Before applying for a work permit for foreigners visiting China, the employing unit shall assess the evaluation criteria of the foreigners. In addition to the mandatory columns required by the System, supporting materials corresponding to the relevant evaluation criteria shall be submitted in the "Other Annexes" column. Specific requirements are as follows:

 (i) High-level foreign talents (Category A)

High-level foreign talents mainly include scientists, leading science and technology talents, international entrepreneurs, specialized and special talents and other foreign high-level and rare talents urgently needed in the economic and social development of China who can enjoy “Green channel” and “Acceptance on Incomplete Materials” services. The high-level foreign talents mainly include the following seven classes.

1. Foreign talents selected for China’s talent introduction programs: submitting a qualification certificate of talent introduction programs;

2. Foreign talents meeting the international criteria for professional achievements: submitting documentation for professional achievements;

In the case that a foreign leading talent meets the above two criteria, a core member of his/her team who is recommended by the major head in charge of the project can apply for a work permit with less strict restrictions on the age, education background and work experience.

3. Foreign talents fulfilling the market demand for government-encouraged posts: in the case of an applicant who meets the job description stated in the evaluation criteria, the job proof or employment contract for the corresponding post in the corresponding employing unit shall be submitted; in the case of an applicant who meets the average annual wage income stated in the evaluation criteria, materials certifying the applicant’s average annual wage income being at least 7 times higher than Tianjin’s average wage income of the previous year (subject to the announcement by Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security) shall be submitted, and the Proof of Tax Paid or other materials that can certify the wage income shall be submitted for the extension or cancellation of the work permits; in the case that the applicant fails to submit the materials certifying the wage income for the reason that the new employee’s enrollment hasn’t get processed, he/she can submit a letter of commitment for the wage income as an alternative. 

4. Innovative and entrepreneurial foreign talents: submitting the documentary proof corresponding to relevant innovative and entrepreneurial criteria;

5. Outstanding young foreign talents: submitting a certificate of appointment or employment contract for post-doctoral research in China;

6. Foreign talents with over 85 points as per the point-based system: submitting all certifying materials corresponding to all extra point items. For extra points awarded for wage income, materials certifying the average wage income reaches the amount filled in the System by the employing unit shall be submitted, and the Proof of Tax Paid or other materials that can certify the wage income shall be submitted for the extension or cancellation of the work permits; in the case that the applicant fails to submit the materials certifying the wage income for the reason that the new employee’s enrollment has not get processed, he/she can submit a letter of commitment for the wage income as an alternative. 

7. Foreign chief representatives of foreign NGO representative offices: a foreign chief representative holding recommendation opinions from the administration department for a foreign NGO of a Public Security Organ at provincial or above level can be identified as a high-level foreign talent and relevant recommendation opinions or chief representative certificate shall be submitted.

(ii) Foreign specialized talents (Category B)

Foreign specialized talents urgently needed in the economic and social development of China who conform to the guidance catalogue and job descriptions for foreigners working in China mainly include the following eight classes:

1. Foreign specialized talents with a bachelor's degree or above and at least 2 years of relevant working experience; Restrictions on work experience can be loosened for returned overseas students who have previously had Chinese nationality and plan to come to Tianjin for innovation and entrepreneurship. 

2. Foreign specialized talents holding international vocational qualification certificates or skilled talents who are urgently needed: Qualification certificates held by an applicant shall be included in the publicity catalog of foreign vocational qualification certificates released by the Occupational Skill Testing Authority of the Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, and the information published on the official website shall prevail, including: Commercial and Retail Management Service Certificate, Corporate Administrative Management Certificate, Chartered Financial Analyst Certificate, International Commercial Art Designer Certificate, Test of English for International Communication, Cambridge Certificate in Tourism Administration, Cambridge Certificate in Business Administration, International Financial Manager Certificate, Certified Professional Purchasing Manager Certificate, Enterprise Risk Manager Certificate, Hotel Management Certificate, Sightseeing and Tourism Certificate, Electronic Engineering Certificate, International Facilities Management Certificate, J.TEST, International Certificate in Banking Risk and Regulation, Occupation Korean Test. The applicant shall submit relevant certificates certified by Chinese embassies or consulates abroad;

3. Foreign language teaching staff: applicants who are engaged in teaching language in their mother tongue and have obtained a bachelor's degree or above. For applicants not majoring in education, language or teacher education, and having relevant work experience for less than two years, the teacher qualification certificate of the host country or other acceptable international certificates in language teaching shall be submitted. Certificates shall be certified by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad. International certificates in language teaching mainly include: TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, etc. Among them, applicants from non-English-speaking countries engaged in English teaching who meet one of the following conditions can apply for an English teacher post:

(1) Acquiring a master's degree or above in language, education or teacher education;

(2) Acquiring a master's degree or above, holding a teacher qualification certificate in English and having relevant working experience for more than two years;

(3) Graduating foreign students who have obtained a master's degree or above in a key domestic institution of higher education (subject to the list of first-class universities and disciplines of the world announced by the Ministry of Education) or institutions of higher education in Tianjin, and holding a teacher qualification certificate in English; 

(4) Studying abroad in an English-speaking country and acquiring a bachelor's degree in language, education or teacher education;

(5) Studying abroad in an English-speaking country, acquiring a bachelor's degree, holding a teacher qualification certificate in English and having relevant working experience for more than two years;

The application criteria for foreign teachers teaching in kindergartens in Tianjin shall be implemented in accordance with the criteria for foreign language teachers. During the Covid-19, applicants from non-English speaking countries who have acquired a bachelor's degree or above in language, education, and teacher education, and hold a teacher qualification certificate in English, can apply for the post of a kindergarten teacher. 

4. The foreign talent whose average wage income is at least 4 times higher than Tianjin’s average wage income in the previous year: materials certifying the wage income of the applicant being at least 4 times higher than Tianjin’s average wage income in the previous year shall be submitted, and the Proof of Tax Paid or other materials that can certify the wage income shall be submitted for the extension of the work permits; in the case that the applicant fails to submit the materials certifying the wage income for the reason that the new employee’s enrollment hasn’t get processed, he/she can submit a letter of commitment for the wage income as an alternative;

5. Specialized talents who meet the requirements of relevant national departments and the talents conducting a project: relevant certifying materials concerning project implementation shall be submitted;

6. Specialized talents with over 60 points as per the point-based system: submitting all certifying materials corresponding to all extra point items. For extra points awarded for wage income, materials certifying the average wage income reaches the amount filled in the System shall be submitted, and the Proof of Tax Paid or other materials that can certify the wage income shall be submitted for each extension of the work permits; in the case that the applicant fails to submit the materials certifying the wage income for the reason that the new employee’s enrollment hasn’t get processed, he/she can submit a letter of commitment for the wage income as an alternative. 

7. Foreign representatives of foreign NGO representative offices: a foreign representative certificate for foreign NGO representative offices shall be submitted.

8. The foreign talents in charge and serving as key staff at a foreign NGO that implements legally-registered or filed temporary activities in China without an established representative office (working in China for more than 90 days, but less than one year): the registration receipt for the temporary activities shall be submitted.

 (iii) Other foreign personnel (Category C)

Other foreign personnel who meet the needs of the domestic labor market and comply with national policies and regulations mainly include the following three classes:

1. The foreign personnel meeting current management regulations for foreigners working in China. Among them, in the case of an original holder of the Foreign Expert Certificate or Alien Employment Permit applying for extension but dissatisfying the criteria stated in Category A and Category B, select this Class and submit the original Foreign Expert Certificate or Alien Employment Permit to apply for extension; in the case of an applicant who established an enterprise in Tianjin while dissatisfying the criteria stated in Category A and Category B, submit the Proof of Foreign Investment and materials certifying the actual operation of the enterprise to apply for extension. The certifying materials include the Proof of Employees’ Social Security paid in the previous year, the Annual Audit Report of the Enterprise issued by an accounting firm, and related bills of the main business, etc.

2. The foreign personnel engaged in temporary or short-term jobs (not exceeding 90 days). Among them, the foreign personnel in charge and key staff of a foreign NGO that implements legally-registered or filed temporary activities in China without an established representative office: the registration receipt for the temporary activities shall be submitted;

3. Personnel in the management scope of the quota system, including foreign young people who come to China for internships according to the intergovernmental agreement, international students who meet the prescribed conditions, foreign graduates of overseas universities, and foreigners working in special fields such as offshore fishing: proof materials that meet the corresponding requirements shall be submitted.