Who can apply

• Visa-exempt foreign nationals who need to stay in China longer than the visa exemption period for reasons other than diplomatic or official purposes;
• Foreign seamen and their accompanying family members who need to leave the cities where their ships are moored;
• Those who have been approved to renounce their Chinese nationality and need to remain in China;
• Expats whose reason for residence has been terminated and who need to remain in China longer for humanitarian reasons;
• Foreign infants born in China who need to stay in the country; and
• Other circumstances necessitating a stay permit for foreign nationals.

Where to apply 

Exit-Entry Administration Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau: Monday to Saturday, 9 am-5 pm (except statutory holidays; Saturdays for document acceptance only);

Click to view office hours and locations for the Exit-Entry Administration Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau and its district-level branches.

How to make an appointment 

You can make an appointment for your application via the "出入境专栏 (Exit-entry Services)" of Government Online-Offline Shanghai. Select "Issuance of Foreigner's Stay Permit".  

After logging in, select the district (or city) where you want to submit the application.

Fill in your basic information, including your name, mobile number, and passport number. And choose the service center where you want to submit the application and the date and time slot for the appointment. Confirm and submit the information.

You will receive a notification about your appointment. You will need to go to the service center to submit your application at the scheduled time.

The information provided here is for reference only; for more details, please consult the website of the Exit-Entry Administration Corps of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau. 

Updated Oct 23, 2026

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