Under the influence of her great-grandfather, Ann has had a strong interest in Chinese culture since her childhood and is keen on studying Chinese culture. She came to China to study two years ago. Now she has completed her studies and wishes to work in China. She wrote a letter to us, enquiring about the procedures to complete before she, as a foreigner, can take up a job in China. According to relevant Chinese laws, only those foreigners who meet the following requirements can take up a job in China:

1. There is a special need for the kind of job he/she is going to take, and it is not easy to find a person in China who can do it. What is more, it is not against the State's regulations to give such a job to a foreigner;
2. The person is healthy and over 18 in age;
3. The person has the necessary expertise and experience for the job;
4. The person has no criminal record;
5. The person has actually found a potential employer;
6. The person holds a valid passport or travel document in its place.
In the above case, Ann, if she really wants to be employed in China and has found a potential employer, she has to submit her health certificate, diploma, passport or a photocopy of her ID document for examination, and hand in a recently-taken 2-inch bareheaded photo. Her employer must fill in the Application Form for Hiring Foreign Nationals, and submit the completed form to the authority of the industry, which, after approving the application, transfer the application to the labour department and public security bureau of the same level for examination and approval. Ann can take up a job in China only after she has obtained the Foreigner's Work Permit and the Foreigner's Residence Permit.
Now, suppose Ann falls within one of the following special categories. Then she can work in China without obtaining a work permit.
1. Foreigners who carry a Foreign Expert Certificate;
2. Foreign labourers carrying a Work Permit for Foreigners Engaging in Ocean Petroleum Tapping in the People's Republic of China who work on oil rigs, do not have to come ashore, and have special skills.
3. Foreigners carrying a Temporary License for Profit-Making Performance, who, with approval from the Ministry of Culture, engage in theatrical performance.
Foreigners are welcome to take part in China's economic construction. But please remember to get a work permit and a residence permit before hand. We would like to remind all those who plan to work in China that working in China without first completing the above-mentioned procedures constitutes illegal employment, which is not permitted by Chinese law.