Holding a work visa is the only way to legally work in China. The first step to securing a China work visa (Z visa) is obtaining an employment permit. This permit, otherwise called the employment license, is issued by the Chinese government through any of its diplomatic missions abroad. The Z visa is usually issued for one entry with duration of stay of 000 — which means to be determined by the embassy. A holder of the Z visa should enter China within 90 days after visa is issued and must register at a local public security bureau within 30 days of arrival. The China residence permit will be issued at the bureau to replace the Z visa. Unlike the Z visa, the residence permit allows multiple entries into China for one year. In order to apply for the China Z visa, please take note of the following: You must submit your original passport, plus a photocopy of the name page. Visas can only be stamped on your original passport. The passport should have at least 12 months validity left and at least 2 blank visa pages for visa stamping. If this is not the case, you must renew your passport first before starting your application. If you have a valid China visa in another passport, you will need to submit that passport together with the new passport when applying for a new visa. South Africans are required to apply for this visa in person. All fields are mandatory when filling the application form. If a section doesn't apply, please type in "None" or "N/A'. Incomplete forms will be rejected. Check for omission and errors before you print the form. Changes or correction is not allowed on the printed form. You must print a new form in case of any change or correction. Do not use staple for your documents. Paper clip is fine. The passport-type photograph must be recent, full face and frontal, taken against a white background. The dimension is 33mm wide and 48mm tall. Use paper clip to attach the photo face-down (avoid scratching) to the form. Do not staple or glue the photo. Foreigners that work in China has been divided into 3 classes: Class A (high level talents) Class B (professional personnel) Class C (foreigners who are nontechnical or service workers hired on a temporary/seasonal basis). Not all jobs can get you a work visa. For instance, posts at small, private English schools often can’t. If you are caught working with the wrong visa, you risk paying a fine that ranges between 5,000 and 20,000 Chinese Yuan, and may even end up in prison (from five to fifteen days).