I. Who can apply:

Journalists entering China on J1 visas and intending to reside in Shanghai.

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 original and photocopy of the Press Card issued by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government;

5. An original verification letter from the applicant's resident news agency.

Notes: 1. In-person application is required for applicants aged 16-60 years of age for the first time. Subsequent applications may be made by the organization or a relative by providing relevant documents. A medical examination certificate is not required for residence permit 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, 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 foreigners' applications for residence permits or permit extensions, shall be final.

III. Business hours and locations:

Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (except for statutory holidays; Saturdays for document acceptance only)

Exit-Entry Administration of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau

IV. Processing time:

Within 7 business days for applications with complete documents required.

V. Fees:

For details, see the Visa Fees for Reciprocal and Non-Reciprocal Countries (National Development and Reform Commission and Ministry of Finance [J.J.G. No 392 of 2003]).

VI. Service hotline: 021-12367

VII. Complaint hotline: 021-68547109

VIII. E-government platform for Exit-Entry Administration of Shanghai Municipal PSB: https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/enhomeE

Public WeChat account for Exit-Entry Administration of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau: shgacrj

Source: gaj.sh.gov.cn