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Understanding The Z Visa For China (For TEFL Teachers & Digital Nomads)

Kirsten Colquhoun
August 26, 2025

Table of Contents

    Introduction
  • What is a Z Visa?
  • Who needs a Z Visa?
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Application process
  • Common mistakes
  • What can go wrong?
  • Any advice for getting a Z Visa?
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Visas can be a headache even for the most well-prepared traveller. Horror stories abound of unending embassy queues, visas not arriving in time, or, even worse, visas being rejected. 

Visas. Are. Stressful.

Today we’re looking at a visa, which is a very common obstacle for TEFL teachers, because it’s a working visa for China. Yes, we’re talking about the Z visa. Let’s look at everything you need to know about the Z visa so that you can go on your merry way and teach to your heart’s content in the magical kingdom of China.

We asked TTA teacher Joshua, a South African who lived and taught in language schools and public schools in Beijing for a few years, to help us out with the slippery details.

Read more: How To Live And Work In China As A Foreigner

What is a Z Visa?

teach english shanghai

The Z-Visa, or a work visa, is for anyone who wants to work legally in China. 

This includes anyone volunteering for 90 days or more, or anyone with a work permit issued by the Chinese government. It differs from other visas because it is the only visa that allows you to work for pay in China. 

Put simply, it’s the only visa you need if you want to use your TEFL skills in an in-person set-up in China. 

Other visas for travelling to China include:

  •  the L Visa for tourism, which allows a 30-day stay; 
  • the S1 and S2 Visa for visiting family members who are in China as foreigners; 
  • the X1  Study Visa, which allows you to stay for more than 180 days; and
  • the X2 Study Visa, which allows you to stay for up to 180 days. 

Depending on the employer and agreement with immigration, you can also apply for internships with an X visa, although it’s advisable to touch base with the HR department of the company where you want to intern before attempting this.

Top tip: In China, it’s SUPER IMPORTANT that you follow the letter of the law. It’s not worth taking chances.

Who needs a Z Visa?

All of these visas allow you to visit China in different capacities, but only one gives you the right to work at or for a Chinese company for compensation. The Z Visa is for any foreigner wanting to legally work in China,  not only teachers.  

Although people have been known to enter China on a tourist visa and then teach, there can be severe repercussions if you are caught.

Recently, it’s become common for companies to offer part-time work, allowing digital nomads to continue their online work at the same time. In other words, you get your Z Visa and work in a lesser capacity while doing your online work when you are not working at the language school.

Most of my digital nomad friends go for either the L (tourist) Visa and resume their day-to-day while travelling through China for the duration of their stay. Others get the S2 visa and stay with family members with Z visas. This visa also allows them a longer stay in the People’s Republic while making a living online.

NOTE: Working in any capacity in China without a Z Visa is illegal, and therefore, we cannot condone it. Even working for a different employer (than the one who sponsored your Work Permit) is not allowed. 

China currently has no Digital Nomad Visa on offer. To work as a digital nomad in China, you need to apply for a Z visa (the same as a teacher), but it’s not guaranteed to be successful. 

Another option to live in China is to sign up for a language course and apply for a X2 visa. But again, you cannot legally work while on this visa. 

You can volunteer or do an internship using a student (X2) or business (M) visa, depending on whether you are getting paid for your internship. In both cases, your work is restricted to that of the volunteer commitment or the internship.

The best (and easiest) way to get a Z Visa to legally work in China is to get qualified as a TEFL teacher and apply for a Z visa.

Read more: How To Get TEFL-Certified

What are the eligibility requirements for TEFL teachers?

To apply for a Z visa, applicants need a Work Permit Notification from their employer (more on that later). 

To be eligible for a Work Permit Notification as a TEFL teacher, the requirements are as follows:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a valid passport
  • Be in good health
  • Have no criminal record
  • Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree
  • Be TEFL-qualified
  • Be a native English-speaker or have near-native fluency

Teaching experience may be preferred by your employer but that’s not a requirement for a Z Visa.

And Joshua notes: In general, there is a preference for nationals of English-speaking countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), though exceptions may apply.

NOTE: You need a passport with two blank pages and at least 6 months’ validity left.

What is the application process?

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the application process:

  1. The teacher secures a job offer from an employer in China.
  2. The teacher sends all the relevant documentation to the employer.
  3. The employer applies for a Work Permit Notification from a local bureau in China.
  4. The employer sends the Work Permit Notification and a contract to the teacher.
  5. The teacher applies for a Z Visa at their nearest Chinese embassy or consulate, with a completed application, required documents, including the Work Permit Notification, and a  photo.
  6. The Z Visa is approved and the passport is returned to the teacher.
  7. The teacher enters China with the Z Visa.
  8. The teacher applies for a Work Permit within 15 days of entry.
  9. The teacher applies for a Residence Permit from the immigration department of the local public security authority.
  10. With the Z Visa, Work Permit and Residence Permit, the teacher is legally allowed to live and teach in China.

NOTE: Your photo must be a recent colour passport photo that is 48mm x 33mm. 

Now let’s look at Joshua’s experience. Bear in mind that he’s South African and was applying from South Africa. The logistics of the process will differ according to where you live:

The application process was a walk in the park when I first applied; the only challenging aspect was the police clearance, and it took 6 weeks.

I had to send copies of my degree, passport, and TEFL certificate to my employer, who sent me an official contract. I then had to take the contract and all the hard copies of said documents to the embassy. 

I was given a severe look and got a stamp on my application form that said “Interview Required.” For some applicants, this little roadblock still pops up.

This stressed me out, but at the interview a day later, I met the friendliest Chinese uncle who greeted me and approved my application within a few seconds.

I made the booking for the Z Visa online and had to submit a photo (taken at PostNet) on the website. This alone took an entire day, because everything about submitting the photo had to be perfect to the last pixel.

I then took the paperwork to be legalised for use in China at the Chinese Embassy in Sandton.

After all of this, I had the visa ready within a week.

I am happy to say that the application process was made easier in 2023, which means less drama for any applicant.

Read more: How To Legalise Your TEFL Certificate

Common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid

Things to look out for:

  •  job offers where the employers are vague about your role;
  • contracts which aren’t clear on what you’ll do; 
  • employers asking for payment for your Work Permit, and
  • erratic or odd behaviour from your future employer.

As Joshua says: Trust your gut.

I did an interview once where the interviewer wanted me to start 5 days after the interview! So keep in mind that although you will get good offers, if something is way too good to be true, it probably is.

I’ve been asked what would happen if documents aren’t properly authenticated. This is why you shouldn’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish; rather, let someone help you who knows what they are doing.

In general, the biggest mistake people make is not reading and following the instructions on the embassy’s website to the letter.

What can go wrong if you don’t have a Z Visa?

Life in China is awesome; however, if you are caught doing work at a Chinese company with the wrong visa, bad things can happen. 

You can convert any visa to a Z Visa once in China, but you should follow the right channels. Don’t work unless you have a Z Visa and run the risk of being caught, because the Chinese government has seen everything, and you will never be smarter than the last guy who got caught.

Deportation is the go-to outcome, but it also includes hefty fines and time at detention centres. This is not a holiday in the mountains until they can schedule your flight back to Africa; it’s worse than prison, according to some people I’ve spoken to.

If you work illegally in China or if you overstay your visa, there’s a possibility that you’ll be sent to do administrative detention for anything from 15 days to a month. This won’t be forgotten either and will affect any future application for residency in China.

According to Article 41 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, foreigners working in China must obtain work permits and work-type residence permits. The Regulations on the Employment of Foreigners in China, Article 15 adds, “Work permits are only valid for the specified employer and location.”

This means you can only work at the centre where you are officially employed, and you’ll look for trouble if you moonlight in any other location.

This happened to a buddy of mine from Ukraine, who was employed at a private language school in Chengdu, and he worked another job at a middle school. One day, some uniformed officials arrived at the school where he was moonlighting. They checked his passport and asked what he was doing at the school. He said he was teaching them Russian and that he was a teacher there. He got detained and was fined Y10,000. It took some begging and bargaining, but at least he got to return to his centre with a warning. 

Just a side note here, a sassy attitude won’t help you in a situation like this.

The second most important thing to remember is that you need to apply for your Residence Permit within 30 days of your arrival in China. Usually, your employer will help with this process. 

Any advice for getting a Z Visa?

Do everything by the book. Ask if you’re not sure about something.

There are loads of people who can help on TEFL groups on Facebook and companies like Laowaiteachers. The monetary input may not be cheap, but remember that you’ll make it all back when you start teaching.

And as Joshua said before, life in China is awesome – so it’ll all be worth it in the end.

PS: If you’re wondering how you can teach English in China without speaking Chinese, we’ve got you covered – read here!

Meet The Author

Kirsten Colquhoun

Kirsten Colquhoun is the Content Manager for The TEFL Academy. A graduate of Cambridge University and DELTA-qualified, she first started teaching kindergarten in Thailand in 2003. A South African, she has also taught in China, the UK, Spain, Qatar and South Africa, but these days she is a teacher trainer and freelance writer and editor.

Table of Contents

    Introduction
  • What is a Z Visa?
  • Who needs a Z Visa?
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Application process
  • Common mistakes
  • What can go wrong?
  • Any advice for getting a Z Visa?

Visas can be a headache even for the most well-prepared traveller. Horror stories abound of unending embassy queues, visas not arriving in time, or, even worse, visas being rejected. 

Visas. Are. Stressful.

Today we’re looking at a visa, which is a very common obstacle for TEFL teachers, because it’s a working visa for China. Yes, we’re talking about the Z visa. Let’s look at everything you need to know about the Z visa so that you can go on your merry way and teach to your heart’s content in the magical kingdom of China.

We asked TTA teacher Joshua, a South African who lived and taught in language schools and public schools in Beijing for a few years, to help us out with the slippery details.

Read more: How To Live And Work In China As A Foreigner

What is a Z Visa?

teach english shanghai

The Z-Visa, or a work visa, is for anyone who wants to work legally in China. 

This includes anyone volunteering for 90 days or more, or anyone with a work permit issued by the Chinese government. It differs from other visas because it is the only visa that allows you to work for pay in China. 

Put simply, it’s the only visa you need if you want to use your TEFL skills in an in-person set-up in China. 

Other visas for travelling to China include:

  •  the L Visa for tourism, which allows a 30-day stay; 
  • the S1 and S2 Visa for visiting family members who are in China as foreigners; 
  • the X1  Study Visa, which allows you to stay for more than 180 days; and
  • the X2 Study Visa, which allows you to stay for up to 180 days. 

Depending on the employer and agreement with immigration, you can also apply for internships with an X visa, although it’s advisable to touch base with the HR department of the company where you want to intern before attempting this.

Top tip: In China, it’s SUPER IMPORTANT that you follow the letter of the law. It’s not worth taking chances.

Who needs a Z Visa?

All of these visas allow you to visit China in different capacities, but only one gives you the right to work at or for a Chinese company for compensation. The Z Visa is for any foreigner wanting to legally work in China,  not only teachers.  

Although people have been known to enter China on a tourist visa and then teach, there can be severe repercussions if you are caught.

Recently, it’s become common for companies to offer part-time work, allowing digital nomads to continue their online work at the same time. In other words, you get your Z Visa and work in a lesser capacity while doing your online work when you are not working at the language school.

Most of my digital nomad friends go for either the L (tourist) Visa and resume their day-to-day while travelling through China for the duration of their stay. Others get the S2 visa and stay with family members with Z visas. This visa also allows them a longer stay in the People’s Republic while making a living online.

NOTE: Working in any capacity in China without a Z Visa is illegal, and therefore, we cannot condone it. Even working for a different employer (than the one who sponsored your Work Permit) is not allowed. 

China currently has no Digital Nomad Visa on offer. To work as a digital nomad in China, you need to apply for a Z visa (the same as a teacher), but it’s not guaranteed to be successful. 

Another option to live in China is to sign up for a language course and apply for a X2 visa. But again, you cannot legally work while on this visa. 

You can volunteer or do an internship using a student (X2) or business (M) visa, depending on whether you are getting paid for your internship. In both cases, your work is restricted to that of the volunteer commitment or the internship.

The best (and easiest) way to get a Z Visa to legally work in China is to get qualified as a TEFL teacher and apply for a Z visa.

Read more: How To Get TEFL-Certified

What are the eligibility requirements for TEFL teachers?

To apply for a Z visa, applicants need a Work Permit Notification from their employer (more on that later). 

To be eligible for a Work Permit Notification as a TEFL teacher, the requirements are as follows:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have a valid passport
  • Be in good health
  • Have no criminal record
  • Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree
  • Be TEFL-qualified
  • Be a native English-speaker or have near-native fluency

Teaching experience may be preferred by your employer but that’s not a requirement for a Z Visa.

And Joshua notes: In general, there is a preference for nationals of English-speaking countries (UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa), though exceptions may apply.

NOTE: You need a passport with two blank pages and at least 6 months’ validity left.

What is the application process?

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the application process:

  1. The teacher secures a job offer from an employer in China.
  2. The teacher sends all the relevant documentation to the employer.
  3. The employer applies for a Work Permit Notification from a local bureau in China.
  4. The employer sends the Work Permit Notification and a contract to the teacher.
  5. The teacher applies for a Z Visa at their nearest Chinese embassy or consulate, with a completed application, required documents, including the Work Permit Notification, and a  photo.
  6. The Z Visa is approved and the passport is returned to the teacher.
  7. The teacher enters China with the Z Visa.
  8. The teacher applies for a Work Permit within 15 days of entry.
  9. The teacher applies for a Residence Permit from the immigration department of the local public security authority.
  10. With the Z Visa, Work Permit and Residence Permit, the teacher is legally allowed to live and teach in China.

NOTE: Your photo must be a recent colour passport photo that is 48mm x 33mm. 

Now let’s look at Joshua’s experience. Bear in mind that he’s South African and was applying from South Africa. The logistics of the process will differ according to where you live:

The application process was a walk in the park when I first applied; the only challenging aspect was the police clearance, and it took 6 weeks.

I had to send copies of my degree, passport, and TEFL certificate to my employer, who sent me an official contract. I then had to take the contract and all the hard copies of said documents to the embassy. 

I was given a severe look and got a stamp on my application form that said “Interview Required.” For some applicants, this little roadblock still pops up.

This stressed me out, but at the interview a day later, I met the friendliest Chinese uncle who greeted me and approved my application within a few seconds.

I made the booking for the Z Visa online and had to submit a photo (taken at PostNet) on the website. This alone took an entire day, because everything about submitting the photo had to be perfect to the last pixel.

I then took the paperwork to be legalised for use in China at the Chinese Embassy in Sandton.

After all of this, I had the visa ready within a week.

I am happy to say that the application process was made easier in 2023, which means less drama for any applicant.

Read more: How To Legalise Your TEFL Certificate

Common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid

Things to look out for:

  •  job offers where the employers are vague about your role;
  • contracts which aren’t clear on what you’ll do; 
  • employers asking for payment for your Work Permit, and
  • erratic or odd behaviour from your future employer.

As Joshua says: Trust your gut.

I did an interview once where the interviewer wanted me to start 5 days after the interview! So keep in mind that although you will get good offers, if something is way too good to be true, it probably is.

I’ve been asked what would happen if documents aren’t properly authenticated. This is why you shouldn’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish; rather, let someone help you who knows what they are doing.

In general, the biggest mistake people make is not reading and following the instructions on the embassy’s website to the letter.

What can go wrong if you don’t have a Z Visa?

Life in China is awesome; however, if you are caught doing work at a Chinese company with the wrong visa, bad things can happen. 

You can convert any visa to a Z Visa once in China, but you should follow the right channels. Don’t work unless you have a Z Visa and run the risk of being caught, because the Chinese government has seen everything, and you will never be smarter than the last guy who got caught.

Deportation is the go-to outcome, but it also includes hefty fines and time at detention centres. This is not a holiday in the mountains until they can schedule your flight back to Africa; it’s worse than prison, according to some people I’ve spoken to.

If you work illegally in China or if you overstay your visa, there’s a possibility that you’ll be sent to do administrative detention for anything from 15 days to a month. This won’t be forgotten either and will affect any future application for residency in China.

According to Article 41 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, foreigners working in China must obtain work permits and work-type residence permits. The Regulations on the Employment of Foreigners in China, Article 15 adds, “Work permits are only valid for the specified employer and location.”

This means you can only work at the centre where you are officially employed, and you’ll look for trouble if you moonlight in any other location.

This happened to a buddy of mine from Ukraine, who was employed at a private language school in Chengdu, and he worked another job at a middle school. One day, some uniformed officials arrived at the school where he was moonlighting. They checked his passport and asked what he was doing at the school. He said he was teaching them Russian and that he was a teacher there. He got detained and was fined Y10,000. It took some begging and bargaining, but at least he got to return to his centre with a warning. 

Just a side note here, a sassy attitude won’t help you in a situation like this.

The second most important thing to remember is that you need to apply for your Residence Permit within 30 days of your arrival in China. Usually, your employer will help with this process. 

Any advice for getting a Z Visa?

Do everything by the book. Ask if you’re not sure about something.

There are loads of people who can help on TEFL groups on Facebook and companies like Laowaiteachers. The monetary input may not be cheap, but remember that you’ll make it all back when you start teaching.

And as Joshua said before, life in China is awesome – so it’ll all be worth it in the end.

PS: If you’re wondering how you can teach English in China without speaking Chinese, we’ve got you covered – read here!

Join over 200,000 TEFL teachers making a difference around the world! Download TEFL Factbook Explore TEFL Courses

Meet The Author

Kirsten Colquhoun

Kirsten Colquhoun is the Content Manager for The TEFL Academy. A graduate of Cambridge University and DELTA-qualified, she first started teaching kindergarten in Thailand in 2003. A South African, she has also taught in China, the UK, Spain, Qatar and South Africa, but these days she is a teacher trainer and freelance writer and editor.

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