Heads-up! China Launches Work Permit Checks Over The Next 2 Months, With Police Involved

Visa & Work Permit Inspection

On September 30, the Shandong Provincial Department of Science and Technology announced a round of inspections targeting foreigners' Category A and Category B work permits. The checks are scheduled to take place in October and November 2026.

And this isn't just one department checking a few documents.

Three government departments will be involved:

• Science and Technology: Checking whether foreigners hold the required work permits and are working within the scope those permits authorize.

• Human Resources and Social Security: Checking compliance with employment rules, including unauthorized employer or job changes, employment extensions, forged permits and illegal employment.

• Public Security: Checking passports, other international travel documents, and foreigners' stay or residence documents.

In other words, your paperwork needs to match reality. Having a valid work permit doesn't automatically mean you're in the clear if you're working for a different employer or doing a job outside the scope of your authorization.

Not in Shandong? Should You Care?

For now, the announcement concerns a specific inspection exercise in Shandong. The notice says six organizations in Jinan that handle foreign work permits were randomly selected for joint, on-site inspections.

It does not announce a nationwide inspection campaign.

However, based on how administrative enforcement initiatives in China can spread from one locality to another, it's worth watching whether other provinces introduce similar checks. That's a possibility, not a confirmed next step.

So if you're working in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen or anywhere else in China, don't panic. But don't assume this is irrelevant to you, either.

What should you do?

A few sensible checks won't hurt:

• Make sure your work permit is valid and your employment details are up to date.

• Check that your actual employer and job responsibilities match your authorization.

• Make sure your passport and residence documents are valid.

• If you've changed jobs, roles or employers, confirm that the necessary procedures have been completed.

And if you're an employer hiring foreigners, this is also a good time to review your compliance paperwork.

We'll keep you posted if other provinces follow

This announcement is currently specific to Shandong, but it's a useful reminder that working legally in China involves more than simply having a job and a visa. Your permits, employment arrangements and residence status all need to line up.

We'll be keeping an eye on whether other provinces follow.

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