Q: Do the counters in Shenzhen Civic Center handle applications for residence permits for foreigners to work in Shenzhen?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I apply for the registration of a foreign baby born in China online?

A: Yes. You may submit an application on the website of the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

Q: I am a foreigner. Where can I go if my permanent resident ID card is about to expire, is damaged or lost, or if I want to renew some of the information on it?

A: For permanent resident ID card extension, re-issuance, or renewal, please submit an application to the local Public Security Bureau Exit and Entry Administration Office. For more details, please refer to the website of the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

Q: If a foreigner visiting China for travel purposes lives in a serviced apartment (which is different from a hotel and whose guest registration system is not connected with the public security system), does he/she need to go to the public security bureau for residence registration within 24 hours of arrival?

A: Yes, he/she should go to a nearby police station for residence registration.

Q: Our company plans to hire a Singaporean who does not need a visa for entry to China. Can he/she apply for a residence permit in Shenzhen?

A: If he/she wants to work in Shenzhen, he/she will first need to apply for a Z visa through a Chinese consulate. If he/she holds a visa of another type, he/she will not be able to apply for a residence permit for working purposes.

Q: Our company has a foreign employee whose children have long been studying in Shenzhen. One of his/her children will be 18 years old this year, and according to relevant regulations, the child will need a new residence permit that is not affiliated with that of his/her parent. What type of residence permit does he/she need?

A: If the child will continue to study in Shenzhen, he/she is advised to apply for a residence permit for study purposes. For more details, please refer to the website of the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.

Q: Our company has a foreign employee. His/her visa will expire on a Sunday, but public service offices don’t provide service on Sundays. Can he/she renew his/her visa on Saturday?

A: We currently do not provide service on Saturdays and Sundays. He/she must renew his/her visa on the last working day prior to visa expiration date. Otherwise he/she will overstay his/her visa and will be responsible for the consequences.

Q: Our company has hired a foreign employee. What procedures does he/she need to take in order to work in China, and how much will it cost?

A: To work in Shenzhen, a foreigner will need to apply for a residence permit. For the materials needed, please refer to the website of the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality. Fees for residence permits are 400 yuan for less than one year, 800 yuan for between one and three years, and 1,000 yuan for between three and five years.

Q: My husband is of American nationality and he wants to live in Shenzhen with no plan to go back. What document does he need?

A: If your husband does not work in Shenzhen, he is advised to apply for a residence permit for family reunion purposes. Please refer to the website of the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality for requirements.

Q: The child of my foreign friend currently lives with her mother in Shenzhen. That child’s visa is about to expire, and she wants to continue living in Shenzhen with her mother. What type of document should she apply for?

A: If the immediate family members of a foreigner working in Shenzhen come to the city for a short-time family reunion, they may apply for an S2 visa. If the spouse or children (under 18 years of age) of a foreigner working in Shenzhen want to stay in Shenzhen, they may apply for a residence permit for personal affairs by affiliating with the foreigner. For more details, please refer to the website of the Public Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality.