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);

Exit-entry administration detachment of branches of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau.

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) and make an appointment. 

Alternatively, you can schedule your application via the "Suishenban" app (随申办).

Log in to the Suishenban app, switch to the "International" version on the homepage, then select the "Visa/stay permit/residence permit" section and choose "Issuance of Foreigner's Stay Permit". 

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 July 20, 2026

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