
China work visa: the Shanghai process in 2026
A step-by-step 2026 guide to China's work visa process in Shanghai, from the Notification Letter and Z visa to legal work and residence.
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A step-by-step 2026 guide to China's work visa process in Shanghai, from the Notification Letter and Z visa to legal work and residence.

Who registers your Shanghai address, how to file online, what to do after moving or re-entry, and how this differs from a residence permit.

What foreigners need to open a Shanghai bank account: passport, visa, Chinese phone number, tax ID, branch choice and same-day setup checks.

Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card, understand fees and limits, and handle cash, metro, rent and failed payments in China.

Before paying for a Shanghai rental, verify the owner, agent, contract, deposit, payment route, lease filing and 24-hour registration.

Set up China travel apps before you fly: WeChat, Alipay, Amap, Trip.com, eSIM/VPN, AI translation, 12306 and Shanghai resident tools.

A practical Shanghai arrival hub for employees, students, families and short stays: what to prepare, what to do first and where each route splits.

A candid take on WAIC 2026: China’s AI exports, young founders, Shanghai’s support, bubble risks and why many service robots still make little sense.

Shanghai 2026–27 admissions timeline: international rounds, public-school dates, bilingual and national-school calendars.

A clear guide to Shanghai school eligibility for foreign, Chinese, mixed-nationality, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan families.

Published 2026–27 tuition for 25 Shanghai schools, by type — plus the deposits, capital fees, bus and extras that set the real first-year bill.

The five kinds of Shanghai school open to expat families, who each can actually enrol, the curricula and where they lead, and how to choose by fit. A 2026 map.