The Shanghai Hongqiao One-Stop Service Center for Overseas Talents in Changning district has been recognized by the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission as an outstanding innovation practice in optimizing the business environment. This recognition showcases how streamlined, integrated services are shaping Shanghai into a top destination for international professionals.

Spanning over 11,000 square meters, the center consolidates key administrative and daily life services under one roof. It has expanded government service items from 17 to 38, and introduced 31 daily life services ranging from housing to healthcare. Overseas talent can now obtain work permits and residence permits in as few as 12 working days, with required documentation cut by a third and processing time nearly halved.

Pioneering innovations set the center apart: Shanghai's first district-level immigration service center, the first mobile labor arbitration court for expatriates, and the first self-service foreign currency exchange zone. It also offers services like consular authentication and on-site document issuance. Residence permits are now delivered in seven working days, and the center supports currency exchange for 20 currencies.

The center's online services are equally efficient. Applications for expat accommodation registration and talent apartments are now fully digital. By June 2025, the center had received over 1,900 online applications, handling more than 1,300 successful move-ins.

Since opening in April 2024, the center has served over 120,000 professionals and processed over 1,400 life service consultations. It continues to improve its talent services, reinforcing Shanghai's vision of becoming a world-class, talent-friendly city.

Source: WeChat account of Shanghai Changning media center at "shchangning"