Update China Visa Rules And Policy in Shanghai, China

[ TOP ] If you have any question or need any China visa advice, feel free to drop us a email or phone call, we are willing to provide our knowledge to help you solve any China visa problem at any time. First you can Check our suggestion of China visas!

[ News ] From 2nd May 2013, Shanghai labor bureau tight the employment permit/visa policy, now for a company hire new foreign employee (both new application and transferring from company A to B, in our “working Z visa” section, Z0 and Z2 services), it takes 10-15 working days to know the result (approve or not), before it only takes 5 working days. And according to VisaInChina practical note, the reject rate is higher than before. Sometimes, the officer might ask for a notarized bachelor degree or working experience reference if they doubt the application. VisaInChina suggest the client watch out his/her visa carefully during the alien employment license/permit procedure. if time is not enough, extend your visa first to get more time to wait the labor bureau’s result.

[ Notice ] From 1st May 2013, We heard about the F visa policy (Specially for 6-12 month HK route F visa, Our “Business F visa” section, F0/F1/F2/F3/F4 services) might change after 1st July 2013. We don’t guarantee F0/F1/F2/F3/F4 services will be still available after 1st July, so if you are interested in it, make sure you do it before 1st July 2013. (earlier is better)

[ News ] From 20th March 2013, For US or French citizen. We can help you get 12 month Multi-entry (60 days limit stay of each entry) F visa in HK. It takes only 5 working days. Check here for more details >>

[ Notice ] From 1st March 2013, the traffic bureau update their Chinese Driver License questions, we will provide you a DISC with all questions(translated in english by www.VisaInChina.com). During the exam, the traffic police will random pickup 100 questions. if you can get 90+ scores in the exam, then you can pass and get the Local Driver's License.

[ News ] No visa is required for foreigners who hold air tickets to the final destination and have booked seats on international airlines flying directly through China, and will stay in a transit city for less than 24 hours and do not leave the airport.

From 1st January 2013, passport holders of following 45 countries and regions will be granted a visa-free stay of up to 72 hours while in transit via Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) & Hongqiao International Airport (SHA):

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

Restrictions of the 72-hour Visa-free Transit:
1. This 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.
2. The 72-hour visa-free stay only applies to transit via Capital International Airport. Passengers by train or any other vehicles should still apply for a visa in advance.
3. Visitors are not allowed to leave Shanghai to other cities during the 72-hour visa-free period. They can only depart Shanghai from Capital International Airport.
4. 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). Otherwise, tourists cannot apply for an extension of stay in Shanghai.

[ Important Noice ] Our services including translation, China visa policy consulting, China immigration plan arrangement, document preparation & submission, accompany & delivery service etc which are all legalized. If you would like, you can also check all the government service from their Website Here. if you choose to handle it directly with the government office by yourself, you only need to pay the government fee. And we are a private consulting company legally registered in China since 2001, we are not the government branch, not affiliated with the government. We charge extra service/consulting fee besides government fee to keep our company running and our webiste updating.

[ Article ] How to Get an Employment Work Permit and Visa in Shanghai, China? Check here >>

[ Notice ] From 1st Nov 2012, The shanghai labor bureau stop providing the Expedited Service. It means it takes more time to apply the employment license or employment permit.

[ Notice ] From 10th Oct 2012, If the company register in Puxi, and foreign employee want to go to Hongkong to apply Z visa! We still can help you arrange it! but the company need to provide more document and cost more time(2 more weeks). Email us to get more information.

[ Notice ] From 10th Sept 2012, we was informed by Puxi foreign affair office(who taking charge of foreign affairs for company register in Puxi) "if the applicant haven't HongKong residence permit, they will not issue Z visa notice for HK anymore, the applicant must go back to their home country to apply the Z visa". Until now, Pudong foreign affair office(who taking charge of foreign affairs for company register in Pudong) didn't have that restriction yet. Anyway, we will keep you informed!

[ Notice ] From 1st Sept 2012, we get more and more phone call asking the same question: "I submitted for my working visa application, but was denied, can you help?" The answer is "NO".
But after we know more details about their background, we found out over 70% cases were messed up by themselves or an inexperienced HR assistant. So come to us before you submit your application, you need an expert to look over your paperwork and judge your situation. You only have one chance, don't waste it.

[ Notice ] From 20th Aug 2012, when you transfer the working visa (residence permit) from company A to company B, the immigration officer will request you to provide them a copy of the "Release Letter". If they find out your release date from company A and the working visa application date from company B has a big gap (more than a month), then they might reject your application.

[ Notice ] From 15th Aug 2012, If you use hotel registration form to apply the 1 month tourist visa extension, you need to make sure on the registration form "Date of leaving" must be at least 2 weeks after; If you use hotel registration form to apply the 12 month working residence permit, you need to make sure on the registration form "Date of leaving" must be at least 1 month after.

[ Notice ] From 5th July 2012, The driving license test has some slightly changes as following:
1. When you finish 1 question, the computer will give you the answer(is correct or wrong) immediately. So it means if you makes 11 wrong, the computer will stop your test immediately and inform your failed.
2. You will know which question you made wrong, before you never have chance to know it.

[ Notice ] From 5th July 2012, It takes 4 working days to apply Z visa in HK (before was 24 hrs) for following countries: France, Austria, Belgium, Czekh, Danmark, Estonia, Finland, German, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Nertherland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland.

[ Notice ] From 11th May 2012, If your last visa was issued inside China(visa extension), please check the "Issue Date", If the "Issue Date" and your former visa "Valid until" date has a gap more than 5 days, then the visa reject rate will increased a lot in Hongkong visa office(The commissioner's Office of China Foreign Ministry in Hongkong SAR). They might only issue you a 14 days visa.

[ Notice ] 16th April 2012, If you obtain a "Alien Employment Permit"(working permit), you must apply your working residence permit immediately within 10 days, some expat didn't apply the working residence permit in time because they consider they still have a family visa (or an F visa) valid for a long time. But finially, they get punishment or penalty from the immigration office.

[ News ] From 22nd Feb 2012, If you want to apply Chinese driver license, you must have a foreign country driver license, the International driver license is not available to transfer to Chinese driver license anymore.

[ News ] In Jan 2012, we have 2 holidays: 1st-3rd Jan (New Year Holiday) and 22nd-28th Jan (Chinese Spring Festival). The government visa office was closed during that time. Please notice that and arrange your visa in time. Happy New Year!

[ Article ] From 26th Dec 2011, China drafts law to curb illegal entry, employment of foreigners. Read this Article >>

[ News ] From 1st Nov 2011, 6 month Multi-entry continuous stay F visa issued in HK comes back again! Simple paperwork, quick processing time. Check more details >>

[ News ] From 8th Oct 2011, HK can issue 3 month continous stay L visa. Friendly notice: there was 2 visa offices in HK, one is the old Chinese Embassy in HK Harbor Road, Wanchai. This visa office is much strict for the China visa application, always gives out 10-15 days short term visa. Another visa office was on the border of HK and Shenzhen luohu, this office can issue 3 month visa now. So if you failed to get a visa in HK wanchai office, then you still can try the another office.

[ News ] From 6th Sept 2011, The Interim Measures for Participation in Social Insurances of Foreigners Employed in China have been deliberated and passed at the 67th Administrative Meeting of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and approved by the State Council. These Measures are hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of October 15, 2011. Download the new law >>

[ News ] From 1st Sept 2011, China visa government fee was slightly changed for all nationality, Check the new government fee chart here >>.

[ News ] From 20th Aug 2011, If your company employee quit or stop working, we suggest to cancel their working permit (alien employment permit) immidiately, it's our S6 service. The reason why you need to do so is because if you didn't cancel the resigned staff's alien empoyment permit, it will effect the new employee's working visa application.

[ News ] From 1st July 2011, we got a lot of inquiries about "if expats hold a working visa in shangai, do they need to pay the China social insurance(welfare) in shanghai?" The answer from the government is here (No.14 in the artical). We translated for you, the answer is "No, expats are not forced to pay the China social insurance. but if they want to join the China social insurance, they can."

[ News ] From 1st Jun 2011, When you apply the L visa extension in shanghai, if you have too many L or F visas before in your passport, the Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security might refuse your application or give you extension less than 30 days (F.E 10-20 days only).

[ News ] From 1st May 2011, The Labour Bureau of foreign affairs in shanghai update policy for working permit processing, Now it's bad chance to get approved if a local small Chinese company (investment capital less than 100,000RMB) hire foreign expat.

[ News ] 6th April 2011, Now for all nationalities, if you want to apply the working Z visa in Hongkong, you need to submit a copy of your health certificate. So please do the health checkup and get the ceritificate before you going to Hongkong. In shanghai, you can do the health checkup at No.15 Jin Bang rd. (near Ha Mi rd.). The clinic reservation telephone number is 021-62688851.

[ News ] 11th March 2011, A huge earthquake hit Japan. More and more Japanese born in China choose to come back to China to avoid disaster. For Japan passport holder, you can enter China within 15 days visa free. If you want to stay longer, we can extend your 15 days visa free twice and each time 1 month (our L0 service). If your immediate Chinese family member (parents, wife, husband, brother or sister etc.) are shanghaiese or work in shanghai, you can also apply a 3, 6 or 12 month dependent visa. Please call us (Tel:51699039 or 63075776) to check more details. HOLD ON, JAPAN!

[ Tips ] 1st Feb 2011, if you have a Multi-entry visa request you to leave China every 30,60 or 90 days, normlly, you can cross the border to HK to activate it. But it's a bit expensive. Now, you can fly to Xia Men and take a ferry (30 min) to Jin Men island (which is belongs to Taiwan), it also count as entry&exit China. But the plane ticket is much more cheap then fly to HK. (Notice: Please make sure you can enter Taiwan without visa, then you can use this tips. See which nationality can enter Taiwan visa free)

[ News ] Pay a course for Chinese language study (flexible study schedule) and get the 6 month multi-entry student X visa is available now, especially for the expat who really want to learn Chinese culture and language. To get a student X visa, you need to do a medical checkup here in China and register with a official Chinese language course. As far as we know, most of private mandarin training center can not arrange the student visa for you, but we have found 1 for you. Please check our X0 service >>

[ Article ] How to Get a Business F Visa in Shanghai, China? Check here >>

[ News ] Celebration of our company established for 9 years and also 3 new services launch
( Expat Health Insurance | Accounting Service | Payroll Service ). From 1st Dec 2010, we give a good discount to all of our China visa services (more visa services open). We hope all our customers can enjoy your life in China legally, stably and economically with our professional assistance.  More >>

[ News ] From 1st Sept 2010, If your company investment capital is 0 (normally happen in the newly established company), the shanghai immigration office will not give you 1 year residence permit (they will give you 90 days residence permit instead) until part of your company investment capital come in.

[ News ] From 1st Sept 2010, Due to the Asian Game will be held in Guangzhou, HongKong will only issue 30 days visa instead of the 90 days visa till the Asian Game finished.

[ News ] For French and US citizen, normally you can only get 30 days stay visa in HongKong, but if You have a official F visa notification form, then you have chance to get maxmium 90 days stay F visa in HongKong. For the F visa official notification form, you can check our V0 service for more details.

[ News ] This NOTICE is ONLY for FRENCH passport holder. From 23rd July 2010.
About Z working visa: you still can get Z visa in HongKong (this is 100% guarenteed), but just take long time than before (now it takes 4 working days).
About F business visa: You need to bring the F visa official notification form, then you still can get maxmium 30-90 days stay F visa in HongKong. For the F visa official notification form, you can check our V0 service for more details.

[ News ] From 1st July 2010, Due to the unstable and un-transparent visa policy, we decide to suspend our F visa applicaiton special services (F0-F4 services) until the visa policy become back to absolutely stable. This period will not last for a long time. Here is the plan we suggest. Check the suggestion >>

[ News ] From 1st April 2010, If you hold any type of visa or residence permit which can allow stay >=90 days, then you can apply the 6 years local shanghai driver license. Check the service in detail >>

[ News ] If you married with a Chinese who are working and living here in shanghai, then 1 year Multi-entries family residence permit is available for you, Please check our new M1 and M2 service !

[ News ] From 1st Nov 2009, If you hold 90 days stay tourist (L) visa, you can only get 1 time, 1 month extension here in shanghai, the second extension will be only 10-15 days.

[ News ] From 1st Sept 2009, the shanghai traffic bureau use 1500 questiones instead of 100 questiones in the traffic rules test. That means you have to memorize 15 times questiones than before, you can download the questiones here: English Version ; Chinese Version ; French Version ; Russian Version ; Japanese Version ; Spanish Version .

[ News ] If you are over 60 years old, foreigner born in China, and own a house (under your name) here in shanghai, then 1 year Multi-entries L visa is available for you, Please contact us for more details!

[ News ] Hongkong now release the visa policy for Mexicans, so now Mexican can apply 90 days L visa or 30 days F visa in HK through our HK partner (Tel:00852-28909979 web: www.chinavisa.com.hk)

[ News ] Oct 2009 is our China 60 Years Liberation ceremony(very huge ceremony). The visa policy start to become tight again from now. According to that, we have already updated our services quotation and paperwork list for F visa applications.

[ News ] From 16th Feb 2009, The Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security increase the government fee of 1 month L visa extension for US passport holder. According to that, we have already updated our service quotation for US nationality.

[ News ] Celebration of our company established for 7 years and foreign clients over 22,000. From 6th Dec 2008, we provide a good discount to all of our services. In the meantime, 12 month Multi-entries F visa is re-open again. We hope with our professional assistance all clients can stay here legally, stably and economically.

[ News ] From 31st Oct 2008, The Labour Bureau of foreign affairs in shanghai released the policy for working license and permit processing, even a very small capital company (30,000-100,000RMB captial) will have very good chance to get the working visa approved by the Government.

[ News ] From 31st Oct 2008, Shanghai Foreign Economic Relation & Trade Commission release the Z visa invitation letter policy. During the Olympic games you can only choose your home country as the Z visa issued place. But now, you can choose any country without offering that country residential card.

[ News ] From 21st July 2008, Shanghai Foreign Economic Relation & Trade Commission stop the F visa invitation letter application. And it will re-open at the end of Sept. Z visa invitation letter is still available, but processing time is longer than before. More details, Please check Government site HERE!

[ News ] From 22nd April 2008, The Labour Bureau of foreign affairs in shanghai update policy for working permit processing, Now if a company investment capital less than 1 million RMB, then it takes 1-3 weeks to apply the working license (much more than before and no express service) and the result ( approve or not) can not be guarentee. (As our experience it's bad chance to get approved)

[ News ] From 16th April 2008, The Ministry of foreign affairs in HongKong update some notice about visa processing rules, It looks like HongKong is still processing the visa but takes much longer time than before. More details, Please check Government site HERE!

[ News ] From 7th April 2008, The Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security update the visa policy one more time. According to that, now only the F visa issued from outside of China (not including Shenzhen or Zhuhai) can be extended in shanghai. All the F visa you got inside of China can not be extended any more. Now a lot of our clients ask us same question, How can we continue staying here? Check VisaInChina's visa advice for your current stay in Shanghai.

[ News ] From 1st April 2008, The Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security update the visa policy again. According to that, now the Authority will not accept of changing the visa type from L visa to F visa or F visa to L visa. Only allow L visa to L visa or F visa to F visa extension.

[ News ] From 6th Mar 2008, due to the Olympic games, The Entry and Exit Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security tight the visa policy special for F visa applicaitons. According to that, now the paperwork you have to prepare are more complicate than before, we have already updated our services quotation and paperwork list for F visa applications.

So if you have any problem with your China Visa or any problem related to your China visas: PLEASE CONTACT

Meshing Consultancy Services Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 9B, 9th floor, Yinli Building, 485 Henan (North) Road, Shanghai 200071. [ -MAP- ]
Operation Time: Monday to Friday 9:30AM-17:00PM (10th-12th Jun & 19th-21st Sep 2013 Holiday)
Tel1: 021-51699039 (You can inquire in English, Japanese or Chinese)
Tel2: 021-63075776
Emergency: 13501828752
E-mail: info@visainchina.com
Website: http://www.visainchina.com