Shanghai's Hongkou district is providing door-to-door HR services for overseas workers, making it easier for companies to handle the paperwork related to foreign employees.

After China merged the Foreigner's Work Permit with the Social Security Card, expats applying for a work permit must verify their original documents within a month of arrival.

When two foreign experts faced the risk of missing the document verification deadline due to delayed arrivals, the Shanghai Talent Development Service Center's Hongkou Branch stepped in to assist them at their employer's location.

After verifying the foreign experts' documents on-site, staff from the talent service center advised the company's HR department to use the "Single Window for Foreigners' Work Permit and Residence Permit" to apply for both permits simultaneously.

With a "single window" application receipt issued by the district's talent work bureau, a company's HR can apply for the work-type residence permit for a foreign employee at the district's entry-exit administration service center.

For companies with frequent talent applications, Hongkou offers regular on-site assistance. Specialists provide step-by-step guidance, resolve issues, and explain policies. An "online processing" option further simplifies procedures by allowing digital submission of supplementary materials.

Source: Hongkou district government