Shanghai rolled out new exit-entry procedures to further enhance the city’s global accessibility. The reforms include a simplified port visa application process for certain foreign professionals, a new visa service center, and enhanced regional cooperation within the Yangtze River Delta, said Huang Yichen, an officer with the Exit-entry Administration of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau. In line with the new framework, foreign professionals based in Shanghai can facilitate entry for business partners and research colleagues through a streamlined port visa system. The process removes corporate documentation and is handled entirely online. A newly established port visa center at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone provides 24-hour service through standardized service windows. It offers expedited visa processing for foreign visitors engaged in business negotiations, contract signings and travel. Shanghai has also launched a cross-regional port visa transfer platform serving the Yangtze River Delta, allowing businesses across the region to apply for visas for foreign visitors entering through Shanghai.
The measures come as Shanghai reported record arrival figures for 2025. According to Song Weiqi, Deputy Director of the city’s Exit-entry Administration, temporary accommodation registrations for foreigners reached nearly 7.14 million, up 49.6% from the previous year. Shanghai leads the country in the implementation of the permanent residence ID card program, with more than 10,000 cards issued since December 2023. Issuance of foreign visas and permits exceeded 200,000 for the second consecutive year, while the number of long-term residence permits rose by 10 percentage points.
“This trend reflects growing international interest in establishing a long-term presence in Shanghai,” Song said. The city has expanded its talent service infrastructure with three new district-level overseas talent platforms in Huangpu, Jing’an and Qingpu districts, adding to two existing city-level centers, the China Daily reports.
