Shanghai has introduced new exit-entry service measures to boost the city's global accessibility by improving policies and services, local authorities announced on Thursday. The reforms include a simplified port visa process for certain foreign professionals, a new visa service center, and enhanced cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta.
Huang Yichen, an officer with the exit-entry administration of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, explained that the reforms allow foreign professionals in Shanghai to facilitate entry for business partners and research colleagues via a streamlined port visa system. The process eliminates corporate documentation requirements and is handled entirely online.
A newly established port visa center at the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone offers 24-hour service through standardized windows. It provides expedited visa processing and settlement guidance for foreign visitors involved in business negotiations, contract signings, and travel.
Shanghai has also launched a cross-regional port visa transfer platform serving the Yangtze River Delta, enabling businesses in the region to apply for visas for foreign visitors entering via Shanghai.
These measures follow Shanghai's record 2025 arrivals, with temporary accommodation registrations for foreigners reaching nearly 7.14 million, a 49.6% increase from the previous year. Song Weiqi, deputy director of the city's exit-entry administration, noted that Shanghai leads the nation in the permanent residence ID card program, issuing over 10,000 since December 2023. Foreign visa and permit issuances exceeded 200,000 for the second consecutive year, with long-term residence permits rising 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. An integrated service package now includes 19 high-frequency police services across four departments, streamlining procedures for foreign professionals.
For Chinese citizens, exit-entry document processing in Shanghai surpassed 5.3 million in 2025, marking the third consecutive year above 5 million, Song said. Digital service usage has risen, with 62,000 residents renewing passports online.
The electronic port visa program, expanded citywide after a Pudong pilot, has quadrupled average monthly issuance year-on-year, with nearly 90% of applications business-related. Authorities have installed 24-hour automated endorsement machines for travel permits to and from Hong Kong and Macao in key business districts, serving over 50,000 people during nonworking hours. A round-the-clock service team provides expedited processing and overseas safety consultations for key enterprises expanding abroad.
In 2026, Shanghai plans to extend talent endorsement eligibility for Hong Kong and Macao visits to financial and shipping professionals, expand expedited services citywide for residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, extend evening service hours at district offices on designated dates, and launch a 24/7 hotline, 12367, for online document processing.
