Hi all,

I just finished working at a school, and am now being employed by another company in a different sector.

I'm looking at switching my visa, so it's registered with my new company.

I've had problems switching to another Z work visa though, because I will no longer be using my 'foreign expert' certificate to get the visa, but another certificate issued from a labour bureau. They have told me I have to leave the country to do so.

The other possibility is switching to a F business visa, which I'm told I can do once cancelling my Z, and applying for a one month tourist visa for the interim.

Does anyone have any similar experiences. Tips?

Cheers.

I have changed from a working permit to a Foreign Expert then swapped cancelled the old residence permit and got a new Yunnan one, all in country. I was told by the PSB Visa section in north China that changing between Z and Z or Z and F or vice versa doesnt need you to leave the country,, but they did say that L's cant be converted in China to anything else,,but this is China and the PSB in Yunnan will work to their own understanding of the rules.

One important thing is, when you say "they told me" do you mean the guy at the PSB visa desk? Because it may be worth it to go a bit higher in the food chain. It may work to mention that in Beijing that is how its done,,,

Any way they need to cancel your current residence permit and then issue a new one,,based on your working permit.