Why Shanghai

About Visa

Visa Type Visa Description Processing Day
z 1Year with Multi-Entry Residence Permit 30
L1 1 Month extension Visa 8
F3/0 3 Month with 0 Entry F Visa 10
F3/1 3 Month with 1 Entry F Visa 10
F6/0 6 Month with 0 Entry F Visa 10
F6/1 6 Month with 1 Entry F Visa 10
F6/2 6 Month with 2 Entry F Visa 10
F6/M 6 Month with Multi-Entry F Visa 10
F12/M 12 Month with Multi-Entry F Visa 10-14

Visa Information

Renewal of L (Tourist) Visa:

Tourism Visa (L): Issued to those who enter China temporarily for leisure, family visiting or other personal affairs (multiple-entry is not granted for this category with an options of up to two entries).
L visa in China
If you enter into China on a tourist “L” visa with intent to stay beyond the validity period specified on the current visa, JDL can assist you to extend your current “L” visa. You can re-apply for a one month zero-entry or single-entry L visa for a maximum of two times per entry into China.
Documents required:

  1. Passport with valid L visa
  2. One 2-inch passport photo
  3. Registration Form of Temporary Residence (from police station or hotel)

Processing time: 5 business days provided all materials for application are complete.
Renewal of F (Business) Visa:
Visit / Business Visa (F): Issued to foreigners who are invited to China for visit, research, lecture, business, scientific-technological and cultural exchanges or short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of less than six months.

F visa in China
If you enter into China on a tourist “L” or “F” visa with intention to stay beyond the validity period specified on the current visa, JDL can assist you to extend your current “F” visa or perform a conversion from “L” visa to “F” visa. You can re-apply for single-entry or multiple-entry F visa for a maximum of one year period.
Please note that the validity period of the F visa shall not exceed one year from your last entry into China.

Documents required:

  1. Passport with valid visa (either F, L, or Z)
  2. Two 2-inch passport photos

Processing time: 10 business days
Expedited Service: 5 business days

Renewal of Z (Working) Visa/Residence Permit

  1. One 2 1/2 inches photograph
  2. Your passport with valid visa
  3. Resident permit within valid date
  4. Foreigner Employment Certificate with annual inspection
  5. <Application form for Resident Permit/Foreigner Visa> completely fill
  6. Copy of Health Certificate issued or authenticated by the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Administration (Should be from the city that your employer is located)
  7. Official application letter with red seal from your employer company
  8. Copy of the Business License and Organization Code License of the company,if your company is foreign enterprise, please also provide <Certificate of Approval for Foreign Enterprise>

Processing time: 5 business days provided all materials for application are complete.

Residence Permit for Family Members

  1. One 2 1/2 inches photograph
  2. Passport with valid visa
  3. Related documents to show the relation of Family members
  4. Foreigner Employment Certificate with annual inspection
  5. <Application form for Resident Permit/Foreigner Visa> completely fill
  6. Copy of Health Certificate issued or authenticated by the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Administration (Should be from the city that your employer is located)
  7. Official application letter with red seal from employer company
  8. Original and copies of the Business License and Organization Code License of the company,if your company is foreign enterprise, please also provide <Certificate of Approval for Foreign Enterprise>
  9. The foreign employee original passport and resident permit

   Processing time: 5 business days provided all materials for application are complete.

Working Visa (Z): Issued to foreigners who are to take up a post or employment in China

Z(working) Visa/Residence Permit (i.e. 1 year from date of application)

First step: Application for Foreigner Employment Permit

  1. Your Passport and valid visa
  2. Application form for <Foreigner Employment Permit> two copies
  3. Copy of Health Certificate issued or authenticated by the Exit-Entry inspection and Quarantine Administration
  4. Three copies of 2 inches photo with clear visibility
  5. Copy of the labor contract
  6. Relevant qualification and certificates of the incubent
  7. Resume of the incumbent
  8. Copy of the Business License and organization Code License of the company, if your company is foreign enterprise, please also provide <Certificate of Approval for Foreign Enterprise>

Processing Time: 5 working days

Second Step: Application for Foreigner Employment Certificate

Upon receipt of your Foreigner Employment Permit, you will need to apply for the Foreigner Employment Certificate with the following:

  1. Your Passport and valid visa
  2. Application form for <Foreigner Employment Certificate> two copies
  3. Original copy of the <Foreigner Employment Permit>
  4. Copy of Health Certificate issued or authenticated by the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Administration
  5. Three copies of 2 inches photo with clear visibility
  6. Copy of the labor contract

Processing Time: 5 working days

Third Step: Return to Home Country for first “Z” visa

Upon receipt of your Foreigner Employment Permit, you need to return to your home country immediately and get your first Z visa processed at the local Chinese Embassy. The documents required are:

  1. Official visa application letter issued by the employer/Government
  2. Foreigner Employment Certificate

Your home country China Embassy will then issue you with a 30 or 60 days Z visa for you to return back to China to process your resident permit and extend your official Z visa

Fourth Step: Application for Z visa and Resident Permit

Once you are back in China, you will need to process the Z visa and Resident permit within 30 days of your entry. You can process your family members Z visa and Resident Permit at the same time together with your own application. Please provide the following documents:

  1. One 2 1/2 inches photograph
  2. <Application form for Resident Permit/Foreigner Visa> completely fill
  3. Passport with valid Z visa issued by your country Embassy
  4. Copy of Health Certificate issued or authenticated by the Exit-Entry Inspection and Quarantine Administration (Should be from the city that your employer is located)
  5. Official application letter with red seal from your employer company
  6. Foreigner Employment Certificate
  7. Copy of the Business License and Organization Code License of the company,if your company is foreign enterprise, please also provide <Certificate of Approval for Foreign Enterprise>

Processing time: 5 working days
Z visa and Resident permit are available for 2, 3, 4, 5 years, please contact our consultant for more details on the condition of above 1 year application.
In general, the entire process takes about one month for complete processing.