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The world's largest expat community

Find Out How to Get a Job and Work in Shenzhen

  • Connect with fellow expats in Shenzhen

  • Join exciting events and groups

  • Get Information in our Shenzhen Guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Shenzhen

Discover Events & Make New Friends

If you’re wondering how to navigate the challenges of life abroad, you’re not alone. Join InterNations and connect with a community of like-minded expats in China! You’ll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new international friends.

Don’t miss a variety of welcoming online and in-person events. Join groups to pursue your hobbies — from sports to music, there’s something for everyone With InterNations, you’ll quickly feel at home wherever life takes you.

What Members are saying

Everyone should join InterNations to enjoy everything from business events to networking to cultural and travel experiences.

Ranim, InterNations Cairo

InterNations helped me meet many people of different cultures - now I'm more open-minded and happier!

Nicholas, InterNations Yaounde

InterNations Worldwide at a Glance

5M

Members

420

Cities Worldwide

200+

Destination Guides

5M

Members around the world

420

Cities Worldwide

6,000

events and activities each month

6,000

events each month

200+

Destination Guides

  • David Thyne

    At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.

Employment in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is often described as China’s version of Silicon Valley as a result of its large and influential tech sector, while 2014 data showed that Shenzhen’s GDP totaled 260.48 billion USD. Shenzhen’s economic output is therefore higher than Portugal’s, Ireland’s, and Vietnam’s combined.

Local Economy

Only Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have more powerful economies in China than Shenzhen, with the city acting as one of the country’s major manufacturing centers. The Shenzhen skyline is rapidly developing and is regarded as one of the best in the world, featuring two of the tallest buildings on the planet in Kingkey 100 and Shun Hing Square.

Shenzhen’s position as one of the most successful SEZs in China has fostered innovation throughout the city, for instance at the Science and Technology park in Nanshan District. There are also close business, trade and social links between Hong Kong and Shenzhen as a result of their proximity.

Job Hunting in Shenzhen

As in the rest of China, teaching English as a foreign language jobs are widespread in Shenzhen and they are one of the most popular roles for expats working in Shenzhen.

However, the wide range of thriving industries in the city means there are a lot of opportunities available for foreigners who want to relocate to one of the fastest growing cities on the planet.

The internet is perhaps the best place to find jobs in Shenzhen, with sites such as eChinacities and Find Work Abroad among the places where expats can find English-language listings.

Work Permits in Shenzhen

Any Foreign Invested Company or Foreign Representative office is eligible to give jobs in Shenzhen to expats and there are already a lot of overseas workers living in the city.

In 2013, the new PRC Exit-Entry Administration Law came into effect, with regulations on foreign workers tightened up by the Chinese government. There is now a distinction between the work-type residence permits of foreigners and the non-work-type ones, while expats working in Shenzhen will need to acquire both work permit and work-type residence permits.

It can take up to 15 days to process working visas, so foreigners working in Shenzhen should allow plenty of time before applying for visas or extensions.

See all upcoming events for expats in Shenzhen

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