According to relevant regulations, foreigners who want to legally work in China must obtain a Foreigner's Work Permit and a Work-related Residence Permit. If no domestic unit hires them, foreigners cannot obtain a work visa, and working in China with other types of visas is considered illegal employment. Therefore, foreigners engaging in "self-employed" work in China is theoretically unfeasible.
按相关规定，外国人想要合法在华就业，必须获得外国人来华工作证和工作类居留许可证。如果国内没有单位聘用，外国人是无法办理工作签证的，而拿其它类型签证在华就业属于非法就业。因此，外国人在华从事“自由职业”，理论上是行不通的。
Additionally, some cities have regulations limiting the period of residence permit cancellation for foreigners who have resigned from their previous jobs, otherwise they will be handled as illegal overstay. If you see a bright future in the Chinese market and want to quit your job to start your own business, you may consider registering your own company and hiring yourself through the company to apply for and obtain the Foreigner's Work Permit and Work-related Residence Permit.
另外，有些城市，对离职的外国人有限期注销工作类居留许可证的规定，否则按非法滞留处理。如果看好中国市场、想辞职创业，可考虑自己注册一家公司，并用该公司聘用自己，为自己申请、办理外国人来华工作证和工作类居留许可证。
The specific steps are as follows:
具体步骤如下：
Firstly, register your own foreign-invested enterprise:
首先是注册属于自己的外资企业
1. Reserve the company name
一、预定企业名称
2. Sign the business registration documents
二、签署工商注册材料
3. Rent a physical office address
三、实际办公地址租赁
4. Apply for a paper business license
四、申请纸制营业执照
5. Register with the Public Security Bureau and engrave the seal
五、公安备案和刻章
6. Apply for an electronic business license
六、申请电子营业执照
7. Open a bank public account
七、开银行公户
Estimated time: About 30 working days.
预计时间：约30个工作日。
After the company is registered, the self-employment process for employees:
公司注册好后，员工自雇流程：
Open an account with the Foreign Experts Bureau: Provide legitimate registration for foreign employees to ensure they can legally work.
外专局开户注册：为外籍员工提供合法的开户注册，确保他们能够合法就业。
Apply for a Work Permit: Obtaining a work permit is the first step for foreign employees to work officially and legally, ensuring they have the right to work in China.
申请工作许可证：申请工作证是外籍员工正式合法工作的第一步，确保他们有权在中国从事工作。
Apply for Residence Permit: Foreign employees also need to obtain a residence permit to legally reside in China, which serves as a valid identity document during their employment.
申请居留许可：外籍员工还需要获得居留许可，以合法居留在中国，这是工作期间的合法身份证明。
Estimated time: About 1-2 months.
预计时间：约1-2个月。
What can SFBC do for you?
SFBC可以为您做什么呢？
Foreigners registering companies in China will inevitably encounter some problems, such as how to rent office space, how to pay taxes, and how to handle legal disputes involving individuals and companies. For foreigners looking to start their own businesses in China, SFBC can provide the following professional services:
外国人在华注册公司，多少都会遇到一些问题，比如如何租赁办公场地、如何报税、如何处理个人及公司的法律纠纷等。针对外国人在华创业注册公司，中创侨智可以为您提供以下专业服务：
1. Foreign-invested company registration, changes, and dissolution
1、外资公司注册、变更、注销
2. Office space rental
2、办公场地租赁
3. Financial accounting, company tax return services
3、财务代账、公司报税服务
4. Foreign employee recruitment
4、外籍员工招聘
5. Application for Foreign Employee Work Permit and Residence Permit procedures
5、外籍员工工作许可和居留许可手续办理
6. Professional legal consultations and legal dispute resolution services
6、专业法律咨询、法律纠纷处理服务
7. Full set of notarization and certification materials processing
7、全套公证、认证材料办理
