This information is for orientation only. Working without authorisation or without an endorsement on your permit can lead to administrative penalties, revocation of your residence permit, and deportation. Always verify with your international office and local exit-entry administration before starting any paid activity.

Student work roadmap

Study only
University authorisation
Permit endorsement (if off campus)
Payslip and IIT
After graduation: work permit / new status

National rules (MOE 2022) — operational summary

The Regulations on international student work (Ministry of Education, 2022) set the framework for Chinese universities.

Situation	Indicative limit
During term (on/off campus)	Max 8 hours/week and 40 hours/month
Holidays	Max 16 hours/week and 80 hours/month
Minimum age	18 years
Valid permit	Study residence permit with at least 6 months remaining validity

On-campus vs off-campus work

Work at the university (assistant, library, tutoring)

Usually managed by the international office or department.
Pay through the university system; hours count toward MOE limits.
Often does not require the same exit-entry endorsement as external work — confirm with your school.

Off-campus work (hospitality, translation, local startups)

Written agreement with the employer (content, hours, location, pay).
University approval — Letter/certificate from the international office.
Endorsement application — Within 10 days at exit-entry with passport, permit, agreement, and school letter.
Geographic area — Work is normally limited to the prefecture-level city where you study; max 1 year per request (renewable if compliant).
Start work — Only after endorsement is approved (check your permit or linked document).

Last updated: May 2026 — Beijing — Residence permit work-study endorsement

Internships and entrepreneurship

Curricular internship: must be part of the programme or authorised by the school; ask if an «internship» endorsement on the permit is required.
Zhongguancun / innovation zones (Beijing and others): special entrepreneurship routes with incubator letters — local requirements.
Online freelance for foreign clients: risk of breaching work and residence rules if income is tied to activity in China without a permit — seek legal advice for mixed cases.

Taxes (IIT) for students who work legally

If you receive salary in China under a regular contract:

The employer applies withholding under IIT tables.
Use the official 个人所得税 (Individual Income Tax) app for annual declaration and possible refunds.
Keep payslips, contract, and tax payment receipts.
If you are in China fewer than 183 days in the tax year, tax residency may differ — complex cases: verify with an accountant.

After graduation: from student to employee

Graduation and closing study status — Follow university procedure for diploma; inform exit-entry of status change (often within 10 days).
Job offer — Contract with a Chinese employer authorised to hire foreigners.
Notification / Work permit — Employer obtains notification letter and work permit.
Z visa — If you leave China, apply for Z visa at consulate; if you stay, check whether in-country status change is possible (case by case).
Work residence permit — Within post-entry deadlines, conversion at exit-entry.

Master+ graduates within 1 year: some circulars have eased work permit experience requirements — verify current rules with employer and local foreigners office.
Shanghai / innovation: possible permits for entrepreneurship or research — eligibility only after on-site verification.

What NOT to do

Work illegally without endorsement on your permit.
Exceed MOE hour limits even with endorsement.
Accept cash-only pay without contract for repeated «private tutoring».
Use a tourist or business visa for full-time study.

Official links

VPN

Personal use gray area — follow university policy and local law.

Quick reference

Tier-1 cities very safe at night; watch out for online scams, illegal VPNs for business, earthquakes/typhoons on the coast. Follow university notices.

110 police
120 ambulance
WeChat transfer scam
VPN: Evolving legal policy — ask campus

Day-to-day safety

Newspaper

Telephone in the crowded subway
Record address every move
Earthquake alert app in some cities

Common scams

Tea ceremony scam, fake police call, WeChat phishing.

Do not transfer to strangers
Use official DiDi

Emergencies

120
Passport Embassy
Campus security

If something goes wrong

Rights

National rule

Study-related permit — do not work without authorization. Binding contract in Chinese.

Deep dive (optional)

Go deeper

Operational detail and official links—amounts and deadlines change; always confirm on the competent portal before filing or paying.

Visas & work (summary)

Pattern	Note
Z visa + residence permit	Full-time employment with a licensed employer; renewals tied to your contract
X1 student status	Internships or part-time work only when explicitly allowed—rules vary by city and campus
Internships	Tri-party agreements between school, company, and student are common
Undeclared work	Fines, admin penalties, and visa impacts—do not take jobs outside your visa scope

Employment basics

Written contracts

RMB salary, hours, social insurance where applicable, and leave—keep stamped copies.

english.gov.cn

HR & permits

Employers usually coordinate permit renewals; report employer or address changes promptly.

Public labour hotlines

Many cities operate 12333-style human-resources hotlines—verify the exact number and hours on your local government portal.

Students working

Always confirm with your international office and visa conditions before accepting paid work.

Note

This block complements the guide with institutional entry points—not legal or tax advice.

Work and taxes for students in China