The Foreign Expert Certificate is a type of ID given to non-Chinese people working in China, and basically acts as an alternative to the Foreign Employment Permit, generally for use in more specialized jobs. A Foreign Expert Certificate can be applied for by the foreign expert himself or herself, or by their employer. 

The longest period of validity of the certificate is five years, and it can be extended if the contract between the employer and the foreigner continues past that point. If the foreigner changes his/her job in China, the certificate will be invalid, and he or she should apply for the certificate again in line with their new job.

Criteria for applying for a document

You must meet one of the following criteria to apply:

1. Be a professional or manager working in China as part of an agreement between Chinese and foreign governments or international organizations. 
2. Be a professional employed in China and work in the fields of education, scientific research, media, publication, culture, art, public health or physical health. 
3. Be a senior professional or management personnel, employed by an enterprise in China and in a position above vice-general manager, or an equivalent post. 
4. Be a representative of a foreign expert organization or recruitment agency approved by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of the People’s Republic of China. 
5. Have special skills that are in demand in China, and work in the fields of economics, technology, engineering, trade, finance, accounting, taxation or tourism. 

Note that people who meet requirements two or three should also have a Bachelor’s degree or above and five years of work experience in a relevant field (language teachers should have a Bachelor’s degree or above and two years of work experience in a relevant field, and the language he/she teaches should be his or her mother language).

Where to apply

At your local Foreign Expert Affairs Bureau (addresses for the first-tier-city offices are listed at the bottom of this article).

Required documents

If you doo not already have Foreign Employment Permit:

1. An application form from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of People’s Republic of China. To get this, register and log in to theForeign Expert Certificate management system. Fill in the application form and print a copy. 
2. An application letter from the employer stating the need for a Foreign Expert Certificate. 
3. A contract or assignment letter between the employer and you.
4. Your passport plus a photocopy of the front page of your passport and the page with your current Z visa.
5. Two 6.3 cm by 8.9 cm portrait photographs. 
6. Your resume, including education and work experience.
7. A photocopy of the academic certificate of highest degree you have obtained, or a diploma or certificate confirming your specialist area of expertise. 
8. A photocopy of your health check record (for more information on this, please check this medical examination article).

If you have already obtained a Foreign Employment Permit:

1. An application form from the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of People’s Republic of China. To get this, register and log in to the Foreign Expert Certificate management system. Fill in the application form and print a copy.
2. An application letter from the employer stating the need for a Foreign Expert Certificate. 
3. Photocopy of your Foreign Employment Permit. 
4. Your passport, plus a photocopy of the front page of your passport and the page with your current Z visa.
5. Two 6.3 cm by 8.9 cm portrait photographs. 

Addresses of first-tier offices

Beijing
Beijing Foreign Expert Affairs Bureau, F1, Beijing Labor Market, 5 Yongdingmen Nei Xijie, Dongcheng district 北京市东城区永定门内西街5号北京劳动力市场一楼

Contact: 12333, 010-6316-7703, http://beijing.caiep.org

Working hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am-11:30 am, 2 pm-5 pm. 

Shanghai
Shanghai Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs, F4, 77 Meiyuan Lu, Zhabei district 上海市闸北区梅园路77号4楼上海市外国专家局

Contact: 021-2311-1111, www.shafea.gov.cn

Working hours: Mon-Fri, 9 am-11 am, 1:30 pm-5 pm

Guangzhou
Guangzhou Foreign Expert Affairs Bureau, F7, Beixiu Dasha, 266 Xiao Bei Lu, Yuexiu district 广州市越秀区小北路266号北秀大厦7楼

Contact: 020-8356-8037, http://guangzhou.caiep.org

Working hours: 8.30 am-11:30 am, 2 pm-5 pm.

Shenzhen
Shenzhen Foreign Expert Affairs Bureau, F1, East Zone, Xincheng Dasha, 1025 Shennan Zhong Lu, Futian district 深圳市福田区深南中路1025号

Contact: 12333, 0755-2594-2934, www.szhrss.gov.cn/wsbs/kstd/wgzj/

Working hours: 9 am-midday, 2 pm-6 pm.