为进一步便利外籍商务人士来沪开展商务活动，拟对符合条件的外籍商务人士提供专项签证便利措施，具体如下。

一、服务对象

本通告所指的外籍商务人士主要指“需经常来华从事商务活动、对上海对外经贸合作发挥积极作用的人员及其配偶和子女”。邀请单位包括国有、民营、外资企业等各类市场主体。

二、政策措施

符合条件的外籍商务人士凭市政府外办签发的《专项签证邀请函》向中国驻外使领馆申请五年多次、停留期为180日的M字或相应类别签证。申请人可免予采集指纹并可委托他人办理签证，且只收取一年多次签费用。

三、申办流程

1.由邀请单位（企业）为符合条件的外籍商务人员申请《专项签证邀请函》。

2.符合条件的邀请单位（企业）向所在地区或相关部门提出书面申请，各地区或相关部门对提出申请的邀请单位（企业）相关资质进行审核后，向符合条件的邀请单位（企业）发放“注册验证码”。

3.已授予资质的邀请单位（企业）凭“注册验证码”在市政府外办官网（https://wsb.sh.gov.cn）“来华邀请”的“邀请函办理”模块进行单位注册。注册成功的邀请单位（企业），可在线为其邀请的外籍商务人士填报申请信息。市政府外办为经审核后的外籍商务人士及其配偶和子女签发《专项签证邀请函》。

4.外籍商务人士可在3个月内持《专项签证邀请函》在其申请办理签证地的中国驻外使领馆申办签证。

四、注意事项

1.邀请单位（企业）只能为本单位邀请的来华从事商务活动的相关人员申请签证，不得擅自扩大范围，不得为非商务目的来华人员申请。

2.获得此项签证便利的外籍商务人员，来华后如有涉“三非”或其他违法犯罪情形的，市政府外办将依法依规取消相关企业的申请资质。

五、其他

1.对符合条件的外籍商务人员，市政府外办在邀请单位（企业）按要求提交申请后的一周内审发“专项签证邀请函”。

2.办理《专项签证邀请函》，不收取任何费用。

各单位联系人

In order to further facilitate foreign business people in coming to Shanghai for business activities, the following special visa facilitation measures will be taken for eligible foreign business people.

I. Who can benefit

The foreign business people in this Notice primarily refer to “foreign nationals who need to frequently come to China for business activities and have made positive contributions to Shanghai's international business and trade cooperation, as well as their spouses and children”. Inviting organizations include state-owned, private and foreign-invested enterprises.

II. What is it about

Eligible foreign business people may apply to the Chinese embassy or a consulate in their home country for a five-year multiple-entry M visa or an equivalent category visa with a 180-day stay, upon receiving a Special Visa Invitation Letter issued by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. Applicants may be exempted from fingerprint collection and may entrust others to apply for the visa, and will only be charged the fee for a one-year multiple-entry visa.

III. How to make application

1.Application for Special Visa Invitation Letter

The application for Special Visa Invitation Letter for eligible foreign business people shall be made by the inviting organization.

2.Qualification of Inviting Organizations

Eligible inviting organizations shall submit a written application to their local authorities or competent departments to be qualified. After reviewing their qualifications, the local authorities or competent departments will issue a “registration code” to the qualified organizations.

3.Online Registration and Provision of Visa Application Information

The qualified inviting organizations shall use the “registration code” to register in the “Invitation Letter Handling” function of the "Invitation to China" module on the official website of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (https://wsb.sh.gov.cn). After successful registration, the inviting organizations can fill in the visa application information online for the foreign business person(s) they invite. After review, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office will issue a Special Visa Invitation Letter for the foreign business people as well as their spouses and children.

4.Visa Application by Foreign Business People

Foreign business people may apply for a visa at the Chinese embassy or a consulate in their location with the Special Visa Invitation Letter within 3 months.

IV. Things to Note

1.An inviting organization shall only file visa application for those it invites to China for business activities, and shall not arbitrarily expand the scope or apply for those coming to China for non-business purposes.

2.If a foreign business person benefiting from this visa facilitation engages in “three illegals” or other illegal and criminal activities in China, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office shall revoke the application qualifications of relevant enterprises in accordance with the law.

V. Others

1.A Special Visa Invitation Letter shall be issued by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office for eligible foreign business people within one week after the inviting organization submits the application as required.

2.No fee is charged for the processing of the Special Visa Invitation Letter.

Translator’s note:

The term “three illegals” refers to illegal entry, illegal stay, or illegal employment by foreign nationals in China.