Foreigners holding business visas to China are generally not allowed to directly serve as the chairman of the company.
Business visas are mainly established for short-term business-related activities such as business visits, business negotiations, and participation in business conferences. Foreigners holding business visas can conduct business investigation, business negotiation and other activities in China, but are not allowed to engage in paid work. However, serving as the chairman of a company is considered an employment behavior within the company and is a job role that does not align with the purpose of a business visa.
If foreigners want to serve as the chairman of the board of directors of a Chinese company, they need to go through the relevant procedures such as work permits according to the regulations, and apply for the corresponding work visa (such as visa Z) according to the specific situation. Of course, serving as the chairman also requires meeting internal procedures such as elections and appointments within the company, as well as relevant job requirements. In addition, according to the provisions of the Company Law, there is no restriction on the status of the chairman or manager of the company, and foreigners can serve as the chairman of the company on the basis of meeting the relevant conditions.
