China Enforces Higher Salary Thresholds for A/B Work Permits

The foreigner’s work permit in China is undergoing significant changes as major cities strictly reenforce higher salary thresholds for Category A and B applicants. These updates affect both new applications and renewals, particularly in Beijing and Shanghai, where multiplier-based salary validation is now mandatory. Employers and foreign employees must prepare for heightened documentary requirements and stricter renewal timelines.

Regulatory enforcement for foreign work permits in China has tightened significantly since early February 2026. Although salary-based entry thresholds for Category A and Category B talent long existed on paper, cities such as Beijing and Shanghai had not strictly enforced them in recent years, particularly during the pandemic period. That has now changed.

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Multiple immigration and mobility alerts published in early February, 2026 confirm that China is fully reimplementing salary-based pathways for Category A and Category B foreigner’s work permit, and local authorities have begun verification directly inside the national work permit management system.  

As a result, foreign nationals applying in previously more flexible cities may see sharp increases in required minimum compensation, impacting both new applications and renewals.

Salary multipliers now fully enforced 

Under longstanding rules, foreign applicants using the salary-based channel must meet: 

• Category A: At least 6× the local average monthly social wage
• Category B: At least 4× the local average monthly social wage 

Following the February system update, these multipliers are now being strictly verified nationwide. Local authorities in Beijing and Shanghai, cities that had previously relaxed enforcement, are now applying the full standard.  

For example, based on 2025 local wage data cited in official notices and immigration alerts: 

Local systems will automatically block submissions that do not meet these figures. 

City-by-city reference wage levels (2025 basis) 

While final salary thresholds are calculated as a multiplier, below are the referenced 2025 average wage figures often used as the base: 

These figures help employers estimate required salary levels before submitting an application. 

Additional system updates affecting all applicants 

The recent system upgrade introduced several structural changes: 

Continuous employment/education timeline requirement

The former “Work Experience” section has been redesigned as “Work and Education Experience”, requiring applicants to list work, education, and unemployment periods without any gaps. Missing months will cause system errors.  

Document rules & name formatting 

• Only 26 English letters and compliant separators (space, hyphen, apostrophe, dot) may be used for foreign names.
• No accented characters, numbers, Chinese characters, or special symbols allowed.
• All uploaded documents, except passport, must now be in PDF format. 

Expired permit handling 

If a permit expires while extension/alteration/cancellation is in process, the system will automatically terminate the case and invalidate the work permit. Employers must manage timelines carefully.  

Stricter age limits for Category B/C work permit 

The age-related requirements have also become more strictly implemented. Under previous renewal practices, applications for the extension of Category B and C work permits could, in certain cases, still be approved after an applicant reached the age of 60, provided that all required documentation was properly submitted.

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However, starting from 2026, applicants who have reached the age of 60 now face systematic rejections and non-approvals when applying to renew Category B or C work permits. For applicants who are over 60 but whose continued employment in China remains necessary, the only viable option is to assess whether they qualify for Category A (high-end talent) status (see Shenzhen as an example). 

Impact assessment for employers and foreign staff 

China’s renewed strict enforcement of salaryb-ased qualification pathways for Category A and Category B work permits has immediate implications for both new applicants and existing foreign employees. Authorities in major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, are now verifying multiplier compliance directly within the national work permit system, meaning insufficiently funded applications will no longer pass initial review.  

New applications: Immediate compliance required 

All newly submitted Category A and salary-based Category B applications must meet the full 6× and 4× salary multipliers, respectively. Applications that fail salary validation will be rejected outright, with no discretion provided at the local level.  

Renewals: Heightened scrutiny and potential reclassification

Foreign employees already holding valid permits but earning below updated thresholds may encounter several challenges during renewal: 

• Reclassification to Category B, requiring additional documentation such as degree authentication or police clearance certificates.
• Longer processing times due to expanded verification requirements.
• Possible rejection if salary adjustments cannot be substantiated or implemented before renewal. 

Given that former leniencies in Beijing and Shanghai have been fully withdrawn, renewal stage risk is now significantly higher.  

Other categories 

Category C permits remain unaffected at this stage; however, ongoing updates across provinces underscore the need for continuous policy monitoring. 

Strategic recommendations for employers and HR teams 

To mitigate compliance risks and avoid business disruption, employers should adopt a proactive approach: 

• Conduct early salary compliance reviews, particularly for employees approaching renewal windows.
• Update compensation frameworks to align with the latest multiplier-based thresholds in each city.
• Plan renewals several months in advance, allowing time to gather new supporting documents or adjust salaries if necessary.
• Maintain regular communication with local authorities, as implementation practices may vary and evolve across cities and districts. 

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