I. Who can apply:

Expats who meet any of the following conditions may apply for a four-year residence permit:

1. Departmental managers at the a regional headquarters (or headquarters-type organizations) of transnational corporations, investment companies, headquarters of private enterprises, or trade based headquarters in Shanghai;

2. Departmental managers and researchers at R&D centers;

3. Those holding a Four-year Type A Work Permit for Foreigners;

4. Those holding a Four-year Type L-B Shanghai Residence Permit;

II. Documents required:

1. The applicant's original, valid passport and visa;

2. A completed Visa and Residence Permit Application Form for Foreigners, and the applicant shall go to the local exit-entry administration of public security organs in person to take a free photograph, or the applicant who meets the relevant requirement of applying for visa without coming in person shall submit one color identification photo (taken within 6 months, white background, 2-inch, bareheaded, without modification, photographic paper printed, without smears);

3. A health certificate issued by a domestic entry-exit inspection and quarantine department within the past 6 months (applicants under 18 and over 70 are exempt from this requirement);

4. An application letter issued by the applicant's organization (indicating its unified social credit code);

5. A written application;

6. An original and photocopy of the business license or registration certificate of the applicant's organization, and, if the business license does not contain the unified social credit code, its organizational code certificate (unless the organization has already been registered, or for repeated applicants with the same organization);

7. Any of the following work permits for expats:

(1) Foreigner Work Permit holders shall submit the original and photocopy of the permit and a printed copy of the information obtained by scanning the QR code on it;

(2) An original and photocopy of the Four-year Type L-B Shanghai Residence Permit;

9. Any of the following supporting documents consistent with the applicant's identity and reason for application:

(1) Applicants qualified under Article I1 shall submit the original and photocopy of the certificate for Regional Headquarters (or headquarters-type organizations) of transnational corporations, headquarters of private enterprises, or trade based headquarters Multinational Corporations, or the business license of the investment company;

(2) Applicants qualified under Article I2 shall submit the original and photocopy of the official approval letter issued by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce concerning the establishment of the R&D center;

(3) Applicants qualified under Articles I3or I4 shall submit their Four-year Type A Work Permit for Foreigners or Four-year Type L-B Shanghai Residence Permit;

Notes: 1. In-person application is required for the first time. Subsequent applications may be made by the organization or relative by providing relevant documents, or online appointment is available at our E-government platform for entry-exit administration (https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/enhomeE). A medical examination certificate is not required for residence permits renewals within three months of expiration.

2. Exit-entry administrations of public security organs may, as they deem necessary, require applicants to attend an interview or submit additional supporting documents (such as proof of financial support, proof of change of information such as name, medical practice certificate, or business operation certificate, etc.). Applications which fail to provide the requisite information within the required time will be rejected, unless caused by a force majeure event.

3. All decisions of exit-entry administrations of public security organs rejecting applications for extension, replacement or re-issuance of ordinary visas, or rejecting expats' applications for residence permits or permit extensions, shall be final.

III.Online service

Click here to apply for a four-year Residence Permit for work online.

Source: gaj.sh.gov.cn