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New China Visa Policies Updated in July 2026

1.  Shanghai – Two Key Updates for PhD PR Application Materials

  1. Salary & Tax Proof

    The Employment Certificate for a PhD PR application must explicitly state the applicant’s salary details and Individual Income Tax (IIT) history for the past three years.

  2. Multi-District Work History

    If the applicant has been with their current company for less than three years at the time of submission, they need to request the records of work visas sponsored by their previous company from the Foreign Experts Bureau.

    Applicants must revisit the Foreign Experts Bureau in each specific district where their work permits were issued over the past three years to obtain separate employment certificates for each respective period.

2.  Shanghai – Spousal Reunion PR: In-Person Presence & SOE Requirements

Regarding Spousal Reunion PR, Shanghai has also introduced two major updates that you need to be aware of:

  1. Both Spouses Must Be Present In Person
For spousal reunion permanent residence applications in Shanghai, both the applicant and their spouse must attend in person on the day of official submission. This is a mandatory requirement—no exceptions.

  1. SOE / Central Enterprise Employer Notification
If the Chinese spouse is employed by a state-owned enterprise (SOE) or a central enterprise, their employer is required to issue an official Acknowledgement Letter (Letter of Informed Consent) regarding the PR application.

3.  Beijing – PhD PR Applications Temporarily Suspended

The PhD permanent residence application policy is currently undergoing adjustments, and submissions are temporarily halted. The latest policy updates will be released soon.

4.   Beijing – Work Visa Policy for Recent Graduates

Fresh graduates (within 1 year of graduation) with a bachelor’s degree are exempt from work experience requirements and can directly apply for a 2-year Class B work visa.

5.  Tianjin – 1-Year Work Rule for PhDs of Chinese Origin & Mandatory Interview

Foreign nationals of Chinese origin holding a PhD who have worked in Tianjin for at least one year are eligible to apply for permanent residence.

Their immediate family members can apply concurrently. However, prior to submission, applicants must schedule a mandatory interview with the Exit-Entry Administration in the district where their company is located. The official application process can only be initiated after compliance with all requirements is verified during the interview.

6.   Hangzhou –  2 Updates on Document Requirements for Work Visa

1) The applicant’s work experience timeline must not conflict or overlap with their study history.

2) If the company already has multiple foreign employees applying for visas, they must provide supplementary details regarding company operations. This includes a detailed explanatory statement outlining the specific roles of Chinese and foreign staff, customer traffic, and a clear justification for why additional foreign talent is required.

7.  Child Reunion PR: Strict 180-Day Annual Residency Requirement

Regarding Child-Parent Reunion Permanent Residence, a strict and explicit residency metric has been established: accompanying dependent children applying under this category must physically reside in China for at least 180 days per year.

8.  China Business Visa in Japan: Mandatory Local Sponsorship for Non-Japanese Citizens

If a non-Japanese national applies for a Chinese business visa in Japan, a local Japanese company must provide a compliance guarantee. Typically, for foreign residents holding a Japanese residence permit, this guarantee letter should be issued by the specific Japanese company that sponsored their residency status.

9.  Malaysia Update: First-Time China Visa Requirement

First-time applicants for a Chinese visa in Malaysia are required to provide their birth certificate.

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