No one likes to lose their belongings. While you’ll likely quickly get over losing a pair of inexpensive earrings or sunglasses, in other instances, consequences can prove to be much more serious. As a foreigner working in China, there are two documents that you especially want to keep safe: your passport and your work permit card.
We previously talked about what to do when losing your passport in China. But what if you’ve lost your work permit card? Fear not and keep reading for some handy tips on what to do.
Work Permit Card Gone Missing: Now What?
You’ve turned the house upside down, checked all your office drawers…Your work permit card is nowhere to be found. The good news is that applying for a new work permit card is less complicated than having to get a new passport. You also won’t need to submit all the supporting documentation required for first-time applicants.
Process for Applying for a New Work Permit Card
First, your company should login into the Service system for foreigners working in China website http://fwp.safea.gov.cn and submit a formal loss declaration.
Then, the person responsible for HR should fill in an electronic re-issuance application form. They’ll need to print it out and stamp it with the company’s seal before uploading it on the online system. At this stage, your company will also need to provide a formal loss certificate, ideally in Chinese.
During the second step of the process, authorities will conduct a pre-screen of the application and give their green light to proceed to the next step after about 5 working days.
Once your application is pre-approved, your company should submit original documents to the relevant government agency for a final round of checks. This step is not required for A-class work permit holders.
Fourth and final step: patiently wait for your new permit card to be reissued. This should take between 10 and 15 working days depending on where you apply and whether your application is complete.
The same process applies if your work permit card is damaged (think cut in half, scratched etc…) In that case however, you will also need to provide the original card to authorities when submitting your re-issuance application.
How to Update Your Work Permit Card Details
Let’s say you have:
- changed your name
- obtained a new passport
- a new job title
In all the above cases, your company will need to update your details on online government system. The changes should be made no later than 10 days after the change has occurred.
Your HR Manager should first log an online application and provide documents clarifying the reason for the change. These include:
- your new passport number. A copy of your new passport’s main page and visa page should be uploaded online.
- if you have a new job title or have been promoted within the same company, a formal letter outlining the position change should be provided.
There you have it! Applying for a new work permit card or updating your details is a fairly straightforward process as long as you are aware of the different steps and have a knowledgeable HR manager to assist you.Looking for more useful tips for your life in China? Get in touch with our team for a consultation and follow us on social media to receive the latest news.
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