During your X1 visa: you can work up to 16 hours/week on campus (research assistant, TA, library staff — called 勤工助学) with just your university international office's approval. Off-campus part-time work is allowed in pilot cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hubei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, Fujian) during holidays up to 24 hours/week, but requires both the university and the local public security bureau approval plus a part-time work permit. After graduation: switch to a Z visa + work permit + residence permit (the standard employer-sponsored path) or apply for an entrepreneurship/stay-back visa (foreigner residence permit for innovation/in创业) if you start a business in a free trade zone. Realistic outcomes: most international graduates who want to stay find a job at a multinational, a Chinese tech company, or an education institution. Income tax on part-time earnings is 3-45% progressive; 勤工助学 income is partially exempt.
Key takeaways
- X1 visa holders can work on campus up to 16 hours/week with university approval (勤工助学)
- Off-campus part-time work is allowed in 9 pilot cities during holidays up to 24 hours/week
- Required: university approval + part-time work permit + public security bureau notification
- 勤工助学 income is partially tax-exempt (¥800-3,500/month deduction depending on the month)
- After graduation, switch to a Z visa + work permit + residence permit (the standard employer path)
- Z work permit costs ¥40K-60K (mostly borne by the employer), takes 2-4 months to process
- Entrepreneurship visa available in 60+ free trade zones; 1+ year business plan + ¥50K+ registered capital
- Stay-back visa options: Beijing 海归 (returning-talent) permit, Shanghai 留学人员, Shenzhen 孔雀计划, Hangzhou 全球引才
What your X1 visa lets you do (and not do)
The X1 visa is a long-term student visa (valid for the duration of study, >180 days). It explicitly allows part-time work and internships under conditions, but the conditions are not the same as for tourists or short-term students. Get them wrong and you risk fines, deportation, or future-visa refusal.
| Visa type | Work rights during study | Post-study path |
|---|---|---|
| X1 (long-term, >180 days) | On-campus 16h/wk + off-campus 24h/wk in pilot cities | Switch to Z work visa or stay-back |
| X2 (short-term, <180 days) | No part-time work allowed | Must leave; can reapply as X1 if enrolled longer |
| Z (work) | Full work rights, employer-sponsored | Renewable, can lead to permanent residence |
| F (business) | Business activities only, no employment | Switch to Z if you get a job offer |
The 3 baseline rules
(1) You must have a valid residence permit (居留许可), not just the X1 visa stamp — the residence permit is the in-country ID. (2) You cannot work in any role that violates Chinese labor law (minors, dangerous industries, etc.). (3) You cannot work for an employer that doesn't have a foreigner work permit quota, which excludes most small businesses and informal employers.
What counts as part-time work
Anything you get paid for: research assistant, teaching assistant, tutoring (Chinese or your native language), library staff, dorm RA, restaurant server, café barista, language school teacher, marketing intern, software engineering intern, translation work. Unpaid internships don't require a work permit but should still go through your university international office for record-keeping.
On-campus part-time (勤工助学): the easy path
On-campus work is the simplest and most common path for international students. The university itself is the employer, the paperwork is light, and the income is partially tax-exempt. Most international students earn ¥2,000-6,000/month through on-campus work.
How to find an on-campus job
Three main channels: (1) Your university's international student affairs office (留学生办公室) — they post openings weekly. (2) The student affairs office (学生处) — same openings, Chinese students apply too. (3) Direct contact — email professors you want to work with, ask about research assistant or TA roles. Most professors hire from their existing students first.
Common on-campus roles
Research assistant (科研助理): ¥2,500-5,000/month, 10-15h/wk, work with a professor on their research. Teaching assistant (助教): ¥2,000-4,000/month, 8-12h/wk, grade papers, run tutorials, hold office hours. Language tutor (语言辅导): ¥100-200/hour, flexible, tutor other students in your native language. Library assistant (图书馆助理): ¥2,000-3,000/month, 8-12h/wk, shelving, front desk. Dorm RA (宿舍管理): free housing + ¥1,000-2,000 stipend, requires Chinese fluency.
The 4-step approval process
(1) Get the job offer from the professor or department. (2) Submit a part-time work application to your international student affairs office — usually a 1-page form with: your name, passport number, residence permit number, employer (university department), job description, hours/week, duration. (3) The office reviews and approves within 3-5 working days. (4) You can start working; the office notifies the public security bureau within 10 days.
Keep a copy of the approval form. If the public security bureau does a routine check on your residence permit, the form proves you're working legally. Without it, you're treated as unauthorized worker.
Off-campus part-time: the pilot-city path
Since 2017, China has run a pilot program allowing X1 visa holders to work off campus during holidays in selected cities. The rules were expanded in 2023. The paperwork is heavier than on-campus work, and the hours cap is strict.
The 9 pilot cities/provinces
Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin (Tianjin municipality), Hubei province (Wuhan), Jiangsu province (Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi), Zhejiang province (Hangzhou, Ningbo), Shandong province (Jinan, Qingdao), Guangdong province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen), Fujian province (Xiamen, Fuzhou). Outside these 9, off-campus part-time work is not allowed even with university approval.
The 5-step approval process
(1) Get an offer from a registered Chinese employer (must have a foreigner work permit quota, must be in one of the 9 pilot cities). (2) Apply to your university international office for off-campus work approval. (3) The university notifies the local public security bureau. (4) Apply for a 外国人就业证 (foreign employment certificate) at the local labor bureau — takes 10-15 working days. (5) Start work. The whole process takes 3-6 weeks.
Hour and income rules
Maximum 24 hours/week during official school holidays (summer, winter, spring festival). Outside holidays: 8 hours/week (weekends only, some cities). Income is taxed at 3-45% progressive. 勤工助学 income (on-campus) gets a special tax-free threshold of ¥800-3,500/month. Off-campus part-time income is fully taxable from the first yuan but the first ¥5,000/month is usually below the tax threshold.
Working off-campus without a permit is treated as illegal employment. Penalties: ¥5,000-20,000 fine, deportation, 5-10 year entry ban. The risk is real — public security bureau spot-checks on language schools, tutoring centers, and restaurant chains have caught students. Always do the paperwork.
Internships: separate from part-time work
Internships (实习) have a different legal basis from part-time work. They're tied to your academic program, often paid, and usually don't require a separate work permit. The employer must be a registered Chinese entity and the internship must relate to your field of study.
Curricular internships (curriculum-required)
Most degree programs require 1-3 months of internship for graduation. These are mandatory, your university arranges the placement or approves your own, and the legal basis is the X1 visa + university-issued internship certificate. Income is taxed like normal wages. Some companies offer housing or meal subsidies on top.
Optional internships (curriculum-not-required)
Common for master's and PhD students. Same rules as off-campus part-time: pilot cities only, public security bureau notification, no separate work permit. Most international students do internships in tech (ByteDance, Tencent, Alibaba, Meituan, Huawei), finance (multinational banks), consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain), or education (New Oriental, Wall Street English, EF). Stipends range from ¥150-500/day depending on the company and role.
The 4-week summer internship cycle
Major Chinese tech companies run summer internship programs in June-August. Applications open February-March. The 4-week minimum is typical; 8-12 weeks is more useful. Some companies convert top interns to full-time offers (return offer) for after graduation. International students from top universities (QS Top 200) get preferential treatment in some company pipelines.
After graduation: the Z work visa path
The Z visa is the standard employer-sponsored work visa. It requires a Chinese employer to sponsor your work permit, then issue a Z visa invitation, then you apply at a Chinese consulate abroad, then enter China and convert to a residence permit for work. The whole process takes 2-4 months from job offer to residence permit.
The 5-step Z visa path
(1) Get a job offer from a registered Chinese employer. (2) The employer applies for a foreigner work permit (外国人工作许可证) at the local labor bureau. Cost to employer: ¥40,000-60,000 (this is the bulk of the work permit fee structure, including government processing). Takes 2-4 weeks. (3) The employer issues a Z visa invitation letter (PU letter or formal invitation). (4) Apply for a Z visa at a Chinese consulate abroad (your home country, not Hong Kong/Macao). Takes 4-7 working days. (5) Enter China on the Z visa, then apply for a residence permit for work within 30 days. The residence permit is the in-country ID, valid 1-5 years.
What the employer needs from you
Bachelor's degree minimum (some roles require master's), 2+ years of work experience for most roles (fresh graduates can skip this for some entry-level positions), clean criminal record, medical examination. The employer submits your documents to the labor bureau. Top-tier universities (QS Top 200) and STEM degrees qualify for the fast-track (A-level work permit, 1-2 week processing instead of 4).
The realistic employer mix
Multinational companies (60%): Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, PwC, Deloitte, HSBC, Standard Chartered, etc. — usually English-medium work, expat-friendly policies. Chinese tech (15%): ByteDance, Tencent, Alibaba, Meituan, JD, Pinduoduo — competitive salaries (¥300-800K/year for fresh master's), intense work culture. Education (10%): universities, international schools, language training centers — ¥200-400K/year. State-owned enterprises (5%): more bureaucracy, lower pay, high stability. Startups (10%): variable, often equity-heavy, higher risk.
Fresh international graduates with a master's from a top-200 university and Chinese fluency (HSK 5+) are competitive for Chinese tech and education roles. Bachelor's-only candidates are more limited to entry-level positions or education roles.
Stay-back visa: entrepreneurship, talent, and free trade zones
If you don't have a Z-visa job offer, several cities offer stay-back visas for graduates, entrepreneurs, and foreign talent. Each has its own criteria; the right one depends on your background, your city, and your long-term plan.
The foreigner residence permit for innovation/in创业
Available in 60+ free trade zones (FTZs) and innovation cities. Requirements: bachelor's degree or above, business plan approved by the local innovation committee, registered capital ¥50,000+ (varies by city), office space in the FTZ, 1+ year business plan. Validity: 2-5 years. Renewable. Allows the holder to live in China and operate a business. Spouse and minor children can join on family reunion visas. Common cities: Shanghai Pudong FTZ, Beijing Zhongguancun, Shenzhen Qianhai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan.
The 海归 / returning-talent permit
Some cities issue returning-talent permits to foreign graduates of their universities. The permit is 1-3 years, renewable, allows the holder to work in any industry, start a business, or stay without an employer. Examples: Beijing 海归 (Hai Gui) — for graduates of Beijing universities. Shanghai 留学人员 — for Shanghai university graduates. Hangzhou 全球引才 (Global Talent Recruitment) — for top-100 university graduates. Each has its own application process; check the local public security bureau exit-entry administration office.
The realistic path to permanent residence
After 4 consecutive years on a Z work residence permit, you can apply for Chinese permanent residence (中国绿卡, literally 'green card'). Requirements: stable income, clean record, employer sponsorship, no criminal history. Processing time: 6-12 months. Or after 3 years of investment (¥500K+ in a Chinese business) or 5 years of marriage to a Chinese national. The Chinese green card is hard to get but extremely valuable — it removes most work restrictions and renews every 5 years automatically.
How to part-time work & post-study visa for international students in china (2026)
- 1
Confirm your visa and city
X1 visa with valid residence permit is required for any part-time work. Off-campus part-time is only allowed in 9 pilot cities/provinces: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hubei, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, Fujian. Outside these, focus on on-campus 勤工助学 work.
- 2
Find the right on-campus job
Check your university international student affairs office weekly for openings. Email professors you want to work with for research/TA roles. Common roles: research assistant (¥2,500-5,000/month), teaching assistant (¥2,000-4,000/month), language tutor (¥100-200/hour), library assistant (¥2,000-3,000/month).
- 3
Submit the part-time work application
1-page form to the international student affairs office: name, passport, residence permit, employer (university department), job description, hours/week, duration. Approval: 3-5 working days. Keep a copy of the form.
- 4
For off-campus work in pilot cities: get a work permit
Get a job offer from a registered Chinese employer with a foreigner work permit quota. Apply to the university for off-campus approval. The university notifies the public security bureau. Apply for the foreigner employment certificate at the local labor bureau (10-15 working days).
- 5
For internships: align with your academic program
Curricular internships (curriculum-required): university arranges or approves. Optional internships: same rules as off-campus part-time. Apply 2-3 months in advance; major Chinese tech companies recruit February-March for June-August programs.
- 6
6 months before graduation: plan your post-study path
Three options: (1) Z work visa — start applying for jobs that will sponsor your work permit. (2) Entrepreneurship/stay-back visa — develop a business plan, identify a free trade zone, secure registered capital. (3) Returning-talent permit — check your university host city for programs.
- 7
For Z visa path: complete the work permit + visa + residence permit sequence
Employer applies for work permit (2-4 weeks for A-level, 4-8 weeks for B-level). Employer issues Z visa invitation. Apply for Z visa at a Chinese consulate abroad (4-7 working days). Enter China, then apply for a residence permit for work within 30 days (residence permit is your in-country ID, valid 1-5 years).
- 8
After 4 years on Z work residence: apply for permanent residence
Requirements: 4 consecutive years on a Z work residence permit, stable income, clean record, employer sponsorship, no criminal history. Processing: 6-12 months. Alternative: 3 years of investment (¥500K+) or 5 years of marriage to a Chinese national. The Chinese green card is hard to get but extremely valuable — it removes most work restrictions and qualifies you for the same social services as Chinese citizens.