Basic Information

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Conditions for Acceptance

Foreigners who meet any of the following conditions may apply for the one-year residence permit:

1. Those coming to Shanghai for work;

2. Those coming to Shanghai for commercial entertainment performances.

Application Materials

Instructions for Filling

1. The application materials shall be sequenced in the order as set out in the List of Application Materials in this Guide;

2. The documents prepared by the Applicant are printed with A4 papers, and those issued by the government and other authorities shall be provided in the size(s) as the original(s);

3. Copies of the application materials shall be clear and legible.

Formal Standards

I. Required materials

1 The application materials shall be sequenced in the order as set out in the List of Application Materials in this Guide;

2. The documents prepared by the Applicant are printed with A4 papers, and those issued by the government and other authorities shall be provided in the size(s) as the original(s);

3 Copies of the application materials shall be clear and legible.

II. Notes

1. The applicant shall come in person for the first application; for re-applications, the applicant can either entrust his or her employer or one relative to go through the procedures by presenting relevant certificates, or log on the Online Platform for Government Affairs of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau to make a reservation for application; the physical examination certificate is not required for residence permit renewals within three months of expiration.

2. If the applicant submits a letter of commitment and a Notice of the Peoples Republic of China on the Work Permit for Foreigners, the Work Permit for Foreigners Working in China is not required (but the application must be made within 1 month after receiving a residence certificate).

3. Doctors practicing in medical institutions shall additionally submit the Temporary License for Foreign Physicians to Practice Medicine in the Peoples Republic of China, or the Medical Practice Certificate.

4. The exit-entry administration department of the public security organ may, as they deem necessary, require the applicant to attend an interview or submit additional supporting materials (such as proof of financial support, proof of alteration of information such as name, or business operation certificate). If the applicant fails to attend the interview or provide the required materials within the specified time, his or her application will be rejected, unless such failure is caused by a force majeure event.

5. The decisions of the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ of rejecting applications for extension, renewal or re-issuance of ordinary visas, or rejecting foreigners’ applications for residence permits or permit extensions, shall be final.

List of Application Materials

Name of the Application Document

Visa/Stay Permit/Residence Permit Application Form

Handling Place

List of Basic Information of Service Outlets of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau (exit-entry)

Legal Basis

According to Article 30 of the Exit-Entry Administration Law of the Peoples Republic of China (as adopted at the 27th Session of the Standing Committee of the Eleventh National Peoples Congress of the Peoples Republic of China on June 30, 2012 and coming into force on July 1, 2013), where the visa held by a foreign national carries an annotation requiring that a residence permit be obtained after entering China, the foreign national shall, within 30 days of entering China, apply for a residence permit for foreign nationals to the exit-entry administration division of the public security authority of the local peoples government of the place at or above the county level where the foreign national intends to reside.

Procedures of Business Handling

View the flow chart.

Handling Mode

Handling Mode

1. Reserve online. Online reservation is available at the Yiwangtongban general portal (http://zwdt.sh.gov.cn/govPortals/index.do), Suishenban APP, as well as WeChat and Alipay applets;

2. Handling at the window. (I) Application. Foreigners who apply for the residence permit or extension, renewal or re-issuance of the permit shall handle relevant procedures at the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ in person; for those who are high-level talents needed by China, or professionals in short supply in China, or teenagers under 16, or senior people over 60, or people having difficulty in moving due to diseases and other reasons, they can entrust their inviters (units or individuals) or relatives or professional agencies to go through the procedures on their behalf. (II) Acceptance. All relevant materials shall be collected and reviewed at one time. If an application for the residence permit for foreigners meets the requirements for acceptance, the application shall be accepted and a notice of acceptance shall be issued, and the decision on whether to issue the residence permit shall be made during the term of validity of the notice of acceptance which remains valid for a period of up to 15 working days after the date of acceptance. If the procedures and materials of an application for the residence permit for foreigners are not complete, the exit-entry administration department of the public security organ shall notify the applicant of the procedures required to be handled and the application materials required to be supplemented and corrected once and for all. (III) Review. The exit-entry administration department of the public security organ shall verify the reasons for an application through face-to-face interview, inquiry by phone, field investigation and other methods and confirm that the applicant is a foreigner. It shall notify the applicant or relevant entity or individual to attend a face-to-face interview. It can decide not to issue the certificate if none of the aforementioned parties’ shows up for the interview within the agreed period without good reasons. (IV) Decision. For an application that meets all relevant requirements and standards, the approval body will make a decision to grant administrative permission and issue the corresponding residence permit.

Special Procedures

No

Approval Certificate

Review and Approval Charges

Charged or not

Yes

Rights and obligations of the applicant

The applicant shall have the following rights according to laws:

1. Right to know. To inquire about relevant information of this Guide with the approval body.

2. Right to be approved. To file an application with the administrative body according to this Guide and be approved if relevant conditions and standards are met.

3. Right to complain about the relief. To file any request for administrative reconsideration or administrative litigation in case of any objection to the specific administrative act of the approval body, or submit any compliant or charge to the approval body or its superior.

The applicant shall have the following obligations according to laws:

1. Obligation to submit the materials truthfully. To provide the materials that conform to the prescribed forms and ensure their authenticity and effectiveness in accordance with the requirements of this Guide.

2. Obligation to supplement and correct the materials. To timely supplement and send the supplementary materials required by the approval body according to the law.

3. Obligation to be subject to examination. To cooperate with the staff of the approval body in inspecting acclivities according to the law, and truthfully provide relevant materials and information.

Consultation Method

Consultation Phone

021-28951900; 021-12345

Consultation Approach

Interaction between policeman and the public on the website of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau (https://gaj.sh.gov.cn)

Supervision and Complaint Method

Complaint Phone

(021) 12345

Complaint Channel

Mailbox for complaint letters and mailbox for letters to bureau chief on the website of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau (https://gaj.sh.gov.cn)

FAQs

FAQs

Question: Can a foreigner that has entered China without a visa apply for the residence permit for foreigners?

Answer: No. Before applying for the residence permit for foreigners, he or she needs to leave China, apply to the Chinese embassy (consulate) in the country concerned for the corresponding visa based on the reason for application and then re-enter China.

Common Unacceptable Sample

Common mistake: The applicant translates the foreign-language application materials by himself or herself.

Correct action: The foreign-language supporting materials shall be translated into Chinese by a qualified translation service provider and shall be stamped by such service provider.