Can international students work in China? The rules on part-time jobs and internships

The legal framework

Students holding a study residence permit may take part-time work or an internship off campus only if the university approves, the employer or internship institution provides supporting documentation, and the local exit-entry administration bureau adds an annotation to the residence permit recording the location and duration of the activity.

In practice this means completing at least one academic year of study first, obtaining a letter from your school and a letter from the organisation, then applying in person at the exit-entry bureau. Without the annotation, the work is illegal even if your school knows about it.

Hours and limits

Municipal rules generally cap part-time work at around 8 hours per week during term time, with more permitted during holidays. Internships arranged as part of your curriculum are treated differently and are usually permitted as part of the programme.

Some cities, including Shanghai and Beijing, enforce the rules more actively than others. Do not rely on the fact that a friend worked without a permit.

What actually happens in practice

The most reliable routes are on-campus work-study positions arranged by the international student office, research assistantships funded from a supervisor's grant, and formally approved internships with partner companies. These are all legal and are usually paid by bank transfer, which matters because you need a Chinese bank account and a tax identification number for most formal employment.