Obtaining a China work visa (Z visa)

So if I want a Z Visa I have to send my passport in the mail or courier to Hong Kong rather than come over on a Tourist Visa and convert it there?I suppose that I still can get the Z Visa at the Chinese Embassy in Wellington?

BTW That is Wellington New Zealand.

HI David....

NO NO NO NO NO!!!!

Don't mail it to Hong Kong!!!!

I meant if you come to China first on a tourist visa, you will have to mail it back to your home country (NZ) to have a proper Z visa processed. You USED to be able to do it in Hong Kong, but for many cities that is no longer an option.

By FAR the best way to get a work visa is to do it BEFORE coming to China. Otherwise you may have no choice but to return all the way to NZ to convert it!

OOOK Thanks for the heads up on the visa situation! Some institutions say you can but now (thanks to the grapevine) I am wiser!

Recently I heard that many cities/provinces in China will not even send your invite letter to Japan or Korea anymore. One guy was specifically told he MUST receive the invite letter in his home country. Just a few months ago, you could receive your invite letter and process your Z visa in Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. No longer the case, apparently.

And don't even think about Taiwan. As far as the Chinese government is concerned, Taiwan is still 'in country' and you are not out of China.

However, these are the current rules and laws and they are subject to change at any time. Also, every city and province has different visa requirements and processes. Bigger cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) have much tougher requirements and restrictions. Smaller cities seem to be more lenient.

Global Tesol should make this thread a sticked topic and lock it. After reading all the postings, this thread has some great input and useful information for anyone looking to start a teaching career in China. Unfortunately, the immigration laws and processes change often so this topic could be out of date in a few months.