In brief
Mainland China is the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP and the largest by purchasing-power parity. Output is concentrated in Beijing, Shanghai, the Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou, Shenzhen), and the Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou); secondary urban agglomerations including Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi'an, and Wuhan are individually larger than most national economies. The economy combines globally-leading manufacturing capacity (electronics, machinery, electric vehicles, batteries, photovoltaics) with a massive services sector and a tightly state-supervised financial system. The PRC operates a separate immigration, currency, and legal regime from Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions (covered as separate Meridian briefs).
For non-Chinese workers the structural routes are the Z visa (employment) and R visa (high-end talent), administered through the National Immigration Administration and supplemented by employer-led applications under the Foreign Workers Permit Point System (Class A / B / C). The R visa, designed for foreign experts in critical sectors and globally-recognised talent, offers expedited issuance and longer durations than the standard Z framework. Foreign work-permit issuance peaked pre-pandemic and has been gradually recovering since 2023; total foreign-resident numbers remain modest by international standards (well under 1 million long-term).
China has substantially expanded its visa-free and transit-free policies through 2024–2025: the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy (effective December 2024) now covers 55 countries, and a parallel programme of bilateral visa-free arrangements has been extended to 30+ countries since 2023. These changes are tourism-focused — work activities continue to require the appropriate Z or R visa — but signal a meaningful tone shift after the pandemic-era restrictions. Long-term residence (Permanent Residence "Green Card") remains highly selective: roughly 10,000 PR cards issued total since the system's 2004 inception, though refinements in 2020 and 2024 modestly broadened eligibility.
Labour market
Labour market
Headline labour-market figures for China (Mainland), drawn from national statistical offices and ILO-modelled estimates. Figures update as each source publishes new periods.
Unemployment
4.6%
% · 2025 · World Bank
Youth unemployment
15.8%
% ages 15-24 · 2025 · World Bank
Employment-to-population
67.3%
% ages 15+ · 2019 · World Bank
Labour-force participation
70.3%
% ages 15+ · 2018 · World Bank
Female participation
63.7%
% females 15+ · 2010 · World Bank
Labour force
767,626,880
people · 2025 · World Bank
Definitions: employment-to-population ratio is the proportion of the working-age population (15+) that is employed. Labour-force participation rate is the proportion of the working-age population that is either employed or actively job-seeking. Youth unemployment refers to the 15–24 cohort.
Source: World Bank Open Data (ILO-modelled estimates and national-account sources).
Demographics
Demographics
China (Mainland) has a population of 1,408,975,000, of which 66% live in urban areas. People aged 65 and over make up 14.7% of the population against a fertility rate of 1.01 births per woman — well below the 2.1 replacement rate.
1,408,975,000World Bank · 2024Population
65.9%World Bank · 2024Urban share
14.7%World Bank · 2024Aged 65+
78.0 yrsWorld Bank · 2024Life expectancy
1.01World Bank · 2024Fertility rate
Official language is Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua). The country's demographic profile, like most of western Europe, is aging — the 65-plus share is roughly double what it was in the 1970s and still climbing. Net migration is the main source of population growth.
Sources: World Bank Open Data ↗ · UN Population Division ↗
Sources: World Bank Open Data · United Nations Population Division · national statistical office.
Visa & immigration
Visa & immigration
Not legal advice. Every figure below links to its official government source. Rules change; verify the specific threshold, processing time, and eligibility for your case before applying.
Z Visa (Standard Work)
Standard route for foreign nationals taking up paid employment in Mainland China.
No salary floor · 12 months initial · path to permanent · 2–6 weeks processing
The standard work visa for non-Chinese employees. Single-entry visa valid 30 days for entry; converted to a residence permit after arrival (typically 1–5 years depending on contract length). Requires a Foreign Worker's Work Permit Notification issued by the Chinese employer, evidence of relevant qualifications and experience, criminal-record clearance, and a medical certificate. Employer must be a registered eligible entity.
Requirements
- Foreign Worker's Work Permit Notification from Chinese employer
- Relevant qualifications: typically Bachelor's degree + 2 years' experience
- Criminal-record clearance (apostilled)
- Health certificate
Verified 2026-04-19 · Source:
National Immigration Administration of China ↗
· share your experience
R Visa (High-End Talent)
Globally-recognised experts, leading scientists, and high-end professionals in priority sectors.
No salary floor · 60 months initial · path to permanent · 2–6 weeks processing
Designed for foreign experts in fields critical to China's development. Faster processing, longer single-entry validity, and easier conversion to a long-term residence permit (commonly 5 years rather than the 1–2 typical for Z visa holders). Eligibility is narrowly-defined and requires nomination through the Class A foreign-experts framework administered jointly by SAFEA and the National Immigration Administration.
Requirements
- Class A Foreign Worker classification under the points system
- Nomination by approved Chinese institution or employer
- Recognised expertise in priority field (science, technology, education, healthcare, etc.)
Verified 2026-04-19 · Source:
State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs ↗
· share your experience
Foreign Worker's Work Permit (Class A/B/C)
All foreign workers — categorised by points system administered by SAFEA.
No salary floor · 12 months initial · path to permanent · 2–6 weeks processing
All foreign workers are scored under a points-based classification: Class A (high-end talent — generally R visa eligible), Class B (professional talent — standard Z visa), Class C (other specified categories — typically short-term or seasonal). Class affects work-permit processing speed, duration, and family-sponsorship eligibility. The Notification system is the operational gateway to the Z or R visa application at a Chinese embassy or consulate.
Requirements
- Employer-led application to the local Foreign Experts Bureau / Human Resources Bureau
- Documentation appropriate to applicant class (Class A/B/C)
- Position registered as eligible for foreign hiring
Verified 2026-04-19 · Source:
State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs ↗
· share your experience
Permanent Residence Permit ("Chinese Green Card")
Long-term residents qualifying via narrowly-defined eligibility tracks.
No salary floor · 120 months initial · path to permanent · 24–78 weeks processing
China's Permanent Residence is one of the most selective globally — approximately 10,000 issued total since the 2004 launch. Eligibility tracks: investment (US$500k+ in qualifying entities), high-level employment (4+ years on Z visa with continuous residence and a senior role), family reunification (immediate family of Chinese citizens or PR holders), and "exceptional contribution" cases. 2020 and 2024 reforms modestly broadened eligibility but PR remains exceptionally hard to obtain.
Requirements
- One of the qualifying tracks (investment, employment, family, exceptional contribution)
- Continuous lawful residence; clean criminal record
- No major communicable disease
- Health and tax compliance
Verified 2026-04-19 · Source:
National Immigration Administration of China ↗
· share your experience
Q1 / Q2 Family Visa
Family members of Chinese citizens (Q1: long-term, Q2: short-term).
No salary floor · 12 months initial · path to permanent · 2–6 weeks processing
Q1 visa for long-term family reunion (more than 180 days) with Chinese citizens or permanent residents — typically converted to a residence permit on arrival. Q2 visa for short-term family visits (up to 180 days). Standard route for foreign spouses, children, and parents of Chinese nationals. Documentation typically includes apostilled marriage / birth certificates and a written invitation from the Chinese family member.
Requirements
- Family relationship to Chinese citizen / PR holder (apostilled documentation)
- Written invitation
- Sufficient financial means
Verified 2026-04-19 · Source:
National Immigration Administration of China ↗
· share your experience
240-hour Visa-Free Transit
Citizens of 55 eligible countries transiting through China.
No salary floor · 1 months initial
Not a residence pathway, but the most-used short-stay route for many foreign visitors. Effective December 2024 expansion: 240 hours (10 days) of visa-free stay for transit travellers from 55 countries entering through any of 65 designated ports across 24 provinces. Permitted activities include tourism, business, and family visits — work, study, or news reporting still require the appropriate visa. Travellers must hold confirmed onward travel to a third country.
Requirements
- Citizenship of one of 55 eligible countries
- Valid international travel document
- Confirmed interline ticket to third country with date and seat
- Entry through one of 65 designated ports
Verified 2026-04-19 · Source:
National Immigration Administration of China ↗
· share your experience
Primary sources cited per row; every figure links to the issuing authority.