China Student Work Rights 2026

International students on an X1 or X2 visa may be eligible to work part-time during the academic semester, and they must have the work approved by their institution and follow local regulations. A work permit is required before starting any form of employment.

During official university holidays, students are allowed to work full-time. The published work rights do not remove the need for approval and permit steps.

After completing their studies, students can apply for a work visa if they find employment in China. The post-study transition typically allows up to 60 days to switch from a student to a work visa or to leave the country.

China has 398 universities listed here, including Peking University, Fudan University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Sun Yat-Sen University. Student cities named include Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.