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For Shanghai
Your situation
EmployeeWork permit notice, Z visa, then a work-type residence permit. 8 steps StudentX1 visa for courses over 180 days, then a study residence permit. 5 steps Joining familyS1 for dependants of foreign residents, Q1 for family of Chinese citizens. 3 steps FounderSet up a company first, then a work permit through it. 4 steps Open a step on the roadmap to see what it involves. Rules change
Visa-free entry (30 days for listed nationalities until 31 December 2026, or 240-hour transit) is for visits and business meetings only. There is no remote-work or digital nomad visa, so living here means a residence permit tied to a job, a course or a family member. This is a general guide, not legal advice. Confirm each step with the National Immigration Administration before you rely on it.
Your roadmap · Employee 8 steps 3–4 months before → to Year 1 onwards 1 Step 1: Secure an offer from a sponsoring employer3–4 months before + The employer must be licensed to hire foreign staff. The standard bar is a bachelor's degree and two years of relevant experience; the work permit is scored A, B or C on points for salary, education, experience and age. 2 Step 2: Authenticate your documents at home10–12 weeks before + Degree certificate and a criminal record certificate, apostilled (China joined the Apostille Convention in November 2023) or legalised if your country is not a member. These are slow to arrange from inside China. 3 Step 3: Employer applies for the work permit notice6–8 weeks before + Filed online with the local science and technology bureau. You receive a Notification Letter of Foreigner's Work Permit, which the consulate asks to see. 4 Step 4: Apply for the Z visa3–4 weeks before + At the Chinese visa application centre for where you live, with the notification letter and an invitation from the employer. The Z visa is single entry and gives you 30 days after arrival to convert it. 5 Step 5: Arrive and register your addressDay 0–1 + Register with the local police within 24 hours of arriving at your address. Hotels do it for you; in a flat it is your job, online or at the police station. 6 Step 6: Medical check and work permit cardWeeks 1–3 + A health check at a designated centre, unless the authority accepts one done abroad, then the physical work permit card from the same bureau that issued the notice. 7 Step 7: Apply for the residence permitWithin 30 days of arrival + At the Exit-Entry Administration with your passport, work permit, police registration slip and lease. Your passport is held for up to about 15 working days; plan no travel. Fees run from ¥400 to ¥1,000 by length. 8 Step 8: Renew before expiryYear 1 onwards + First permits usually run for one or two years, tied to the contract. Renewals go through the same two offices; a change of employer means a new work permit. Get help with the move to Shanghai → Chat with Eva