Shanghai's immigration authorities have unveiled a series of new measures to simplify entry and exit procedures for both locals and international residents. Below are some of the key measures.

24/7 live-agent hotline

Effective immediately, the 12367 immigration service hotline offers a dedicated live-agent service to provide local residents with 24/7 policy consultations, inquiry support, and one-on-one guidance for the end-to-end online application of exit-entry documents.

Streamlined port visa application

Foreign employees working in Shanghai may apply for port visas directly as individuals on behalf of foreign nationals they invite — such as business partners or members of research teams — through a fully online application process. No employer certification letters are required.

Port visa window at Eastern Hub pilot zone

A dedicated port visa service window has been established within the Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone to facilitate the on-site application of exit-entry documents. Foreign nationals who enter the zone visa-free for purposes such as business visits, family visits, or tourism can now easily obtain the necessary documents to travel to other parts of Shanghai.

The window offers 24/7, walk-in service, and foreign nationals are also provided with guidance on immigration integration and related services.

Yangtze River Delta integrated port visa service

Enterprises across the Yangtze River Delta region — which covers Shanghai and the neighboring provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui — can now log into the Government Online-Offline Shanghai platform to submit materials for port visa applications for foreign nationals invited to enter China via Shanghai.

This new regional port visa model allows for online submission by enterprises, online approval by authorities, and visa issuance upon arrival for foreign visitors, further strengthening Shanghai's role as a leading and exemplary port in the region.

Source: Exit-Entry Administration Corps of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau