Many foreign applicants get stuck on the same question when applying for a China Category B work permit:
👉 “Does my work experience actually count?”
We all know the basic requirements for Category B: Bachelor’s degree + two years of relevant full-time work experience.
But here’s the thing
——
not all work experience is recognized!
Three Traps
✅ First: only full-time
work counts
Internships, part-time jobs, temporary gigs? ❌ None of them count.
👉 It must be post-graduation full-time employment.
✅ Second:highly relevant
Those two years must be highly relevant to the job you’re applying for in China.
If your experience is in a completely different field — sorry, probably not gonna work.
✅ Third: you need proper proof
Your previous employer must give you a document that clearly states:
● Your job title
● How long you worked there
● What you actually did
It needs an official stamp or a manager’s signature, plus a contact person and a working phone number — so they can verify it’s real.
No Bachelor’s + 2-year experience?
3 Hidden Paths
✅ High salary substitute
If your monthly salary is ≥ 4x local average social wage (e.g. ¥30k–40k in tier-1 cities), you can directly apply for Category B — work experience & degree requirements become much looser.
👉 Suitable for: high-skilled talents, executives, technical experts.
✅ Points-based system
Some regions use a points system (100 total, 60 pass).
Lacking degree? Earn points from salary, experience, Chinese level, age, location.
Short on experience? Use higher degree or professional certifications.
✅ Professional certification
For in-demand roles (engineers, designers, skilled technicians), holding globally recognized certifications (e.g. PMP, AWS, CFA, ACCA) can substitute for work experience in some regions.
👉 The requirements are quite high, and there are relevant policies only in certain areas.
Work & Life
Applying for a Category B work permit is not just the “Bachelor’s degree + 2-year experience” path.
Salary, points, certificates — these hidden routes are often overlooked.
If you’re unsure about your eligibility or need help with documents, feel free to DM us.
With 10+ years experience, we’ve helped uncountable foreign friends get their permits approved — DM us, let us help you avoid the common pitfalls!
Have you ever been rejected due to “insufficient work experience”? Tell us in the comments~
HACOS-Lucy
Wechat丨hacos008
