For Business

Market Entry & Access

Market access, investment guides, industry access policies

Investment Guides

Find investment information for foreign investors and overseas asset managers, covering Shanghai's investment environment, market access, regulatory framework, and relevant policies.

Investment Support Services

Learn about Shanghai's support services for major foreign-invested projects, including online service channels for submitting requests, coordinating with government departments, and addressing project-related concerns.

Market Access

Explore Shanghai's market access policies and business environment, with information on company registration, green development, digital transformation, and information transparency.

Industry Guides

Find industry-specific information and services for businesses in Shanghai, covering healthcare, telecommunications, customs and trade, and culture and entertainment, along with relevant policies and procedures.

Healthcare

Explore healthcare market access and regulatory services in Shanghai, including policies for wholly foreign-owned hospitals and pilot pre-submission services for drug applications.

How to apply for pilot pre-submission service for drug supplementary applications

China permits wholly foreign-owned hospitals in major cities

Telecommunications

Find key information for foreign-invested companies applying for value-added telecommunications services in Shanghai, including eligibility requirements, application materials, and procedures.

FAQs: Foreign-invested companies applying for value-added telecommunications services

Customs & trade

Explore customs and trade procedures in Shanghai, including customs registration for foreign-invested companies engaged in import and export activities and measures to facilitate cross-border trade.

New measures to facilitate cross-border trade at Shanghai ports

Culture & entertainment

Explore policies and services for organizing large-scale commercial performances in Shanghai, including streamlined approval procedures, simplified application materials, and faster processing.

Shanghai streamlines large-scale performance approval

Business Setup

Registration, deregistration, changes, representative offices

Starting a Business

Explore key information and services for starting a business in Shanghai, from company registration and entrepreneurship support to sector-specific requirements and procedures.

Business-setup guides

Practical guides and useful resources for businesses looking to establish a presence in Shanghai, covering key requirements, available incentives, and streamlined registration procedures.

Video: How to start a business in Shanghai

Entrepreneurs

Shanghai is strengthening support for individual entrepreneurship through a one-stop service that coordinates government departments, streamlines procedures, and enables data sharing.

One-stop services for individual entrepreneurs in Shanghai

Business-specific guides

Practical, business-specific guidance for entrepreneurs and businesses in Shanghai, covering sector-specific procedures, approvals, and requirements for opening and operating a business.

Offline guide to the one-stop service for starting a business

Guide to coffee shop layout and compliance

FAQs about one-stop service for establishing restaurants in Shanghai

Company Registration

Find information and services for registering and managing businesses in Shanghai, covering different types of business entities, registration procedures, changes, closure, and online registration services.

Foreign-invested companies

Find information on establishing and managing foreign-invested companies in Shanghai, including business registration, registration changes, and business closure, along with relevant procedures and requirements.

FAQ: Complying with the 5-year transition period for foreign-funded enterprises

Registration of foreign-invested companies or foreign-invested branch companies

Change of registration of foreign-invested companies or foreign-invested branch companies

Cancellation of registration of foreign-invested companies or foreign-invested branch companies

Partnership enterprises

Learn how to register, change, and close a partnership enterprise in Shanghai, with key information on application materials, procedures, and requirements.

Registration of foreign-invested companies or foreign-invested branch companies

Change of registration of foreign-invested partnership enterprises or foreign-invested partnership branches

Cancellation of registration of foreign-invested partnership enterprises or foreign-invested partnership branches

Representative offices

Explore the requirements and procedures for representative offices in Shanghai, including registration, changes, and business closure, with key information for each stage.

Cancellation of registration of permanent representative offices of foreign (regional) enterprises

Change of registration of permanent representative offices of foreign (regional) enterprises

Registration of establishing permanent representative offices of foreign (regional) enterprises

Production & operational activities

Access information on registration and regulatory procedures for production and operational activities in Shanghai, including business registration, registration changes, business licenses, and business closure requirements.

Registration of production and operational activities by foreign (regional) enterprises in the Chinese mainland

Change of registration of production and operational activities of foreign (regional) enterprises in the Chinese mainland

Cancellation of registration of production and operational activities of foreign (regional) enterprises in the Chinese mainland

One-person company

Find key information on registering a one-person company in Shanghai, including eligibility requirements, online registration procedures, and available support services.

FAQs on registering a One-Person Company (OPC) in Shanghai

Online registration services

Explore online business registration services in Shanghai, including registration platforms, electronic business licenses, and digital tools designed to streamline business-related procedures.

How to download your electronic business license

Shanghai to facilitate more foreign investors with online platform

Special Registrations

Find information on establishing and operating regional headquarters, R&D centers, QFLP entities, arbitration institutions, and accounting firms in Shanghai, including relevant registration, licensing, and support policies.

Regional headquarters

Find information on establishing regional headquarters in Shanghai, including eligibility requirements, policy support, funding incentives, and relevant procedures for multinational companies.

FAQs on policies supporting multinational companies in establishing regional HQs in Huangpu district: Capital increase rewards

Notice of Shanghai Municipal People's Government on Issuing the Revised Provisions of Shanghai Municipality on Encouraging Multinational Corporations to Establish Regional Headquarters

R&D centers

Explore information on establishing and developing foreign-invested R&D centers in Shanghai, including development plans, support measures, and import tax policies.

Notice on import tax policies for foreign-funded R&D centers in Shanghai for 2026-30

Plan on upgrading foreign-invested R&D centers

Set up R&D centers

QFLP pilot program

Find answers to key questions about Shanghai's QFLP pilot program, including how to apply, eligibility requirements, foreign exchange conversion, domestic investment, and industry restrictions.

FAQ about Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) pilot program

Arbitration institutions

Find guidance on establishing arbitration institutions in Shanghai, including procedures for setting up arbitration centers and offices for overseas arbitration institutions.

How to establish arbitration center in Shanghai

Guide for overseas arbitration institutions wishing to establish offices in Shanghai

Accounting firms

Explore the requirements and procedures for overseas accounting firms seeking temporary audit licenses in Shanghai, with guidance on applications and related regulatory requirements.

A Guide to Shanghai Municipal Finance Bureau's Processing of Applications from Overseas Accounting Firms for Temporary Audit Licensing in the Chinese Mainland

Enterprise Accreditation

Learn about the identification process for enterprises in Shanghai, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, required materials, and relevant qualifications.

High-tech enterprise

Learn about the high-tech enterprise accreditation process in Shanghai, including self-assessment, registration, online application, review, and final announcement.

What is the process for identifying high-tech enterprises?

Premises & Utilities

Office leasing, address registration, utilities

Business Locations

This section covers the essentials of securing compliant business premises in Shanghai. It features the Shanghai Business Environment Development Report on obtaining a business location and an interactive map of commercial buildings across the city.

Business location guide

The Shanghai Business Environment Development Report examines how the municipality continuously optimizes its business environment for site selection. Reforms span urban planning, land resource security, building and environmental permits, property administration, and digital public services.

Shanghai Business Environment Development Report: Obtaining a Business Location (2018-2024)

Commercial buildings

An interactive map of Shanghai's business centers and commercial buildings awaits exploration. Selecting a district displays available properties; clicking a map pin reveals detailed information about each commercial building or business center.

A comprehensive map of commercial buildings in Shanghai

Business Address Registration

Registering a legal domicile in Shanghai involves specific rules and procedures. Coverage includes eligibility for foreign-invested enterprises and foreign branches, required documentation, and the fully online inter-enterprise lease contract registration service.

Address registration

Foreign-invested businesses and foreign branches follow these procedures to register domiciles in Shanghai. Documentation requirements differ for owned and rented properties, while non-residential building rules and common business registry offices also feature prominently.

How foreign-invested businesses, foreign company branches register domiciles in Shanghai

Lease registration

The Government Online-Offline Shanghai platform enables fully online business-to-business premises lease contract registration. This step-by-step guide walks through the entire process, culminating in a legally equivalent electronic registration certificate without any in-person visit.

Online registration for B2B premises lease contracts

Utilities

Essential utility services for Shanghai enterprises come together in one place. Streamlined electric power access serves non-residential customers, while an overview of water, electricity, and gas pricing structures helps businesses understand their utility costs.

Power connection

Shanghai's revised measures dramatically streamline electric power access for non-residential customers. Grid operators process applications within 10 days, outdoor wiring comes at zero cost to the customer, and approvals follow a notification-commitment system.

Shanghai streamlines power access for non-residential customers

Water, electricity, and gas

Non-household water, electricity, and natural gas pricing structures in Shanghai are laid out here. Rate information for each utility is provided for businesses establishing operations.

Water, electricity and gas

Employment & Labor

Employment rules, labor rights, social security

Employee Recruitment

Shanghai's "one-stop" employee registration service via Government Online-Offline Shanghai brings together employment registration, social insurance enrollment, medical insurance, and housing provident fund account opening—all in one streamlined workflow for foreign-invested enterprises.

New Hire Formalities

Bringing new employees onto the payroll in Shanghai involves several steps. Employment registration, social insurance and medical insurance enrollment, and a housing provident fund account setup form the core of a compliant onboarding workflow.

One-stop service for employee hiring in Shanghai

Expenses

Employing staff in Shanghai carries specific cost obligations for both employer and employee. Social insurance premiums and housing provident fund contributions form the backbone of workforce-related expenses that businesses must plan for.

Labor

Employment Management

Managing employment relationships in Shanghai draws together critical compliance areas. Working hours, statutory holidays and leave entitlements, plus mandatory social insurance and housing provident fund participation, form the foundation of sound workforce management.

Working hours

This section covers China's standard, comprehensive, and irregular working hour systems, including working-hour requirements, approval procedures, and overtime pay.

Working hours

Holidays & leave

Statutory paid holidays across China include New Year, Spring Festival, and National Day, among others. Paid annual leave entitlements grow with length of service, and marriage, bereavement, and maternity leave enjoy separate legal protection.

Holidays and vacations

Social insurance & housing fund

Mandatory social insurance covers endowment, medical, employment injury, unemployment, and maternity insurance. Foreign-invested enterprises are also required to make housing provident fund contributions for their employees.

Social insurance and housing provident fund

Employment Termination

Labor contract rescission and termination in Shanghai operate under a clear legal framework. Agreement termination, unilateral termination conditions, and economic compensation calculated by length of service are covered in this guidance.

Tax & Compliance

Taxation, regulatory filings, annual reporting

Taxes & Incentives

China's tax landscape unfolds here for foreign-invested enterprises in Shanghai. Corporate income tax, individual income tax, value-added tax, tariffs, and consumption tax are covered here, alongside available tax incentives and preferential policies.

Major taxes

China has 18 types of taxes, including corporate income tax, individual income tax, value-added tax, tariffs, and consumption tax. This overview covers the major taxes affecting businesses operating in Shanghai, from corporate income tax to consumption tax.

Major taxes

Tax incentives

This section covers industry-targeted preferential policies. A preferential 15 percent corporate income tax rate for high-tech enterprises, R&D expense super-deductions, small low-profit enterprise benefits, and tax deferral for reinvesting foreign investors are all included.

Preferential tax policies

Tax deferral

Provisions on deferring withholding income tax for foreign investors reinvesting profits in China are covered here. The Shanghai Municipal Tax Service provides a bilingual guide on application procedures for this policy.

How to enjoy tax deferral policy for reinvestment

Cross-border Taxation

This section covers frequently asked questions on cross-border taxation and Free Trade Zone tax policies for businesses in Shanghai. Non-resident enterprise tax registration, tax residency certificates, and tax treatments applicable to pilot temporary entry repairs are also included.

Cross-border tax FAQs

This section answers frequently asked questions on non-resident enterprise tax registration, tax residency certificates, withholding obligations, and pre-tax deduction vouchers for overseas purchases.

FAQs about taxation related to cross-border businesses

FTZ tax policies

Tax policies applicable to pilot temporary entry repairs in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone are covered here. Bonded treatment, exemptions on re-exported goods, and conditions for domestic sale within customs special supervision areas are also included.

Tax policies for pilot temporary entry repairs in Shanghai FTZ

Regulatory Filing

Foreign-invested enterprises in Shanghai are subject to regulatory filing requirements. Annual report submission and domestic investment information reporting are covered here, including procedures and deadlines for compliance with commerce authority requirements.

Annual reporting

Foreign-invested enterprises are required to submit an annual foreign investment information report. This section covers submission deadlines, step-by-step filing procedures, and penalties for non-compliance, including potential impacts on enterprise credit and operations.

FAQs on annual report submission for foreign-invested enterprises

Investment reporting

Domestic investment information reporting is required when foreign-invested enterprises establish, increase capital in, or acquire equity in Chinese enterprises. Reporting channels, requirements, and penalties for non-compliance are covered here.

How to file domestic investment information reports

Financing Services

Financing services, foreign exchange, grants and subsidies

Government Funding

This section covers government funding programs available to eligible enterprises and projects in Shanghai, including funding for innovation, industrial development, and special projects.

Innovation

This section covers funding programs for innovation-driven projects, including research and development and the commercialization of new technologies.

Innovation vouchers boost Shanghai's tech scene

Industry

Funding programs for industry-related projects are covered here. Production capacity expansion and operational improvement are included.

How to apply for 2026 cultural and creative development fund

Special projects

This section covers funding programs for special projects aligned with specific policy goals or strategic priorities.

Guide to Shanghai special funds for pilot projects of new consumption patterns, models, and scenarios (2026)

Business Financing

This section covers financing services available to enterprises in Shanghai. Information on funding solutions and capital access is included.

Suishenrong

Suishenrong is an official mobile financing service application built on the Shanghai Financing Credit Service Platform. It provides small and medium-sized enterprises with access to credit and loan information through data sharing.

How to use new financing application

Suishendui

Suishendui is a service platform for preferential policies for enterprises on Government Online-Offline Shanghai. It provides one-stop inquiry, intelligent matching, and automated benefit disbursement for six categories of municipal- and district-level policies, including funding support for tax and fee reductions.

Q&A: Shanghai's Suishendui policy hub

IPR Protection

Patents, trademarks, intellectual property services, innovation index

Patents

Shanghai supports patent protection, examination, dispute resolution, and utilization, helping innovators protect and make effective use of their patented technologies.

Application

This section covers patent application services for innovators, enterprises, and research institutions, helping them protect technical achievements efficiently.

How to apply for Chinese patent

Fast-track examination

This section covers patent pre-examination services for eligible high-value inventions, helping applicants streamline the patent application process.

How prequalification accelerates patent approval to as fast as 3 months

Administrative adjudication

This section covers government-led administrative adjudication of patent disputes, helping protect the lawful rights and interests of patent holders.

Guide to case registration for administrative adjudication of patent infringement disputes

Administrative mediation

This section covers administrative mediation of patent disputes, providing a voluntary and efficient way for parties to seek resolution.

Trademarks

Shanghai supports brand registration and key trademark protection, helping enterprises strengthen their identity, reputation, and market competitiveness.

Registration

This section covers trademark registration, helping enterprises obtain trademark rights and protect their brands.

Key trademark protection

This section covers protection for important trademarks, helping enterprises defend valuable brands and prevent infringement.

Guide to applying for inclusion in Shanghai Key Trademark Protection List

FAQs on Shanghai's key trademark protection

Data IP

Shanghai supports the protection and use of data intellectual property, helping promote lawful data circulation and digital innovation.

Professional Services

Legal services, notary, arbitration, consulting, support platforms

Business Support

Shanghai provides comprehensive support for enterprises through government bodies, business associations, and specialized professional service providers.

Government services

This section covers official public services that simplify administrative procedures, provide timely policy information, and improve coordination between departments, helping businesses and residents complete routine matters more efficiently and with greater clarity.

Contact information for IBCZ government service center

Contact info of government agencies for commerce and investment promotion

Contact info of foreign chambers of commerce in Shanghai

Business associations

This section covers organizations that connect enterprises, encourage communication, share market information, and provide industry-specific support through networking, advocacy, and collaborative services that strengthen business development.

Overseas offices of Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board

Professional service providers

This section covers specialized institutions that offer consulting, accounting, human resources, translation, legal support, and other professional services designed to help enterprises improve management, solve operational challenges, and expand with greater confidence.

Assets appraisal agencies

Notary public offices

Accounting firms

Law firms

Scientific research institutions

Tax advisory firms

Human resources service companies

E-Government & Comprehensive Platforms

Shanghai offers integrated digital platforms that bring together online public services, trade facilitation tools, and international business support, making it easier for users to access multiple services through one efficient and user-friendly channel.

Trade single window

This section covers a unified digital platform that allows users to complete trade-related procedures in one place, reducing paperwork, shortening processing time, and improving the overall efficiency of import and export operations.

China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window

Going global platform

This section covers a support platform that helps local enterprises explore overseas markets, understand destination requirements, access practical guidance, and connect with resources that support smoother international expansion.

Shanghai launches service platform to support businesses going global

Legal Framework & Compliance Services

Shanghai offers services that provide access to laws, regulations, legal consultation, and compliance guidance, helping businesses understand legal requirements, reduce operational risks, and maintain lawful and responsible business operations.

Shanghai regulations & rules

This section covers local legal and regulatory information that helps users understand applicable rules, interpret compliance obligations, and stay informed about the requirements that may affect their business activities or daily operations.

A collection of rules and regulations of Shanghai city

Legal services

This section covers professional legal support for contracts, compliance, dispute handling, and rights protection, helping enterprises and individuals manage legal matters with greater confidence, accuracy, and procedural reliability.

Hongkou launches shipping legal services

Dispute Resolution

Shanghai provides mechanisms that help parties settle commercial and administrative disputes through arbitration, mediation, and complaint handling, offering structured pathways for resolving conflicts efficiently, fairly, and with minimal disruption to ongoing activities.

Arbitration

This section covers a binding dispute resolution process for commercial and civil conflicts, giving parties a formal and enforceable route to resolve disagreements outside traditional court proceedings.

Intl arbitration center relocates to new office

Commercial mediation

This section covers a voluntary process that helps parties resolve business disputes through neutral mediation, encouraging dialogue, preserving business relationships, and reaching practical settlements that work for both sides.

Roster of Specially Invited Commercial Mediation Organizations for Shanghai Courts (July 2025)

Complaints

This section covers a formal channel for reporting problems and requesting administrative handling, allowing users to submit concerns, seek follow-up, and obtain support when issues require official review or intervention.

Complaint channels for foreign-invested enterprises

Business Travel & Facilitation

Shanghai offers support services that make cross-border business travel more convenient for eligible travelers, helping them participate more easily in international meetings, exchanges, and related business activities.

APEC business travel card

This section covers a facilitation service that helps eligible business travelers move more easily between participating economies, supporting faster cross-border movement, smoother travel arrangements, and more convenient participation in international business activities.

Online application for APEC Business Travel Card

Overseas NGOs

This section provides information on the regulatory framework governing the registration, annual reporting, and temporary activities of overseas NGOs in Shanghai.

Registration

This section covers the process for overseas NGOs to establish representative offices in accordance with local requirements, including registration steps, documentation guidance, and compliance obligations needed to operate legally and responsibly.

Procedures of filing (of records) for representative offices of Overseas Nongovernmental Organizations

Annual reporting

This section covers the annual reporting requirements and procedures for registered overseas NGOs, including filing expectations, review steps, and the information needed to maintain good standing under local rules.

Procedures of filing (of records) for annual review of representative offices of Overseas NGOs

Temporary activities

This section covers an approval process for overseas NGOs carrying out short-term activities in the city, helping ensure that temporary projects, events, and programs are conducted in accordance with local regulatory requirements.