Visa:

Foreign investors who wish to visit China for business may approach Chinese partners directly with purpose and time of the visit. The Chinese partner can apply for visa notification on behalf of the foreign investors at a local foreign affairs organization if the visit is receptible. Once foreign investors have received the visa notification from Chinese domestic authorized organization, the foreign investors may apply for entry visa to China at a local Chinese embassy or consulate.

Apply for Employment License, Expert Certificate, Residence Certificate:

A foreign invested enterprise, which is intending to employ expatriates, may apply for "the employment license for the expatriates at the People's Republic of China" (hereinafter referred to as employment license) at the Shanghai Labour Bureau with the following documents: company business license, application report, labour management registration certificate and the expatriates' personal documents. With the employment license the enterprise may apply for profession visa notification at Shanghai Municipal Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission (SMERT), which is authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. The expatriates can apply for profession visa to entry into China at a local Chinese Embassy with the fax copy of profession visa notification and the employment license. After entering China, the expatriates can apply for employment certificate at Shanghai Labour Bureau with the following documents: profession visa, employment license, employment contract, health certificate and photos of the expatriates within 15 dates. With the employment certificate, the expatriates can apply for residence certificate at the Division of Exit and Entry Administration of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

When a foreign invested enterprise intends to hire employees from Hong Kong or Taiwan, it shall apply to the Hong Kong and Taiwan Personnel Employment Office of Shanghai Labout Bureau for employment license. On the strength of employment license, employees from Hong Kong and Taiwan can apply for residence certificate at the Division of Exit and Entry Administration of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

When a foreign invested enterprise intend to employ the expatriates with high ranking management skill and technology and having special contribution to Shanghai's economic development and city construction, it may apply for "Expatriates Expert Certificate (EEC)" at Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. Then it can go to the Division of Exit and Entry Administration of Shanghai Public Security Bureau for applying the residence certificate for the experts.

Shanghai agents, which provides service to foreign enterprises for establishing representative offices in Shanghai, can go to SMERT to apply for profession visa notification for the chief representative and representatives on behalf of the foreign enterprise. After receiving the profession visa notification, the chief representative and representatives may apply for profession visa at the local Chinese embassy or consulate for entering into China. Upon entering China, they can apply for work permit certificate at Shanghai Commercial and Industrial Administration Bureau. The representatives can then go to Shanghai Labour Bureau to apply for employment certificate with the following document: profession visa, work permit certificate, health condition certificate, photos. Then they can go to Shanghai Public Security Bureau to apply for residence certificate.