Q: I am a French student currently in my second year studying International Trade in Paris. I am seeking an internship in China, and Shanghai is my preferred destination.

However, visa requirements have become the main obstacle, and I am struggling to identify a suitable, legally compliant visa route for a short-term academic internship.

A: Foreign students enrolled at overseas universities who are invited by enterprises or institutions in Shanghai to undertake an internship may apply for an S2 (short-term private affairs) visa with an "internship" annotation.

The application should be supported by the following documents:

- Proof of current enrollment at the overseas university;

- Proof of the internship and an internship activity plan issued by the inviting institution or company.

The list of universities can be found on the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange website.

Source: Exit-Entry Administration Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau