Application by interns from France or Germany

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Eligibility

Requirements for employers

(1) Employers must be legally established in China, maintain a physical office, pay taxes and social insurance in accordance with the law, and with no record of serious legal violations or dishonest conduct.

(2) Where prior approval from a competent industry authority is required by law or regulation, the employer must obtain this approval before submitting the application.

Requirements for applicants

(1) French interns must be current students or graduates within one year from colleges or universities, including vocational and technical institutions. German interns must be current students who have completed at least four semesters of higher education at such institutions, or graduates within one year.

(2) Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

(3) Applicants must have a designated host organization that operates legally and is in normal business within the administrative area of Shanghai.

(4) The internship shall not exceed six months, and interns must not hold employee status during the period. Internship durations fall into two categories: ① 90 days or less; ② more than 90 days but not exceeding six months.

(5) No criminal record.

(6) In good physical health.

(7) Possess a valid passport or other international travel document equivalent to a passport.

(8) Meet other conditions as prescribed by laws and regulations.

 

Required documents

Internship duration: 90 days or less

(1) Application form for Foreigner's Work Permit in China: Complete the form online, print it, have it signed by the applicant, stamped with the employer's official seal, and uploaded to the system.

(2) Recent bareheaded photo: A full-face, bareheaded electronic photo taken within the past six months. The photo must have a white background, be frameless, clearly show facial features, and be free of spots, tears, or ink marks. Head coverings are not recommended; if worn for religious reasons, they must not obscure the applicant's facial features.

(3) Internship contract: A Chinese-language contract with no handwritten alterations.

(4) Certificate of internship:

• For French interns, the certificate must be issued by the Cultural and Education Section of the Embassy of France in China (Le service de coopération et d'action culturelle – Institut français de Chine, or SCAC-IFC).
• For German interns, the certificate must be issued by one of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry offices in China — Sino-German Industry & Commercial Technology Consulting Service Co Ltd, including its branches in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou.

(5) Passport or international travel document: Provide the information page. The passport must be valid for no less than six months.

(6) Other documents: Additional materials may be required by the permit acceptance or decision-making authorities as necessary.

Internship duration: More than 90 days but not exceeding six months

(1) Application form for Foreigner's Work Permit in China: Complete the form online, print it, have it signed by the applicant, stamped with the employer's official seal, and uploaded to the system.

(2) Recent bareheaded photo: A full-face, bareheaded electronic photo taken within the past six months. The photo must have a white background, be frameless, clearly show facial features, and be free of spots, flaws, or ink marks. Head coverings are not recommended; if worn for religious reasons, they must not obscure the applicant's facial features.

(3) Internship contract: A Chinese-language contract with no handwritten alterations.

(4) Certificate of internship:

• For French interns, the certificate must be issued by the Cultural and Education Section of the Embassy of France in China (Le service de coopération et d'action culturelle – Institut français de Chine, or SCAC-IFC).
• For German interns, the certificate must be issued by one of the DIHK offices in China — Sino-German Industry & Commercial Technology Consulting Service Co Ltd, including its Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou branches.

(5) Certificate of no criminal record: The certificate must be issued by the police, security department, or court in the applicant's country of nationality or habitual residence. It must be authenticated either by a Chinese embassy or consulate in that country, or by the embassy or consulate of that country in China.

(6) Passport or international travel document: Provide the information page. The passport must be valid for no less than six months.

(7) Physical examination certificate: A Certificate of Verification for Physical Examination Record for Foreigners or Overseas Chinese, or a Certificate of Health Examination for International Traveller, issued within the past six months by China's entry-exit inspection and quarantine authority, is required. For applications submitted from outside China, a signed letter of commitment to undergo the physical examination after entry may be provided instead.

(8) Other documents: Additional materials may be required by the permit acceptance or decision-making authorities as necessary.

 

Verification

The Foreigner's Work Permit application process is completed entirely online. For new applications, original documents must be verified. Applicants with an internship period of more than 90 days but not exceeding six months must carry all original documents when entering China.

• For applications submitted outside China: After obtaining the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit and entering China, the applicant must present all original documents at the designated acceptance authority for verification within one month of arrival and before applying for the work-type residence permit.
• For applications submitted within China: After passing the preliminary review, the applicant must bring all original application materials to the designated acceptance authority for verification before final approval.

 

Notes

(1) The duration of the internship contract must not exceed six months.

(2) French students currently studying in China may apply for internships directly without the need to return to their home country.

(3) German interns must undertake internships related to the degree or qualification they are pursuing or have obtained.

(4) When filling in information in the system, the employer should enter "Intern" (实习) as the position.

(5) The validity period of the Foreigner's Work Permit must not exceed the validity of the applicant's passport, internship contract, or the employer's business license or other legal registration certificate.

(6) After the completion of the internship, the Foreigner's Work Permit marked with "Intern" cannot be extended.

 

Review and approval

Preliminary review: Five workdays (based on the submission of complete and compliant materials; preliminary review and acceptance are processed together).

Approval: Five workdays (based on the materials accepted online).

In special circumstances requiring an extension, the acceptance or decision-making authority will handle the situation as appropriate.

 

 

 

Application by interns from Singapore

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Eligibility

Requirements for employers

(1) Employers must be legally established in China, maintain a physical office, pay taxes and social insurance in accordance with the law, and with no record of serious legal violations or dishonest conduct.

(2) Where prior approval from a competent industry authority is required by law or regulation, the employer must obtain this approval before submitting the application.

Requirements for applicants

(1) Singaporean interns must be full-time students from public higher education institutions (including universities and polytechnics), or graduates from these institutions who have completed their studies within the past year at the time of visa application, 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) Must be a Singaporean national who has not previously participated in the above-mentioned scheme.

(3) Must be at least 18 years old.

(4) Must have a designated host organization that operates legally and is in normal business within the administrative area of Shanghai.

(5) The internship shall not exceed six months, and interns must not hold employee status during the period. Internship durations fall into two categories: ① 90 days or less; ② more than 90 days but not exceeding six months.

(6) No criminal record.

(7) In good physical health.

(8) Possess a valid passport or other international travel document equivalent to a passport.

(9) Meet other conditions as prescribed by laws and regulations.

 

Required documents

(1) Application form for Foreigner's Work Permit in China: Complete the form online, print it, have it signed by the applicant, stamped with the employer's official seal, and uploaded to the system.

(2) Internship contract: The host company in China must sign an internship contract with the recruited Singaporean intern. The contract must be in Chinese and free of handwritten alterations. It must comply with Chinese laws and regulations and include the following clauses:

• Tasks assigned based on the intern's capabilities, training objectives, or career goals.
• Description of the internship position.
• Start and end dates of the internship.
• Maximum working hours per week. The total of regular and overtime hours must not exceed this limit.
• Amount and method of payment for the internship stipend and any applicable overtime compensation.
• Welfare benefits available to the intern (if applicable).
• Insurance arrangements covering the internship period.
• Duties and responsibilities of the internship supervisor.
• Conditions and procedures for suspending or terminating the internship.
• Circumstances under which the intern is permitted to be absent.
• Internal regulations of the host company that the intern must follow, especially regarding due diligence and confidentiality obligations.

(3) Letter of Eligibility (LOE): Singaporean interns should apply for the LOE from Business China through their higher education institution.

(4) Passport or international travel document: Provide the information page. The passport must be valid for no less than six months.

(5) Certificate of no criminal record: The certificate must be issued by the police, security department, or court in the applicant's country of nationality or habitual residence. It must be authenticated either by a Chinese embassy or consulate in that country, or by the embassy or consulate of that country in China.

(6) Physical examination certificate: A Certificate of Verification for Physical Examination Record for Foreigners or Overseas Chinese, or a Certificate of Health Examination for International Traveller, issued within the past six months by China's entry-exit inspection and quarantine authority, is required.

(7) Other documents: Additional materials may be required by the permit acceptance or decision-making authorities as necessary.

 

Verification

The Foreigner's Work Permit application process is completed entirely online. For new applications, original documents must be verified. Applicants with an internship period of more than 90 days but not exceeding six months must carry all original documents when entering China.

• For applications submitted outside China: After obtaining the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit and entering China, the applicant must present all original documents at the designated acceptance authority for verification within one month of arrival and before applying for the work-type residence permit.
• For applications submitted within China: After passing the preliminary review, the applicant must bring all original application materials to the designated acceptance authority for verification before final approval.

 

Notes

(1) The duration of the internship contract must not exceed six months.

(2) Singaporean interns staying in China for less than 30 days are not required to apply for a residence permit. For stays of 30 days or more, interns must apply for a foreigner's residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the public security authority in their intended place of residence, within 30 days of entry. Required documents include a Z visa, the Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit, and a certification letter issued by the host company.

(3) The host company shall apply for Foreigner's Work Permit (under the scheme mentioned above) on behalf of the intern. All required documents must be submitted as scanned copies. Originals must be available upon request.

(4) Singaporean interns must purchase accident, emergency assistance, and medical insurance to cover the entire internship period in China.

(5) When filling in information in the system, the employer should enter "Intern" (实习) as the position.

(6) The validity period of the Foreigner's Work Permit must not exceed the validity of the applicant's passport, internship contract, or the employer's business license or other legal registration certificate.

(7) After the completion of the internship, the Foreigner's Work Permit marked with "Intern" cannot be extended.

 

Review and approval

Preliminary review: Five workdays (based on the submission of complete and compliant materials; preliminary review and acceptance are processed together).

Approval: Five workdays (based on the materials accepted online).

In special circumstances requiring an extension, the acceptance or decision-making authority will handle the situation as appropriate.

 

Source: sh-italent.com