There has been panic in expat communities about supposedly new 2026 salary rules for foreign work permits, with figures like 47,000 RMB per month being thrown around as minimum requirements. The reality is more nuanced.

The salary multipliers (6x local average wage for Category A, 4x for Category B) are not new. They have existed since 2017. What has changed is stricter enforcement and more consistent application through the national online system.

More importantly, most foreign professionals do not qualify through the salary route at all. Teachers, engineers, consultants, and corporate staff typically qualify through the points-based system, where salary is just one of several factors alongside your degree, experience, age, and employer sponsorship.

The high salary thresholds only become relevant if salary is your primary qualification route, which for most people it is not.