LAUNCHED in 2002, the Shanghai Overseas Talent Residence Permit, also known as the Shanghai Residence Card (Type B), is a policy initiative designed to support overseas talent living and working in the city. Since its launch, the policy has undergone five revisions, with the latest one coming into effect last month and remaining valid through June 30, 2030. It introduces a range of new convenience measures.

Categories

Let’s first take a look at how foreign nationals working in China are categorized. Foreign professionals are generally classified into three categories:

Category A (high-end talent) — selected for national-level talent programs, recipients of internationally-recognized awards, foreign academicians, etc.

Category B (professional talent) — bachelor’s degree or above with at least two years of relevant work experience, or professionals with technical expertise in high-demand occupations.

Category C (general foreign personnel) — foreign nationals who meet domestic labor market demands and comply with other national policy regulations.

Types of residence permits

There are main permits for eligible overseas talent and dependent permits for their accompanying family members. Spouses and children under 18 may apply for dependent permits.

Who is eligible to apply for the Type B residence permit?

The permit is available to overseas talent who hold at least a bachelor’s degree or possess exceptional skills and are legally working or starting a business in Shanghai.

Eligible applicants include:

• Chinese nationals who studied abroad and have obtained foreign citizenship

• High-end and professional foreign talent, and other foreign professionals

• Overseas students and other professionals holding Chinese passports with permanent (or long-term) residency abroad and no household registration on the Chinese mainland

• Professionals from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan

What information is included in the permit?

• Full name

• Gender

• Date of birth

• Nationality or region

• ID type and number

• Recent photo

• Date of issue

• Issuing authority

• Validity period

Required application materials

• Completed Foreigner’s Work Permit Application Form

• Valid identification documents

• Academic degree certificates, professional qualifications, or other documents supporting talent recognition

• Proof of residence in Shanghai

• Valid health certificate

• Employment or labor contract

• Proof of individual income tax payment during the employment period in Shanghai

Both the employer and applicant are responsible for ensuring the authenticity of all submitted documents.

Application acceptance, review and approval

The receiving authority will review the submitted materials. If complete and valid, the application will be accepted.

If materials are incomplete, the applicant will be informed of what’s missing in a single notification.

Accepted applications will be forwarded to the Shanghai Talent Work Bureau within two working days.

The bureau will review the application within five working days of receipt. If approved, a formal notice will be issued.

If rejected, the applicant will be informed in writing with reasons.

Permit issuance

The permit is produced and issued by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, which will complete the process within 10 working days for approved applicants.

A digital version of the permit will also be issued simultaneously and stored in the city’s digital ID system.

The digital and physical versions hold the same legal validity.

Validity period

Permits are valid for one to five years, or up to 10 years in certain cases.

The specific validity period is determined based on the applicant’s age, educational background, field of expertise, work experience, passport/ID validity, work permit status, employment contract term and job position.

Applicants who are foreign nationals formerly studying in China and working in key zones such as the Lingang Special Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Zhangjiang Science City and the Hongqiao International Central Business District can apply for long-term permits (up to 10 years).

Information updates

If a permit holder leaves their job while the permit is still valid, the original employer must complete the termination process within 30 days through the city’s One-Stop Online Service Platform.

If the employer, ID number or other information changes during the permit’s validity, the employer must apply for updates within 30 days on the same platform.

Reporting loss, reissuance 
and renewal

If the physical permit is lost, the employer must promptly apply for reissuance through the One-Stop Online Service Platform.

The employer must apply for renewal within 30 days before its expiration through the platform.

Cancelation

If the permit holder no longer meets the eligibility requirements or voluntarily applies for cancelation, the Shanghai Talent Work Bureau will process the cancelation.

Streamlined issuance and management procedures

More flexible delivery options

For new issuance, renewal, reissuance due to loss, card information updates and adding accompanying persons (an accompanying person refers to individuals sharing the same permit, which serves as their proof of identity abroad), applicants or permit holders may choose either self-pickup or postal delivery.

For delivery, please provide an accurate address and a reachable phone number. Postage is cash on delivery at 15 yuan (US$2).

Temporary self-pickup address: Window 16, 1F, 77 Meiyuan Road

Simplified for Category A foreign talent

When applying for or extending a Category A foreign work permit, applicants may check a box in the system to simultaneously apply for the Type B residence permit without submitting duplicate materials.

Online-only reissuance process

Lost card and reissuance services are fully online, eliminating the need for in-person document checks.

The process is streamlined to:

• Employer submits online

• Pre-approval

• Card production and delivery

Five new perks

1. Social security

• Eligible to apply for flexible delayed retirement or postponed retirement pension collection in accordance with relevant regulations.

• May benefit from the “family pooling” mechanism under the medical insurance scheme.

This policy allows designated family members to share and use each other’s personal medical insurance accounts to pay for eligible medical expenses. It is designed to address the imbalance where healthy family members accumulate large unused balances, while those with frequent medical needs may lack sufficient funds in their own accounts. By enabling mutual support within the family, the policy makes more efficient use of medical resources.

2. Housing

• Eligible to be included in the city and district-level talent housing support system.

• May purchase a primary residence according to regulations.

3. Talent development

Eligible to apply for municipal talent programs and scientific research project support.

4. Finance

May use FASTPASS, a digital platform for quickly processing foreign exchange related to salaries.

5. Transportation

Eligible to apply for license plate quotas for new-energy vehicles.

Other benefits of the residence permit

1. Apply for a residence permit valid for up to five years, renewable upon expiration in accordance with regulations.

2. Overseas students, who have acquired foreign nationality, can apply for a work permit under the current policy in the Lingang Special Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

3. Start a business in Shanghai, and if eligible, enjoy various entrepreneurial support policies such as:

• Startup guarantee loans

• Social insurance subsidies for early-stage ventures

• Rental subsidies for incubator spaces

• Awards for outstanding entrepreneurial projects

4. Can be hired by administrative agencies on a short-term or project basis upon approval by competent authorities.

5. Access social insurance benefits in accordance with the law.

6. The non-working spouse and children under 18 years old or attending high school may enroll in the city’s basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents and receive the corresponding benefits.

7. Upon mutual agreement with the employer, the permit holder may contribute to and withdraw from the housing provident fund in accordance with Shanghai’s policies, and may also apply for housing fund loans.

8. In case of termination of employment, the permit holder may handle housing fund account procedures such as suspension or transfer.

9. Children of permit holders are eligible for preschool and compulsory education following the principle of proximity, as per local education authority policies. If the child meets admission requirements for schools for children of expatriates, they may apply to attend such institutions.

10. If the permit holder is a returnee with overseas education background, and their child completes high school in Shanghai and obtains a diploma, they may be eligible to take the National College Entrance Examination and apply to local universities with enrollment plans.

11. The holder may participate in professional title evaluations, qualification exams and professional (or practicing) license registration in accordance with national and municipal regulations.

12. If the holder is a high-level overseas talent, procedures may be simplified. With a certificate issued by the Shanghai Talent Work Bureau, customs clearance facilitation will be granted for research, teaching and personal items carried personally, shipped separately or sent by mail or courier.

13. Hong Kong and Macau residents with a valid Chinese Mainland Travel Permit for three years or longer, who voluntarily give up their Hong Kong or Macau residency and meet local household registration conditions, may apply for permanent residence in Shanghai through the exit and entry administration.

14. Holders of the residence permit valid for three years or more can apply for a work-type residence permit issued by the Shanghai Talent Service Center. After three years of work and with an employer recommendation, they may apply for permanent residency in China.

15. Foreigners who already hold a Foreign Permanent Residence ID Card may apply directly for a corresponding Shanghai Overseas Talent Residence Permit matching its validity period.

16. Applicants must have their employer submit an application to the Talent Work Bureau through Shanghai’s One-Stop Online Services platform. Foreigners holding a Category A work permit may directly apply for the residence permit based on personal preference. Their eligible family members may also apply for dependent cards.

17. Foreign nationals holding permanent residence permits and working or starting businesses in the Demonstration Zone of Green and Integrated Ecological Development of the Yangtze River Delta, as well as overseas students who have obtained foreign nationality, may apply for the permit in accordance with relevant regulations.

18. Permit holders may apply for a credit card in yuan from qualified banks.

19. Permit holders who legally pay taxes and obtain documentation from the tax authorities may convert their lawful income into foreign currency and remit it abroad, per foreign exchange policies.

20. Permit holders may apply for a Chinese driver’s license, register a vehicle and participate in non-commercial car license plate auctions.

21. Eligible to register and verify identity on the One-Stop Online Services app, accessing a wide range of government services.