Employment & Professional Development

Hi Dr. Greg,

After reading the "Preparing For Your Arrival in China as A Foreign Teacher" section of MKL and the Chinese Embassy web page, I have a question regarding the 48-hour check in period. Three issues: a) I legally have 90-days from the date of issuance of my Z-Visa to enter China. b) I legally have 30 days to report for work and apply for residency upon arrival in China. c) I have 48 hours to check in with the local PSB to report my residency. Don't "b" and "c" contradict each other? If "b" is correct, I have 30 days to check in for work and convert my Z-Visa to a residency permit. If "c" is correct, I have 48 hours to report my residency, which would seem to imply I need to prove residency within 48 hours.

My intention is to arrive in China via Shanghai roughly 10 days prior to the school year's initiation so that I can acclimate to my new environment. I would stay in Shanghai for a few days at a hostel, and would then make my way to NanJing where the school is located. However, if I am understanding rule "c" properly, I would have to report my residency within 48 hours of my arrival, but I wouldn't have residency yet as I would still be under the 30-day grace period of the Z-Visa.

I know that I am misunderstanding something, and would appreciate any clarity you can provide on this matter.

Thank you, Dr. Greg!

Hi Eric,

All foreigners in China are required to register with the PSB, including tourists. "Residency" here simply means where you are currently staying, i.e., your current address. Hotels and hostels are required to send a copy of your passport and length of stay to the PSB shortly after you arrive, so this registration process is entirely transparent to most tourists. When you sign into the hostel in Shanghai, they will register your visit with the PSB on your behalf.

You don't really need to worry about his until you are assigned an apartment by the school, shortly after which someone will take you to the PSB to register your current address.

The 30-day window refers to the conversion of the Z-visa into a one-year residency permit, which is not the same as declaring your current whereabouts. Theoretically, you could have numerous addresses within the course of your one-year residency permit in China.

Best of luck!

I understand now.

Thank you very much for the clarification!

Warm regards,
Eric