1. Cancellation of the Work Permit for Foreigners

Automatic Cancellation upon Expiration

A work permit for foreigners will be automatically cancelled upon expiration.

If the work permit needs to be cancelled due to the early termination of an employment contract, relevant supporting documentation must be provided, such as a Postdoctoral Withdrawal Form or a Certificate of Employment Contract Termination.

Additional requirement from June 8, 2026:
A copy of the currently valid residence permit page must also be submitted.

Cancellation Procedures

The foreign expert’s employment termination procedures involving foreign personnel management shall be completed at Room 304, Office of International Cooperation.

The foreign expert is required to:

• Sign the Application Form for Cancellation of Foreigner’s Work Permit; and
• Provide the relevant documentation confirming the termination of employment.

If 30 days or less remains on the validity period of the work permit, cancellation may be waived depending on the circumstances.

If the foreign expert is temporarily unable to provide the employment termination certificate or sign the application form, the designated responsible person at USTC must additionally sign the Letter of Commitment for the Cancellation of the Work Permit for Foreign Personnel (From Chinese Page https://oic.ustc.edu.cn/foreign_expert/resign/).

The responsible person must urge the foreign employee to submit the missing employment termination certificate and cancellation application form within three working days after completing the departure procedures.

Processing Time

The cancellation of the work permit is reviewed by the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology and generally takes approximately five working days.

If a Work Permit Cancellation Certificate is required, please inform the Office of International Cooperation, which will apply for the certificate with the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology.

2. Cancellation of the Residence Permit

When Is Residence Permit Cancellation Required?

If more than 30 days remain on the validity period of the residence permit, the foreign expert must complete residence permit cancellation procedures. Following the cancellation of the work permit, the foreign expert must, within 30 days, either:

Option 1: Cancel the Residence Permit and Apply for a Stay Permit

The foreign employee may cancel the residence permit and apply for a stay permit for up to 30 days.

The application must be completed within seven days from the date the relevant letter is issued. Otherwise, the application may be rejected, or the 30-day stay period will be calculated from the date the letter was issued.

Please prioritize cancellation of the residence permit.
Some local Exit-Entry Administration authorities do not accept direct replacement of a residence permit at a new employer.

Option 2: Replace the Residence Permit at the New Employer

The replacement must be completed within 30 days after the work permit is cancelled.

If the replacement cannot be completed within this period, the foreign employee must return to Hefei and obtain a newly issued letter from USTC, after which the original residence permit must be cancelled and a stay permit for up to 30 days may be applied for.

This requirement applies to both:

• the foreign expert’s work-related residence permit; and
• any accompanying family members’ family reunion residence permits.

Responsibilities of the USTC Responsible Person

When completing departure procedures, if more than 30 days remain on the residence permit, the designated responsible person at USTC must sign the Letter of Commitment for the Cancellation of the Residence Permit for Foreign Personnel (From Chinese Page https://oic.ustc.edu.cn/foreign_expert/resign/).

The responsible person must ensure that the foreign expert completes either the cancellation of the residence permit or its replacement at the new employer within 30 days after the work permit is cancelled.

Proof of Completion

A corresponding residence permit page bearing the cancellation stamp must be provided.

Within 30 days, at least the acceptance receipt for the new residence permit application must be provided. If the residence permit is replaced at the new employer, the original residence permit will also be stamped as cancelled.

Failure to Complete the Procedure on Time

If the residence permit has not been cancelled within 30 days, USTC may choose to submit an online cancellation application.

If the foreign employee does not hold another valid visa or residence permit, they will be regarded as illegally residing in China.

If the online cancellation application is submitted while the foreign employee is outside China, the cancelled residence permit cannot be used to re-enter China. When entering China again with other travel or immigration documents, the foreign employee may be required to undergo an interview with border inspection authorities.

3. Documents Required for Cancellation of a Work-Related Residence Permit

To cancel a work-related residence permit, the foreign expert must bring the following documents to the relevant Exit-Entry Administration authority (The documents 1 to 3 will be issued by the Office of International Cooperation.):

• Work Permit Cancellation Certificate, Proof that the work permit has been cancelled;
• Residence Permit Cancellation Letter issued by USTC, also stating the application for a stay permit;
• Copy of the Legal Person of Institution of USTC; and
• Accommodation Registration Form, for applying for a stay permit of up to 30 days.

4. Cancellation of Family Reunion Residence Permits

The cancellation of an accompanying family member’s family reunion residence permit may be completed at the same time as or before the cancellation of the foreign expert’s residence permit.

However, it must not be completed after the foreign expert’s residence permit cancellation.

The following documents are required: (The documents 1 to 3 will be issued by the Office of International Cooperation.):

• Residence Permit Cancellation Letter issued by USTC, also stating the application for a stay permit;
• Copy of the Legal Person of Institution of USTC; and
• Accommodation Registration Form, for applying for a stay permit of up to 30 days.