Update Visa Policy List
Update Visa Policy in Shanghai
【Important Notice】
All the below information is based on the public information of the government departments and our practical experience, such as the immigration authority, human resources and social security bureau and so on. If you decide to apply the visa or permit by yourself following the below documents list, we are not responsible for the loss of below information or other reasons. We recommend you to check with the government departments by yourself before submitting application documents. Please refer to the information provided by the government department.
So if you have any problem with your Chinese Visa or any problem related to your Chinese visas: PLEASE CONTACT US
PassportVisa Consultancy Services Co., Ltd.
Address: Rm.1107, Huijin Mansion, No.515,Hankou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200001,China
Operation Time: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (12:30am-1:30pm lunch)
Tel1: 0086-21-60649598 (You can inquire in English or Chinese)
Emergency: 13636575328
E-mail: info@passportvisa.com.cn
http://www.passportvisa.com.cn
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Saturday, April 1, 2017:
A,B,C Category “Foreigner's Work Permit” (FWP)
Category A - Foreign Talents
Category B - High-end Foreign professional talents
Category C -Ordinary Foreigners
Friday, March 31, 2017
In accordance with the decision of the State Council's Administrative Examination and Approval Reform Office, the old “Alien Employment License” and old “Foreign Expert Employment Permit” are henceforth integrated into the “Foreigner's Work Permit” (FWP) in China. This affair is being implemented by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) in China. SAFEA has decided to carry out a pilot program in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hebei, Guangdong, Anhui, Shandong, Sichuan, Yu'nan and Ningxia from October 2016 to March 2017.
按照国务院行政审批制度改革办公室决定，原“外国人就业许可证”和原“外国专家来华工作许可”整合为“外国人工作许可证”，该项工作由中国外国专家局负责全国具体的组织实施，国家已决定在北京、上海、天津、河北、广东、安徽、山东、四川、云南和宁夏等10个省市开展外国人来华工作许可制度试点工作，到2017年4月1日，全国将统一实施外国人来华工作许可制度。
Shanghai as an experimental unit, had started the new “Work Permit” policy from November 2016. Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SHAFEA) is responsible for this affair in Shanghai.
上海做为先行试点地，已经于2016年11月份启动新的外国人来华工作许可制度，上海外国专家局负责上海地区的外国人来华工作许可相关事宜。
The new policy will divide the foreigner who works in China into 3 categories. Category A (Foreign Talents - encourage), Category B (Foreign professional talents - control), Category C (Ordinary Foreigners - restrict)。
新的政策将来华工作外国人分为A、B、C三类: A类外国高端人才、B类外国专业人才、C类外国普通人员
A. Category A: High-end Foreign Talents
A类外国高端人才
中国经济社会发展急需的科学家、科技领军人才、国际企业家、专门特殊人才等“高精尖缺”外国高端人才，符合国家引进外国人才重点和目录及以下条件之一的，确定为A类，实行“绿色通道”和“容缺管理” 服务。
Category A refers to sophisticated high-end foreign talent who is the scientists, science and technology leading talent, international entrepreneurs, specialized talents and so on, also urgently needed in Chinese economic and social development. The high-end foreign talentshould be in line with the national introduction of foreign talent focus and directory, or meets the condition of either one below，then can apply according the Category A. Category A will enjoy the "The Green Channel" and "Tolerance Management” service.
E.g.: scientists, leading figures in science and technology, international entrepreneurs, specialized professionals.
例如：科学家，科学技术领军人物，国际企业家，专门特殊人才。
if you meet the condition of either one as below，you belong Category A.
如果你满足一下之一的条件，你属于A类
1. Selected by China talent import plan
入选国内人才引进计划的
2. Internationally recognized rewards
符合国际公认的专业成就认定标准的
3. Scarce jobs encouraged by Chinese government
符合市场导向的鼓励类岗位需求的外国人才（含工资不低于本地区上年度社会平均工资6倍）
4. Innovative and Entrepreneurial Talent
创新创业人才
5. Selected by the Youth-Talent project
优秀青年人才
6. Personal comprehensive quality - score >85 points, score sheet below:
计点积分在85分以上的，积分表如下：
|
Item计分项 |
Criteria标准 |
Points得分 |
|
Annual Salary paid by domestic company (Highest possible score: 20) 国内聘用单位支付年薪 此项最高20分 |
≥450,000 |
20 |
|
[350,000, 45,000) |
17 |
|
|
[250,000, 35,000) |
14 |
|
|
[15,000, 25,000) |
11 |
|
|
[70,000, 15,000) |
8 |
|
|
[50,000, 7,000) |
5 |
|
|
≤50,000 |
0 |
|
|
Level of Education or International Professional Qualification Certificate (Highest possible score: 20) 受教育程度或国际职业资质证明 此项最高20分 |
Doctor or equivalent 博士；国际通用最高等级职业技能资格证书或高级技师或相当 |
20 |
|
Master's or equivalent 硕士；技师或相当 |
15 |
|
|
Bachelor's or equivalent 学士；高级工或相当 |
10 |
|
|
Related work experience, Year 相关工作年限,此项最高20分 |
One additional point for every year above 2 years 超过2年的，每增加1年，增加1分 |
Maximum 20 最高20分 |
|
2 |
5 |
|
|
≤2 |
0 |
|
|
Annual year working time 每年工作时间，此项最高15分，单位：月 |
≥9 |
15 |
|
[6,9) |
10 |
|
|
[3,6) |
5 |
|
|
＜3 |
0 |
|
|
Level of Chinese 汉语水平 此项最高5分 |
Foreigners who renounce Chinese nationality 曾经具有中国国籍的外国人 |
5 |
|
Bachelor's or Higher degree on Chinese study (Major) 取得以汉语为教学语言的学士及以上学位 |
5 |
|
|
HSK 5 and above 通过汉语水平考试（HSK）五级或以上 |
5 |
|
|
HSK 4 通过汉语水平考试（HSK）四级 |
4 |
|
|
HSK 3 通过汉语水平考试（HSK）三级 |
3 |
|
|
HSK 2 通过汉语水平考试（HSK）二级 |
2 |
|
|
HSK 1 通过汉语水平考试（HSK）一级 |
1 |
|
|
Work location 工作定向 此项最高10分 |
Western regions 西部地区 |
10 |
|
Old industrial bases in North-eastern regions 东北地区等老工业基地 |
10 |
|
|
Nationally recognized impoverished areas in central region 中部地区国家级贫困县等特别地区 |
10 |
|
|
Age (Year) 年龄（岁） 此项最高15分 |
[18,25) |
10 |
|
[26,45) |
15 |
|
|
[46,55) |
10 |
|
|
[56,60) |
5 |
|
|
≥60 |
0 |
|
|
Globally recognized university or experience in Fortune Global 500 company 毕业于国（境）外高水平大学或有全球500强企业任职经验及其规定条件的 此项最高5分 |
Graduated from high level universities in the world 毕业于国（境）外高水平大学 |
5 |
|
Work experience in Fortune Global 500 company 有世界500强企业任职经验 |
5 |
|
|
Have patent and other intellectual property rights 具有专利等知识产权的 |
5 |
|
|
Has been continuous working in China for 5 years or more 已连续在华工作年限5年及以上的 |
5 |
|
|
Recommendation from Provincial Foreigner's Management Department 省级外国人工作管理部门鼓励性加分 此项最高10分 |
Shortage of special talent on economic and societal development (According to standards set by Provincial Foreigner's Management Department) 地方经济社会发展需求紧缺特殊人才 （由省级外国人工作管理部门制定具体标准） |
0-10 |
B. Category B：Foreign professional Talents
B类外国专业人才
Category B refers to foreign a professional talent who is in line with the guidance of foreigners working in China directory and job requirements, and also in urgent need of China's economic and social development.
B类为符合外国人来华工作指导目录和岗位需求，属于中国经济社会发展急需的外国专业人才。
E.g.: professional technicians, foreign language teachers, high income foreigner, relating with state departments and project，score between 60-84 points.
例如，专业技术人员，外语教师，高收入人才（本地区上年度社会平均工资收入4倍以上），国家有关部门和项目相关人员, 计点积分在60分以上的专业人才。
you have to meet the condition of either one below，then you can apply according the Category B.
必须满足以下任一条件，然后你可以根据B类申请。
1. You have Bachelor or higher degree and 2 years full time related work experience.
具有学士及以上学位和2年及以上全职相关工作经历的外国专业人才。
2. You have the international professional skill qualification certificate or the urgently needed skilled professional talents
持有国际通用专业技能资格证书或急需紧缺的技能型人才
3. For foreign language teacher in China, you should have Bachelor or higher degree and 2 years full time teaching experience, and you can only teach your native language. If your major is Education, Language or Teaching or if you have recognized TEFL certificate, then 2 years full time teaching experience can be exempt.
外国语言教学人员。外国语言教学人员原则上应从事其母语国母语教学，并取得母语国大学学士及以上学位且具有2年以上语言教育工作经历。其中，取得教育类、语言类或师范类学士及以上学位的，或取得所在国教师资格证书或取得符合要求的国际语言TEFL证书的，可免除工作经历要求
1. Your annual average wage income is not less than the region's average annual wage income of 4 times.
平均工资收入不低于本地区上年度社会平均工资收入4倍的外籍人才
2. You are the professional talents of the relevant state departments and implementing some project's staff
符合国家有关部门规定的专门人员和实施项目的人员
3. Personal comprehensive quality – score 60-84 points, score sheet above.
计点积分在60分以上的专业人才, 积分表见前。
C. Category C：Other Foreigners
C类 其他外国人员
Category C refers to other foreigners who meet the needs of the domestic labor market, in line with national policies and regulations, including:
C类是指满足国内劳动力市场需要，符合国家政策规定的其他外国人员，主要包括：
1. You meet the demand of current “rules for the administration of employment of foreigners in China”
符合现行外国人在华工作管理规定的外国人员
2. You engaged in temporary, short-term (less than 90 days) work
从事临时性、短期性（不超过90日）工作的外国人员
3. You are the special foreigner meeting the implementation of quota management, such as foreign youth inter in China based on inter-governmental agreement, foreign student and overseas graduates from university or college who meets the special requirements , or take a special job just like ocean fishing
实施配额制管理的人员，包括根据政府间协议来华实习的外国青年、符合规定条件的外国留学生和境外高校外籍毕业生、远洋捕捞等特殊领域工作的外国人等；
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To apply the “Foreigner’s Work Permit” (FWP), you need to apply the “Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit” (NLFWP) first, It takes about 20 working days all together.
在申请《外国人工作许可证》前，需要先申请《外国人工作许可通知》，总共大概需要20个工作日。
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Friday, September 9, 2016:Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipality, Pudong New Area Foreign Affairs Office, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce have stopped accepting applying and issuing “Invitation Letter of Duly Authorized Unit” and “Confirmation Letter of Invitation” (this policy mainly for Chinese M visa (business visa), but the Z Visa (working visa), short time Z Visa, as well as Chinese overseas visa office requested are except for).
This new policy means, such as the company resisted in shanghai want to invite foreigners to China for business trip, just issue an invitation letter to foreigners by itself. The foreigners can apply the M Visa in Chinese overseas visa office by themselves, and no need to apply it through the government. But it need to be checked with the local Chinese overseas visa office if this invitation letter should be original or just scan.
More details about how to apply it, please check it with our visa consultant.
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Friday, July 1, 2016: new policy， the company should hand over the original of the reference letter when apply the alien employment license, it is just asked the copy one before.
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jeudi 30 juin 2016：Les gouvernements de la République française et de la République populaire de Chine se sont entendus sur la mise en œuvre du programme « 1 000 stagiaires ». En 2016, 1 000 jeunes français et 1 000 jeunes chinois pourront réaliser un stage de trois à six mois dans le pays partenaire. Amélioration des compétences linguistiques, développement des capacités d’adaptation, découverte d’une nouvelle culture, autant d’atouts pour ces jeunes Français et Chinois qui bénéficieront de cette expérience à l’international.
Le service de coopération et d’action culturelle – Institut français de Chine de l’ambassade de France en Chine (SCAC-IFC) est l’organisme chargé de coordonner la mise en œuvre du programme « 1 000 stagiaires », au côté du centre national pour la mobilité des talents du ministère des Ressources humaines et de la Sécurité sociale de la République populaire de Chine.
Thursday, June 30, 2016：The French government and Chinese government have started “2016 Sino-French 1000 interns Program”, the French government and the Chinese government to start the agreement, “2016 Sino-French 1000 interns Program”. In 2016, 1000 French youth and 1000 Chinese youth will travel to the China and France for a period of 3 to 6 months of practice. Through the practice experience in a foreign country, the project is to promote Sino-French interns to improve language proficiency, and also good opportunities to train to adapt to the ability to understand the new and different culture.
The service coordinating action culture – Institution France-China (SCAC-IFC), Cultural and educational cooperation institutions of French Embassy in China, is the cooperating agency and responsor for the relating affairs. The Resource Exchange Center, a underling department of The Ministry of human resources and social security of the people's Republic of China, is the cooperating agency and responsor for the relating affairs.
It is a good opportunity for students who are studing in the univercity or just gratuated in 1 year, want to come to China to get a interns, and also for the company which wants to recruit the French interns in China.
For more information, just drop us a email or call「PassportVisa」.
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The time requirements for Customs clearance of personal items on the "foreign expert certificate" / "Alien Employment Permit" "residence permit"
12th June 2016, the time requirements for Customs clearance of personal items on the "foreign expert certificate" / "Alien Employment Permit" "residence permit"
Recently, some foreigners told us they got great trouble to the customs clearance for importing personal articles, just because the valid period of “foreign expert’s certificate", "alien employment permit", or "residence permit" is less than one year (365 days). IF the foreigner, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese need to the customs clearance of imported personal articles, the employer should sign the labor contracts more than 1 year (365 days), and apply one or one more year “foreign expert’s certificate", "alien employment permit", or "residence permit".
To customs clearance, customs need to check the valid period of “foreign experts certificate", "alien employment permit", or "residence permit" ("foreign experts certificate" / "employment card" issued by Human Resources and Social Security Bureau; "residence permit" is issued by the Exit-Entry administration bureau) to define whether it belongs to “Long-term non-resident passengers” or not. If the period of permit is more than a year (365 days),including one year.it can be identified as non-resident passengers identity, the customs will handle the installation procedures of entry goods; if the time period is less than 365 days, it will be identified as short-term passenger identity for imported goods procedures.
“Long-term non-resident passengers” refers to the foreign citizens, individuals from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese who are ratified to enter China Customs territory by the police and continuously reside in China Customs territory for one year（i.e. 365 days）or more than one year, and shall return to the settling places out of China Customs territory on the expiration of residence.
Therefore, The HR should ask whether employee need the clearance or not, if yes, suggest signing one year (365 days) or one more year labor contract, The HR should tell the officer you want apply one year or one more year "foreign experts certificate" or "alien employment permit".
More details about how to apply it, please check it with our visa consultant.
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Fresh graduated foreign student can apply the working permit and visa
6th June 2016, To attract more foreign talent work in Shanghai, now the Shanghai Labor Bureau provide a preferential policy for fresh graduated foreign student, even he/she didn't have 2 years working experience (the minimum requirement for China working visa before), if they reach following conditions, they can still apply the working permit and visa here in shanghai directly (more details, please check it with our visa consultant):
1.Master degree or higher degree (Obtain from the university in shanghai)
2.Employed by a company registered in Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) or Zhang Jiang high technology park.
3.Skill certificate suitable for his job
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Applying a user card first before applying the alien employment license and alien employment permit
3rd May2016, According to the latest policy, the Labor Bureau requires every company to apply a user card (check the sample here!) if they want to hire foreign employee. It takes extra 5 working days. To avoid any delay in the future, we suggest every client apply it as soon as possible. More details about how to apply it, please check it with our visa consultant.
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From 31st Jan 2016, Foreigners come from 51 countries who transit (destined for a third country or region - HK, Macau, Taiwan with booked a through air ticket) in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang within 144 hours (6 days) are exempted from visas for China. During the visa exemption period, the passenger is allowed to move around within Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Details below:
Question 1: Which country passport holder can apply 144 hours transit visa?
Answer: Travelers from following 51 countries can apply for the 144-hour transit visa exemption, which are:
•24 Schengen countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherland, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
•13 other European countries: Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.
•6 American countries: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
•2 Oceania countries: Australia and New Zealand.
•6 Asian countries: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Question 2: 144 hours visa-free transit is available at which international port?
Answer: Will be granted a visa-free stay of up to 144 hours while in transit via following:
•Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
•Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
•Shanghai Port of International Cruise Terminal
•Shanghai Wusongkou Port of International Cruise
•Port of Shanghai Railway
•Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG)
•Hangzhou International Airport (HGH)
Question 3: How to apply the 144 hrs China Transit visa?
Answer: After getting off the plane you will head for immigration. Look for a counter that says "144 hours Transit visa exemption", you need to provide following documents:
•Your valid passport
•Air ticket with confirmed date of flight and seat for a third country (region) traveling within 144 hours.
•Arrival & Departure Card form (completely filled).
The immigration officer may ask you questions to confirm your travel plan, if everything is correct, he/she will stamp the transit visa on your passport immediately.
Question 4: How to calculate that 144 hrs to avoid any overstay?
Answer: After you enter China, start from the next day 0am for 6 days. For example, you enter Shanghai on 7am at 1st March 2016, then you can stay maximum till 12pm at 7th March.
If visitors are unable to depart on time due to unavoidable reasons, such as flight cancellation or treatment of sudden disease, they need to apply for a visa from Municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB).
Question 5: Any Restrictions of the 144-hour Visa-free Transit?
Answer: Transit visa regulation does not apply to passengers who travel on a single return flight (e.g., Hong Kong – Shanghai - Hong Kong), which means the destination and place of departure can not be the same. For example:
USA - Shanghai - Taiwan is available to apply 144 hrs transit visa in shanghai.
USA - Singapore - Shanghai - USA is available to apply 144 hrs transit visa in shanghai.
USA - Shanghai - USA is NOT available to apply 144 hrs transit visa in shanghai.
Question 6: With 144-hour Visa-free Transit, which city can I visit?
Answer: With the 144-hrs transit visa, You can go to Shanghai and any city in Jiangsu and Zhejiang province.
Question 7: Can I enter China from shanghai (apply the transit visa) and leave China from Hangzhou?
Answer: Yes, Hangzhou is a city in Zhejiang, as we mentioned above, during that 144 hours, you can travel to Zhejiang and leave China from there.
Question 8: Can I enter China from shanghai (apply the transit visa) and go to Beijing?
Answer: No, as we mentioned above, during that 144 hours, you can only travel among Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Any other city outside of those area is not available to go.
Question 9: If I take a cruise from Korea - Shanghai - Japan, can I apply 144 hrs transit visa?
Answer: Yes, you can. according to the Question 2, Shanghai Wusongkou Port of International Cruise is available to arrange 144 hours visa free transit.
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20th Jan 2016, Shanghai entry-exit bureau request foreigners who got the new passport transfer their old visa to new passport within 1 month (count from new passport issue date), If you don't do that, you will be requested to show up when you renew your next working visa and you will face a warning or small penalty. (it might also affect your long-term visa application in the future, for example, 5 years working visa or green card application)
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11th Jan 2016, For the Alien Employment Permit (Working Permit) renewal, According to the new announcement from the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, it will take 5 working days instead of 3 working days. So, we remind all of our clients, please submit your working visa renewal application (Service code: Z1 Service) at least 6 working days before it expires.
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9th Dec 2015, For the employee from HK, Macau or Taiwan, when you apply the working permit here in shanghai, you don't need to provide the health certificate anymore. Before it cost about 700RMB and takes 4 working days to get the health report, but right now, it's really convenient for the people from HK, Macau and Taiwan to work in shanghai.
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1st Nov 2015, According to the new rules from the shanghai labour bureau, if you are working in the company as a GM or vice GM, you don't need to provide Company's Articles of Association (AOA) and the assignment contract signed by board of directors.
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1st Oct 2015, According to the immigration regulation, If you quit your current company A and join a new company B, after we submit your new Alien Employment permit (with company B), you need to give up your former residence permit of company A and change it to a 1 month 0 entry M visa immediately to avoid the illegal employment, it will cost extra money and time.
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1st July 2015, New Shanghai visa rules to be implemented. According to that, it will have a lot of advantage and innovation for the long term residence permit and the permanent residence permit (China green card) . We will keep updating our website focus on those changes if we get more information, feel free to refer to your friend if it helpful. Following are some changes in practice we just get confirmed:
• If foreign expat work in shanghai continuously for 4 years, every year stay in China over 6 month. Your salary is over 600,000RMB per year and you paid your incoming tax for 120,000RMB per year, with no criminal record in your home country, then you can apply permanent residence permit (China green card or we called D visa);
• If you work for the company which has the valid high-tech certificate (click here to see the sample), you can apply for the talents residence permit (R visa) for 5 years, after you continuously work for the company over 3 years, then you can apply the permanent residence permit (China green card);
• Above 2 kind of foreign expat, can personally hire a foreign maid (ayi) and support the maid (ayi) to get a same length personal affairs residence permit (S1 visa);
• For the university (in China) fresh graduated foreign student, if you plan to invest in Shanghai or open your own business in shanghai, you can apply 2 years personal affairs residence permit (S1 visa) until your business established.
• For a normal foreign employee, you can apply the Z visa without leaving the country, this is very good since it can save a lot of money and time. (VisaInChina need to double confirm when it will take effect);
• For a normal foreign employee, after 2 years continuous working in shanghai with a working visa, if you don't break any China immigration laws and regulations, you can apply 5 years long term working residence permit. (Check the Working Z visa section Z1 service>>)
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25th June 2015, From 1st July 2015, Taiwanese can enter mainland China with visa free, they just need to carry the valid TaiBaoZheng (in English: Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan residents - MTP). More details of visa free policy for Taiwan residents: Please click here to download the Q&A!
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5th March 2015, China has a new rule (no.78 Rule) start from Jan 2015, especially for foreigner who comes into China to finish a short term work (less than 90 days). In that rule, it determines which kind of situation count as a short term working and what situation count as a short term business. Right now we can only see an outline of that rule, more details about how to process the short term working visa, it's still under discussion (VisaInChina will focus it and keep update). According to the rule:
Which situation count as a short term working? (less than 90days)
• Foreigner comes to Chinese Co-operation Company to finish some technical, scientific research, management or guidance job
• Foreigner comes to Chinese sport club/organization to have a trial (including coach and athlete)
• Foreigner comes to China for a film shooting (including advertisement film and documentary film)
• Foreigner comes to China for a fashion show (including model)
• Foreign performance (for commercial performance)
Which situation does NOT count as a short term working? (less than 90days)
• Mechanical after sales team come to China to repair, install, maintain, remove, guidance, training (Apply M visa)
• Bid Winner come to China to do the project guidance, supervision, checking (Apply M visa)
• Foreigner from head office goes to shanghai branch, representative office to have some short term work (Apply M visa)
• Foreigner comes to China to attend the sports event, including coach, athlete, team doctor, assistant etc. (Apply M visa)
• Foreigner comes to China work as a volunteer (Apply F visa)
• Foreign performance (for non-commercial performance) (Apply F visa)
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1st Dec 2014, for the company legal representative, before it's 100% sure you can get 2 years employment permit and the residence permit, now most of chance, they only give you 1 year at the beginning. And when you renew your visa at the second year, then the government will approve your 2 years working visa application.
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27th Oct 2014, for a foreigner who married with a Chinese, he/she can apply 2 years Q1 residence visa, if he/she start to work and apply the working visa, it's only 1 year. So he/she choose to work under their family Q1 visa instead of applying a working Z visa, please notice that count as illegal employment. It's very risky. As the Chinese immigration law says, if you start working, you must apply employment permit and working residence permit.
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25th Oct 2014, the shanghai entry-exit bureau focus on the tourist L visa extension, they might ask you to provide more document to prove you are a real traveler, for example, hotel booking receipt, extended return flight ticket. And right now, more and more tourist visa extension application was been denied if you have lot of visa in your passport before and looks not like a normal traveler. So now, L visa extension success rate is only about 60%, before it's almost 95% success rate.
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11th Sept 2014, VisaInChina found some clients try to:
• Remove/ tear out their China visa from their passport in order to spare some empty pages.
• Cross off the expired China visa to distinguish the valid visa.
Please don't do that, it might cause the visa application been rejected and the government officer might ask you to apply a brand new passport as a punishment.
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20th Aug 2014, If there is a Chinese company (register in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Beijing or Guangdong) invite you to China through shanghai pudong(PVG) or hongqiao(SHA) airport, you can apply the China visa on arrival in the shanghai airport. Before only shanghai company can apply the visa on arrival for their clients, more details, please check our "China visa on arrival" service.
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24th July 2014, For the "Private non enterprise units" (it's one type of business in shanghai). Now if they want to to hire foreigner (not including citizen from HongKong, Macau and Taiwan), they must apply the "foreign expert certificate" instead of "Alien Employment permit".
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13th July 2014, If you enter China with S2 visa, and want to extend your S2 visa in shanghai because of your relative works in shanghai, the relationship certificate must be notarized by either Chinese Embassy/Consulate in your home country or your country's Consulate in shanghai.
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1st July 2014, if you enter China with APEC card or visa free (Japanese, Singaporean etc.). You can not apply the residence permit directly (work or family). You must enter with a paper visa paste on your passport, then you can apply the residence permit in shanghai.
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5th Jun 2014, all the legal representative of the company must apply the China employment permit (working permit) first, and then apply the residence permit. Before, the company legal representative can apply the residence permit directly without the working permit.
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18th April 2014, if you hold a working residence permit issued from other city, you can also apply the China driver license in shanghai. Before only the residence permit was issued at shanghai, then you can apply the driver license in shanghai.
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10th Jan 2014, the shanghai traffic department increased the capacity of driving license written test (from 80 person per day to 200 person per day). So you don't need to wait a month or more to get an exam. Now you only need to wait maximum 5 working days.
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1st Dec 2013, Travelers from the 51 countries may apply for the 72-hour transit visa exemption, which are:
• 24 Schengen countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherland, Poland, Portugal, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
• 13 other European countries: Russia, Great Britain, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.
• 6 American countries: The United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile.
• 2 Oceania countries: Australia and New Zealand.
• 6 Asian countries: Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Will be granted a visa-free stay of up to 72 hours while in transit via following:
• Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)
• Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU)
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
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1st Sept 2013, new Chinese Visa Regulations to be implemented. According to that, it will have a lot of changes for the China visa new application (apply the visa outside of China) / extension (apply the visa in Shanghai) rules. We will keep updating our website focus on those changes if we get more information, feel free to refer to your friend if it helpful. Following are some changes we just get confirmed:
Some new visa type will be available: when you apply the China visa in the Chinese Embassy/Consulate outside of China, it will have 16 types of Chinese visas can be choose now. More details, Please check government website here. or you can download the new China visa introduction here: English version or Chinese version.
When your apply the Z visa in Hong Kong, you don't need to carry the medical check report anymore. But you need to carry your house rental contract or registration form of temporary residence or hotel booking document.
When you apply the Residence permit in shanghai, now it takes 7 working days instead of 15 working days.
When family member apply the family Residence permit in shanghai, before you only need to provide the marriage license and birth certificate copy, now they need it to be notarized by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate outside.
When a living partner (not married) apply the family residence permit in shanghai, before a certification from the applicant's consulate to prove they are living together as partner is enough, now they must register in their home country and the registration certificate must be notarized in the Chinese Embassy/Consulate outside.
All visa applicants are required to use the new Form from September 1, 2013
If your wife/husband is Taiwanese or HKese, you still can get 1 year family residence permit.
Before we have business F visa, not it is replaced by business/trading M visa. It's the same function at all. So for intern, they need to apply M visa to enter China for their internship now.
If your wife/husband is Chinese, you have chance to get 2 years family residence permit.
When you extend your tourist L visa in Shanghai, a big chance, the immigration officer might request you providing a Original certificate of bank deposit (1 day = 100USD deposit, so if you want to extend it maximum 30 days, then you have to show 3,000 USD or an equivalent of 19,500 RMB deposit in the bank certificate).
New! If you have working residence permit in shanghai, now you can sponsor your father and mother in law to get the same length family residence permit.
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【Important Notice】
All the above information is based on the public information of the government departments and our practical experience, such as the immigration authority, human resources and social security bureau and so on. If you decide to apply the visa or permit by yourself following the above documents list, we are not responsible for the loss of above information or other reasons. We recommend you to check with the government departments by yourself before submitting application documents. Please refer to the information provided by the government department.
So if you have any problem with your Chinese Visa or any problem related to your Chinese visas: PLEASE CONTACT US
PassportVisa Consultancy Services Co., Ltd.
Address: Rm. 1221&1223, 12th Floor, Jidian Building, No. 600, Hengfeng Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai 200070,China
(Metro line 1, Shanghai Railway Station, Exit 3)
Operation Time: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm (12:30am-1:30pm lunch)
Tel: 0086-21-60649598 (You can inquire in English or Chinese)
Emergency: 13636575328
E-mail: info@passportvisa.com.cn
Web:http://www.passportvisa.com.cn
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