What is the Points-based System for the Foreigner's Work Permit?
The Points-based System covers direct assignment (e.g., talents selected for the Domestic Talents Programs, or conforming to the international criteria of professional achievement, or fulfilling the market demand for government-encouraged posts, or innovative and entrepreneurial talents and outstanding young talents), payment of annual salary by employers in China, education or qualification certificates, working years, annual working hours, Chinese proficiency, job orientation, age, graduates from overseas high-level universities or work experience in Fortune Global 500 companies, and other conditions (having patents and other intellectual property rights, or having worked in China for 5 years or more).
Foreign workers fall into three categories according to their points.
Class A: 86 points and above
Class B: 60 to 85 points
Class C: 59 points and below
The points can be calculated as follows:
|
Qualifications |
Standards |
Points |
|
Direct qualification |
Be selected to national talent plans or meet internationally acknowledged professional contributions standards |
— |
|
Fulfill the market demand for government-encouraged posts |
— |
|
|
Innovative and entrepreneurial talents, outstanding young talents |
— |
|
|
Annual Salary (yuan) Paid by the Employer in China ≤ 20 points |
≥450,000 |
20 |
|
350,000 – 450,000 |
17 |
|
|
250,000 – 350,000 |
14 |
|
|
150,000 – 250,000 |
11 |
|
|
70,000 – 150,000 |
8 |
|
|
50,000 – 70,000 |
5 |
|
|
< 50,000 |
0 |
|
|
Education or Vocational Qualifications, etc. ≤ 20 points
|
Doctoral degree; International general highest level of qualification certificate of professional skills, or senior technician or equivalent |
20 |
|
Master's degree; technician or equivalent |
15 |
|
|
Bachelor's degree; senior worker or equivalent |
10 |
|
|
Related Working Years ≤ 20 points |
≥2 years, one extra point per year |
≤ 20 points |
|
2 years |
5 |
|
|
＜ 2 years |
0 |
|
|
Annual Work Duration (Month) ≤ 15 points
|
≥ 9 |
15 |
|
6 – 9 |
10 |
|
|
3 – 6 |
5 |
|
|
＜ 3 |
0 |
|
|
Chinese Language Proficiency ≤ 5 points
|
Foreigners who held Chinese nationality before |
5 |
|
Chinese related major bachelor or equivalent |
5 |
|
|
HSK 5 or above |
5 |
|
|
HSK 4 |
4 |
|
|
HSK 3 |
3 |
|
|
HSK 2 |
2 |
|
|
HSK 1 |
1 |
|
|
Workinig areas ≤ 10 points |
West China |
10 |
|
Northeast China or other old industrial regions |
10 |
|
|
Special regions including national-level poverty-stricken county |
10 |
|
|
Age ≤ 15 points
|
18 – 25 |
10 |
|
26 – 45 |
15 |
|
|
46 – 55 |
10 |
|
|
56 – 60 |
5 |
|
|
＞ 60 |
0 |
|
|
Graduation/Experience ≤ 5 points |
Graduated from a high-level university abroad |
5 |
|
With working experience in Global 500 company |
5 |
|
|
Have patent or other intellectual property rights |
5 |
|
|
Working in China for 5 years or more |
5 |
|
|
Encouraged points from Provincial Government ≤ 10 points |
Special or urgently-needed talents for local economic and social development needs (specific standards shall be formulated by the provincial administrative department for foreigners) |
0-10 |