1. The internship contract period shall not exceed six months.

2. Singaporean interns whose internship duration in China does not exceed 30 days are not required to apply for a residence permit. For the internship exceeding 30 days (inclusive), the intern must, within 30 days of entry, apply for a foreigner residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau at the intended place of residence, using a Z visa, the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit in the People's Republic of China, and a confirmation letter issued by their employer.

3. When applying for the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China under the China-Singapore Youth Interns Exchange Scheme, the employer shall submit all required documents in scanned format.

4. Singaporean interns shall obtain overseas accident, emergency rescue, and medical insurance coverage for the duration of the internship.

5. When entering information into the system, the employer must specify "Internship" in the job title field.

6. The validity period of the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China must not exceed the validity of the applicant’s passport, internship contract, or the employer's business license or other legal registration documents.

7. After the internship ends, the Foreigner’s Work Permit in the People’s Republic of China bearing the designation "Internship" may not be extended.

(V) Approval Timeframes

Pre-Review Period: Five working days (based on the submission of complete and compliant documents; preliminary review and acceptance are processed together).

Review Period: Five working days (based on the documents accepted online).

In special circumstances where an extension of the review period is required, the accepting or decision-making authority will handle the matter at its discretion.