Regulations on Visa / Residence Permit (RP)


Ⅰ、Applying for Visa to Enter China

Students should provide Admission Notice and JW202/JW201 Form to apply for visa X1 (with a Health Certificate issued by the hospital designated by the Embassy or Consulate for students who study more than 180 days) or visa X2 (for students who study for less than 180 days) from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the students' home country.


Ⅱ、Residence Permit(RP for study)

1. International student entering China holding visa X1 should apply for RP within 30 days from the day he/she enters into China. Before applying, the applicant needs to provide the Health Certificate issued by the ShanghaiInternational Travel Healthcare Center of Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. For details refer to below Affix 2.

2. Students with visa X2, staying less than 180 days, need not apply for RP. Yet, if the student holding visa X2 has studied in other institution for more than 1 semester and has not applied for RP, he/she must apply for RP.

3. Registration of temporary residence should be done within first 24 hours after entry. Students who live on campus should apply for Registration Form of Temporary Residence at reception of International Student Apartment. Students who live off-campus should get the registration form issued by the hotel or the police substation of the area where the lodging takes place, or fill online application to register. For details refer to below Affix 1.

4. International students entering without visa could not apply for X type visa or residence permit. Residence permit could be applied only after reentry with visa X1 or X2.

5. The Exit-Entry Administration of Shanghai Public Security Bureau handles RP and visa application.

Address: No.1500, Mingsheng Road, Pudong District, Shanghai, China.

Opening Hour: Monday to Saturday 9:00—15:00

Service hotline/ reservation: 12367 

6. Document for Applying Residence Permit (study) for the First Time:

(1)Original of valid passport

(2)Original of Admission Notice

(3)JW202/JW201 Form

(4)Health Certificate issued by the International Travel Healthcare Center of Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau , for details refer to below Affix 2

(5)The original and copy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence, for details refer to below Affix 1

(6)Application Form for International Students (issued by ISO)

(7)Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form filled up in the hall of the local exit-entry administration of public security organs

(8)Application fee of CNY400 (for residence permit within 1 year),paid when retrieving the passport

7、Document for Extending RP (study):

(1)Original Passport

(2)Application Form for RP (issued by ISO. In case of reapplication from extention of study period, the approval formalities should be accomplished beforehand.

(3)Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form completely filled up 

(4)Application fee of CNY400 (for residence permit within 1 year) is to be paid when retrieving passport

(5)Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form filled up in the hall of the local exit-entry administration of public security organs

(6)Health certificate should also be submitted in cases falling in following occasions: 1. Last resident permit has expired for 3 months; 2. the applicant was under 18 when applied for last residence permit but is now over 18


Ⅲ、Period of Validity of RP

The detailed principles of Application Form issued by ISO are as follows:

1、Scholarship students should apply for RP each year.

2、For commoners, length of RP depends on the tuition the student has paid.

3、The validity of RP should not go beyond length of study or validity of passport.


Ⅳ、Fees and time needed for RP application

1、RP application fee:

1 day ≦validity of RP ﹤1 year :CNY400

1 year ≦validity of RP :CNY800– CNY1000

2、7 working days is needed for processing RP application at Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau (for each week, there are 6 working days, i.e., from Monday to Statuary).

p.s.,for visa application at Shanghai Exit-entry Bureau, the applicant should hand in the passport and take back receipt, or not hand in the passport but agree on the pick-up time; It is recommended that applicant hand in the passpor when it is near tthe expiry date. 


Ⅴ、Registration of RP Change

1、When items of residence registration entry (name, reasons for temporary residence, passport number) or accompanying person(s) of the holder of the residence permit has/have been changed; or the residence address, school of the holder of the residence permit has/have been changed, should the holder apply for modification to the Shanghai exit-entry administration bureau within 10 days since the change(s) took place.

2、Materials to be submitted

(1)Original of valid passport

(2)The original and copy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence

(3)Application Form for International Students (issued by ISO)

(4)Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form completely filled up

Note:In case of change of study institution or from employee to student, should he/she submit the original as well as the copy of certificate of termination of study from former institution, or the certificate of resignation from former employer,  only certificates issued within 10 days will be accepted by exit-entry buro; JW202 (201) or original & copy of transfer notice issued by China Scholarship Council; admission notice. In case of change of passport information and address, new Registration Form of Temporary Residence should be prepared.


Health certificate is also necessary in the following cases: 1. Last RP has expired for over 3 months; 2. The applicant is under 18 when last RP was applied and is presently over 18 years old.


Ⅵ、Making up Passport and RP

In case passport gets lost, the student should firstly go to Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau to report the loss with proof of identity, such as copy of passport, identity certificate with photo, drivers license, etc., as well as original and copy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence, to obtain the loss-reporting certificate; Secondly, the student should report to ISO.; Thirdly, he/she should go to the embassy or the consulate of his/her own country in China to apply for a new passport. Lastly, the student should obtain application letter from ISO once new passport is available and go to Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to apply for new RP or other visa.


Ⅶ、Visa and Residence Permit for Student’s Relatives

1、Qualifications for applying Private Affairs Class Residence Permit (family members of international students)

(1)Spouse, parents, parents-in-law and child under the age of 18 of international students are applicable to Private Affairs Class Residence Permit, the term of validity of which should not exceed that of the students.

(2)Family members of international students entering with visa S1 should apply for RP within 30 days after entry into China.

(3)Family members of international students entering with visa S2 who will stay in Shanghai for over 6 months could apply for RP upon approval from Shanghai Exit-entry Administration Bureau.

(4)Family members of international students entering with visa other than S1 or S2 who will stay in Shanghai for over 6 months could apply for RP upon approval from Shanghai Exit-entry Administration Bureau.

(5)Family members of international students entering without visa can not apply for RP directly. They need exit China first and then enter China again with visa S1 or S2 so that they are applicable to RP.


2、International students should bring the following documents to Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau to apply for visa.

(1)The valid passport and RP of the international student

(2)Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form completely filled up and one recent 2-inch half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photograph

(3)The original and copy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence

(4)Application Form for International Students (issued by ISO)

(5)Original and copy of passport, residence permit of the international student

(6)Relationship certificate: Authenticated relationship certificate like marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption certificate and other relationship certificate, issued by relevant national authorities; marriage certificate, birth certificate, other relationship certificate, items modification in documents, issued by foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China. Marriage certificate, birth certificate and other relationship certificate, that are issued by foreign authorities or notary offices, should also be verified by China’s diplomatic missions in the holder’s home country or foreign diplomatic and consular missions in China. Certificate in language other than English should be translated to Chinese by qualified translation agency.


3、Qualification and application document for family members of international student to apply for visa S2:

(1)Spouse, parents, parents-in-law, child under age 18 of international students holding study PR, who will stay in Shanghai for less than 6 months, could apply for visa S2 to Shanghai Exit-entry Administration Bureau.

(2)Family members of international students entering with visa S2 could apply for extension of stay period, or apply for another visa S2 and addition of number of entries, who will stay in Shanghai for over 6 months could apply for RP upon approval from Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau. The extension period should not exceed that of the former visa S2 or the validity of RP of the international student. The total stay period will not exceed 6 months in case of extension or changing to visa S2.

(3)Family members of international students entering with other visa could apply for 3 months and one time entry visa S2 upon approval of Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau.

(4)Documents to be submitted to apply for visa S2 or extension of visa for family members of international students.

a.The valid passport and RP of the international student

b.Foreigner Visa and Residence Permit Application Form completely filled up and one recent 2-inch half-length, bareheaded and full-faced photograph

c.The original and copy of Registration Form of Temporary Residence

d.Application Form for International Students (issued by ISO)

e.Original and copy of passport, residence permit of the international student

f.Relationship certificate (same as what is required of to apply for Private Affairs Class of Residence Permit for family members of international student)


Ⅷ、Checking of Visa and RP

International students and their relatives, who are over 16-year-old, should carry about the Visa/RP for random inspection by foreign affairs police officer.


Affix 1, Foreigner online residence registration and declaration system

Website: https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/24hr/web/zcbd/login?locale=en_US

or   https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/24hr/web/zcbd/login?relogin=true

QR code:




Affix 2, Health Certificate preparation (for the purpose of RP application)


Health Certificate as issued by Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center is necessary for RP application for the first time or when the RP need be reapplied after it has expired for more than 3 months.


(1)Shanghai Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau International Travel Health Center accepts and delivers health check for international students

Address: No.15, Jinbang Rd, Changning District, Shanghai or  No.2090, Jinqiao Rd., Pudong, Shanghai

Office hour: Monday through Friday, 8:00-11:30 & 13:00-15:00

Online reservation (medical appointment): search for the WeChat public account “Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center上海国际旅行卫生保健中心” and click the “online booking在线预约” button in the menu  or use WeChat to scan the QR code below

Consulting call: 86-21-62688851

(2)materials to bring along for health check or health report verification include:

1. one copy of student identification/admission notice, or, Proof of Study offered by the university

2. passport original and copy

3. four2-inch passport sized photo

4. full sets of medical examination report(Health Certificate) to be verified if the medical examination is conducted overseas within6 months

5. health check fee of CNY500 or verification fee of CNY80-500