Work and vacancies in China for Russians in 2021

The People's Republic of China is an intensively developing East Asian country, the second largest economy in the world. High GDP growth rates and a growing market size help attract foreign labor. The chances of finding a job in China for CIS citizens are quite high, but the employment process has its own specifics, including those related to the peculiarities of the Eastern mentality.

In-demand vacancies

Without knowledge of the Chinese language, the list of jobs that foreigners can apply for in China is significantly reduced. The best option is to look for work in the representative offices of international companies operating in the country. Occupations in demand in China include information technology specialists, skilled technical workers in manufacturing and medical personnel.

There is a shortage of personnel in the areas of finance, management, tourism, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. Translators are often needed, as well as teachers and teachers of English or Russian in local schools, universities and private educational institutions. Women with attractive appearance can work as TV presenters, models and dancers.

The highest paying professions in China are senior management, software developer, airline pilot, mortgage broker, communications equipment manufacturer, financial analyst, consultant (science and technology) and real estate sales professional. As in other countries of the world, show business stars and professional athletes earn a lot in China.

Work for men and women

Many young people with European appearance make good money working as hostesses, animators, entertaining guests in restaurants, karaoke clubs, etc. What is important here is the ability to present yourself correctly, to create an atmosphere of celebration and relaxation. True, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the history and reputation of the institution. It is noteworthy that such vacancies exist for both girls and boys. You can also get a job as a massage therapist, work in modeling or show business. Without knowledge of languages, we are left with low-skilled blue-collar work or work in agriculture.

Skilled workers are in demand in China. Men can get jobs in the technical and financial fields, and get jobs in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Artists, fashion models, and sales managers are in great demand.

Many roads are open for women with Slavic appearance. They can get a position in the service sector, tourism, entertainment, or work as a model, dancer or presenter on television.

Working as an English teacher in China

Currently, English teachers are in great demand in China. Experienced teachers are needed in preschool institutions, private and public schools, and universities.

Work visa to China

All immigrants going to work must obtain a work visa. Before submitting an application, you must find a job and obtain permission to work in China. Only after this is it possible to obtain a visa.

Documents required to obtain a visa:

employment contract;
international passport;
original document permitting work activity;
photo cards measuring 35x45 mm (3 photos no more than six months old);
a copy of the education document;
invitation from the employer (letter in original);
completed applications forms V2011B, V2011A;
certificate with a medical report on health status.

To obtain a work visa, a citizen must:

undergo an interview with an employer;
conclude an employment contract and have its original copy with you;
receive an official invitation letter for work from the employer;
have a certificate in hand that confirms your knowledge of English or Chinese;
have in hand an education document that confirms your qualifications.

In the standard mode, documents are reviewed within 5 working days, but there is also an urgent procedure for processing in one or two days. The cost of a visa will be from 2 to 4 thousand rubles, depending on the urgency.

Requirements for the applicant

Despite the fact that in Chinese consulates the percentage of refusals to issue work visas for Russians is significantly lower than in the diplomatic missions of a number of Western countries, this does not mean that permission to enter the PRC is automatically issued. Failure to meet the embassy's requirements or doubts regarding the identity of the applicant may well result in the requested visa not being issued.

If a citizen of the Russian Federation indicated in the submitted documents that he was going to get a job with knowledge of the Chinese language, but was unable to provide a certificate confirming language proficiency at the required level, this may be a reason for refusing to issue a visa. The same applies to those cases when the applicant did not attach a copy of a university diploma or a certificate of completion of training courses to the list of documents.

Extension of a visa

To continue the validity of a work visa, a Russian citizen must contact the local Public Security Bureau (the Chinese equivalent of the migration service). This must be done no later than 30 days before the expiration of the issued visa. An application for extension is written on a special form, which can be obtained by contacting the Bureau.

Along with the application, the citizen must submit all the documents he has that were previously submitted to obtain a visa. Particular attention should be paid to the employment contract. At the time of contacting the Public Security Bureau, it should already be extended.

Working as a pilot on Chinese airlines

Air travel is one of China's fastest growing economic sectors. Pilots from the Russian Federation and the CIS can most likely find work here. The health requirements of the medical flight commission are lower, working conditions are better (rest time is strictly regulated). The pay level for a co-pilot is about $8 thousand, and for a pilot-in-command - $15 thousand. Boeing 737 pilots earn more than others, so getting on wide-body aircraft is almost impossible. Airline workers and their families are able to legally reside in China and fly for free.

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The popularity of pilot vacancies in China has already led to the fact that Russian airlines are experiencing an acute shortage of flight personnel.

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Wage

There is no minimum wage established at the state level. On average it is $150-375, the level depends on the province and city. The average salary in the country is $985 per month, which significantly exceeds the indicators of the countries of the former USSR and even some new members of the European Union (Romania, Bulgaria, etc.). Salaries are growing at a faster pace, and this has recently made it less profitable to locate assembly plants here. They receive the most in the southeast of the country, less in the north and center. Salaries in megacities can be many times higher than in rural areas. The highest paid professions are in finance and IT.

What should Russian businessmen and others do?

Experienced businessmen strongly advise against using the Chinese market for startups. Firstly, competition in this area is too high. Secondly, there is noticeable protectionism for local products. Thirdly, the Chinese market is flooded with copies and fakes, so a new promising product may get lost among a sea of similar products, even if of poorer quality.

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Whether your business will be successful depends on many factors, including the city where you operate it and the initial capital invested in the business. Today, many foreigners own successful companies involved in:

delivery of groupage cargo;
leasing of warehouses and industrial refrigeration equipment;
registration of new companies;
production of clothing and footwear;
wood processing;
production of beverages and food products.

Features of finding a job in China

Social networks are the most popular search method. There are many thematic groups on social networks (Vkontakte, Fb, Telegram, etc.) about working in China. You can also join the professional network linkedin.com. Wechat is worth mentioning separately. This is one of the social networks that offers a huge amount of work in thematic groups. Most large agencies use this social network.

Some applicants make a list of companies in advance where they want to try to get a job. In this case, you can visit their official websites and leave your resume there. Relatives and friends permanently residing in China can help. In addition, you can use the help of recruiting agencies, but there is a high risk of facing fraud. Students can complete an internship through exchange programs and then obtain a permanent job. The same applies to volunteers.

Being directly in China, it is easier to get a job, because you can immediately go through an interview with an employer and show your skills. In this case, it is advisable to look for vacancies in periodicals, for example, in China Daily, South China Morning Post, etc.

Another proven method

Don't feel like being on social networks? Then you need to come to China as a tourist , go around 10-20 places and negotiate with the employer in person. It’s one thing to write messages on the Internet and look at pictures, and quite another to see everything with your own eyes, look at your future place of work and talk with your boss. This is how we met the singer at the Moscow restaurant in Sanya. She arrived and went to restaurants herself, asking about vacancies, until she found a job. Then she came again with a work visa; her new employer sent her an invitation.

Internship in China

Our students, teachers and graduate students are welcome in China. If you are interested in internships in China in 2021 and you fall into one of the categories listed, your university may be able to direct you to a language internship. To do this, the higher education institution must provide the following documents to Russian services cooperating with China:

A letter about what your institution is about. The document must be signed by the rector or his deputy. You can find a sample presentation on the Internet and compose your own letter based on it.
Your biographical certificate with a full set of passport data about you (both from your internal passport and from a foreign one) and an attached photo.
A copy of the HSK or a certificate stating that you speak Chinese.
A copy of the main page of the foreign passport.
A copy of the main page of the internal passport.

Jobs and salaries in Beijing in 2019

Overseas applicants carrying out professional activities in China on a work visa are often referred to as “foreign experts.” Such an entry is made in the registration documents and is completely true. In most cases, to successfully search for a job in Beijing for Russians in 2021, you need to have skills that are scarce in the local labor market.

The financial sector, real estate market, construction, information technology, pharmaceuticals, science and high-tech manufacturing play a major role in the city's economy. Some foreigners successfully conduct business in China. Men can find vacancies in the capital for programmers and builders. Work in Beijing is available for girls in the field of modeling, tourism and television.

Beijing ranks one of the first places not only in China, but also in Asia in terms of the ratio of wages to the cost of living in the city. The average salary in Beijing in 2021 is about $1,300 per month . At the same time, the salaries of qualified capital workers reach $1,600–1,800. The minimum monthly salary in Beijing is $310. The level of wages in China as a whole is only increasing every year.

Business in China

In order to register your activities in China, you first need to register a company. However, this procedure is not solved so quickly. As a rule, registering a company (business) can take about a year. In order to speed up the process, you can use the services of intermediary companies. The services are not cheap: registering a company will cost about $5,000-6,000, and various taxes and fees will take another $2,000 out of your pocket.

To register your business in China, you need to submit the following package of documents:

Write an application and prepare the entire package of documents to the competent authority;

Approve the package of documents;

Open an account in any bank in China;

Submit documents for verification to the China Foreign Exchange Control Administration;

Submit documents to the tax office and receive the code of your new company;

Order a seal for the company;

Obtain permission to hire foreign and Chinese workers.

When you submit your documents, you will be assigned a Chinese government official who will help you ensure that your documents are submitted correctly to all relevant authorities.

Taxation in the country

China's tax system is quite complex. It consists of a large number of taxes, which can be divided into 5 groups:

Turnover taxes
Income taxes
Property taxes
Resource taxes
Taxes on certain actions

The main share of tax revenues comes from turnover taxes. Turnover taxes include:

value added tax (VAT);
business tax;
consumption tax;
transport tax;
tax on tobacco products.

The second group of taxes, accounting for approximately 1/4 of the total tax revenue, includes income tax on the income of legal entities and individuals.

Advantages and disadvantages of working in China

Advantages

New experience. There is a lot of work in China: even a person who does not speak Chinese will always find something to do. At a minimum, you can get a job with your compatriots. Of course, knowing a language makes a person much more competitive. In China, you can gain new experience in a variety of areas, and experience is the most important thing a new job can provide.
New language. While in China, you will, one way or another, learn Chinese. When everything around you is in Chinese, you learn the language much faster.
Great opportunities. China is a country with great employment and career opportunities. It’s true that competition in China is quite high, but getting a good job in any country is not easy. There are many workers in China, but there are not enough certified specialists in all industries. Therefore, people with good education and work experience have every chance of getting well-paid jobs in China. There will also be work for young people without higher education. The Chinese not only love to work, but also to relax. In many service and entertainment establishments, staff with Slavic appearance are valued. Of course, the best positions will go to those who not only have a higher education, but also know Chinese. Such specialists are worth their weight in gold.
Attitude. Foreigners often receive bonuses and other incentives for a job well done.
It's easy to open your own business. China has good business conditions and many benefits for entrepreneurs. A gentle tax policy and low prices for equipment rental have a beneficial effect on business development.

Flaws

Low wages. Well-being depends on which city a person ends up in. In each province, wage levels vary significantly.
Big competition. Since the population is large, there are more people applying for one position than necessary.
Different cultures and mentalities can cause misunderstandings with the Chinese.
The Chinese don't get much rest. There are very few weekends and holidays in China.

How to get a good job in Beijing?

It is necessary to create a high-quality, complete resume.
You must obtain letters of recommendation from previous employers confirming your qualifications and work experience.
It is better to write to potential employers directly.
Showcase your best qualities and knowledge.
Even if you speak English at a high level, try to learn Chinese.

Large international and Chinese companies in Beijing

State Grid is a state power grid corporation.
Sinopec Group is an oil and chemical corporation.
China National Petroleum is a national oil and gas corporation.
Scientific, which includes companies in the field of programming, medicine, ecology, energy, and aerospace production.