Registering a company in China does not automatically give its foreign founder the right to work in China. Company ownership and immigration status are separate.
If you will run the business while physically based in Hainan, plan the work authorisation alongside the company formation rather than treating it as an afterthought.
The three documents people confuse
For a normal long-term assignment, a foreign founder usually deals with:
- a Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit;
- a Z visa used to enter China for work; and
- a work-type residence permit after arrival.
The employer also completes the Foreigner’s Work Permit process. For a founder, the employing entity can be the Chinese company once it is properly established and able to sponsor the application.
The usual sequence for work lasting more than 90 days
Step 1: The employer applies for the notification letter
The Chinese employer files through the official foreigner work-permit system. Materials commonly include the employment documents, qualifications, highest degree, criminal-record certificate, health information and passport.
Foreign public documents may need an apostille if issued in a country where the Apostille Convention applies, or consular legalisation for other jurisdictions.
Step 2: Apply for a Z visa
After the notification letter is approved, the applicant normally applies for a Z visa through the appropriate Chinese visa authority overseas.
Step 3: Enter China and register the address
Hotels normally complete temporary residence registration for guests. A foreigner staying elsewhere generally needs to register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival.
Step 4: Complete the work-permit and residence-permit process
For work lasting more than 90 days, the employee completes the work-permit procedure and applies for a work-type residence permit after entry. A person entering with a visa and intending to live and work in China generally needs to apply for the residence permit within 30 days of entry.
Do not book a long period of overseas travel during this stage without checking whether the passport is needed for processing.
Can I work during a visa-free visit to Hainan?
No. Hainan’s regional visa-free policy is useful for a scouting trip, meetings, site visits or discussions with service providers. It is not permission to take up employment.
As of August 2026, ordinary passport holders from 61 listed countries may enter through Hainan’s open ports and remain within Hainan for up to 30 days for approved short-term purposes including tourism, business visits, family visits, medical treatment, conferences and sporting events. Work and study are expressly excluded.
The list changes from time to time — Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam were added most recently — so confirm your nationality is on the current National Immigration Administration list before you travel.
That makes the scheme helpful for inspecting offices, meeting banks and discussing a formation plan before committing. Once you begin working for the company in China, use the work-authorisation route.
What about work lasting 90 days or less?
Official guidance provides a short-term work route using a Notification Letter and Z visa for work of no more than 90 days. It is not the same as visiting on a business or tourist status.
If the trip includes productive work rather than meetings or negotiations, confirm the correct category before travel. Calling an assignment a “business visit” does not change what the person will actually do.
Common founder mistakes
- Assuming ownership of the company creates a right to work.
- Entering visa-free and then performing day-to-day operational work.
- Preparing a degree or criminal-record certificate without the correct apostille or legalisation.
- Giving the founder a role or salary that does not match the application.
- Waiting until the visa or residence permit is close to expiry before starting renewal.
- Changing a passport, employer or job details without checking the update requirements.
Plan formation and immigration together
Before filing, decide who will serve as legal representative and manager, who will be employed by the Chinese company, when the company can sign an employment contract and whether the applicant’s documents are ready.
A realistic plan connects four timelines: company licence, company banking, work-permit sponsorship and the founder’s travel schedule.
Related reading
- How to set up a company in Hainan Free Trade Port
- Living in Hainan as a foreign business owner
- Hiring employees in China
Official sources
- China’s 2025 Guide to Working and Living for Business Expatriates
- Hainan 30-day visa-free entry policy
- China’s Apostille Convention guidance
Immigration rules depend on nationality, purpose, length of stay and the applicant’s qualifications. Confirm the route before booking travel or beginning work.
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