Notice on Special Visa Facilitation for Foreign Business People to Shanghai

In order to further facilitate foreign business people in coming to Shanghai for business activities, the following special visa facilitation measures will be taken for eligible foreign business people.

I. Who can benefit

The foreign business people in this Notice primarily refer to “foreign nationals who need to frequently come to China for business activities and have made positive contributions to Shanghai's international business and trade cooperation, as well as their spouses and children”. Inviting organizations include state-owned, private and foreign-invested enterprises.

II. What is it about

Eligible foreign business people may apply to the Chinese embassy or a consulate in their home country for a five-year multiple-entry M visa or an equivalent category visa with a 180-day stay, upon receiving a Special Visa Invitation Letter issued by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. Applicants may be exempted from fingerprint collection and may entrust others to apply for the visa, and will only be charged the fee for a one-year multiple-entry visa.

III. How to make application

1. Application for Special Visa Invitation Letter

The application for Special Visa Invitation Letter for eligible foreign business people shall be made by the inviting organization.

2. Qualification of Inviting Organizations

Eligible inviting organizations shall submit a written application to their local authorities or competent departments to be qualified. After reviewing their qualifications, the local authorities or competent departments will issue a “registration code” to the qualified organizations.

3. Online Registration and Provision of Visa Application Information

The qualified inviting organizations shall use the “registration code” to register in the “Invitation Letter Handling” function of the "Invitation to China" module on the official website of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (https://wsb.sh.gov.cn). After successful registration, the inviting organizations can fill in the visa application information online for the foreign business person(s) they invite. After review, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office will issue a Special Visa Invitation Letter for the foreign business people as well as their spouses and children.

4. Visa Application by Foreign Business People

Foreign business people may apply for a visa at the Chinese embassy or a consulate in their location with the Special Visa Invitation Letter within 3 months.

IV. Things to Note

1. An inviting organization shall only file visa application for those it invites to China for business activities, and shall not arbitrarily expand the scope or apply for those coming to China for non-business purposes.
2. If a foreign business person benefiting from this visa facilitation engages in “three illegals” or other illegal and criminal activities in China, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office shall revoke the application qualifications of relevant enterprises in accordance with the law.

V. Others

1. A Special Visa Invitation Letter shall be issued by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office for eligible foreign business people within one week after the inviting organization submits the application as required.
2. No fee is charged for the processing of the Special Visa Invitation Letter.

Translator’s note: The term “three illegals” refers to illegal entry, illegal stay, or illegal employment by foreign nationals in China.