China Visa Office Contact List by City for Foreign Employers
Foreign employers navigating China’s work visa system must interact with multiple government offices across three distinct stages: the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) for work permits, Chinese embassies or consulates for Z-visas, and local Exit-Entry Administration Bureaus (PSB) for residence permits. With over 120 government service centres handling foreign work permits across China’s major cities, and processing times varying by as much as 20 working days between jurisdictions, knowing which office to contact — and its specific requirements — can reduce your application timeline by 30% or more. Remote China market entry support from professional agencies can help coordinate multi-city filings when your company has offices in multiple jurisdictions.
Visa Office Directory: Quick Reference Table
| # | City | SAFEA Office | Exit-Entry Bureau | Visa Centre | Processing Speed | Digital Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | Beijing SAFEA Service Centre | Beijing PSB Exit-Entry Hall | CVASC Beijing | 10–15 working days | Yes |
| 2 | Shanghai | Shanghai SAFEA Window | Shanghai Exit-Entry Bureau | CVASC Shanghai | 12–18 working days | Yes (full) |
| 3 | Guangzhou | Guangdong SAFEA Office | Guangzhou PSB Centre | CVASC Guangzhou | 15–20 working days | Partial |
| 4 | Shenzhen | Shenzhen SAFEA Window | Shenzhen Exit-Entry Bureau | CVASC Shenzhen | 12–18 working days | Yes |
| 5 | Chengdu | Sichuan SAFEA Office | Chengdu PSB Hall | CVASC Chengdu | 15–20 working days | Partial |
| 6 | Hangzhou | Zhejiang SAFEA Service Centre | Hangzhou Exit-Entry Centre | CVASC Hangzhou | 12–18 working days | Yes |
| 7 | Nanjing | Jiangsu SAFEA Office | Nanjing PSB Centre | CVASC Nanjing | 15–20 working days | Partial |
| 8 | Suzhou | Suzhou Industrial Park SAFEA | Suzhou Exit-Entry Bureau | CVASC Suzhou | 15–20 working days | Partial |
| 9 | Tianjin | Tianjin SAFEA Centre | Tianjin PSB Hall | CVASC Tianjin | 15–20 working days | Yes |
| 10 | Wuhan | Hubei SAFEA Office | Wuhan Exit-Entry Bureau | CVASC Wuhan | 18–25 working days | Partial |
| 11 | Chongqing | Chongqing SAFEA Window | Chongqing PSB Centre | CVASC Chongqing | 18–25 working days | Partial |
| 12 | Xi’an | Shaanxi SAFEA Office | Xi’an Exit-Entry Bureau | CVASC Xi’an | 18–25 working days | No |
| 13 | Qingdao | Shandong SAFEA Centre | Qingdao PSB Hall | CVASC Qingdao | 15–20 working days | Partial |
| 14 | Dalian | Liaoning SAFEA Office | Dalian Exit-Entry Bureau | CVASC Dalian | 18–25 working days | No |
| 15 | Kunming | Yunnan SAFEA Office | Kunming PSB Centre | CVASC Kunming | 18–25 working days | No |
Office Type Overview: Who to Contact at Each Stage
Understanding the distinct roles of each government office is essential for efficient application processing. Foreign employers often waste time contacting the wrong office, particularly when documents need to be submitted to different bureaus at different stages.
SAFEA Service Centres (Work Permit Stage)
The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) manages the Foreigner’s Work Permit system through local service centres in each province and major city. These centres handle the initial Work Permit Notice application and subsequent issuance of the physical Work Permit card. Most SAFEA offices now operate through integrated government service halls where multiple agencies share counter space.
Beijing SAFEA Service Centre: Located at the Beijing Government Services Centre, Haidian District. Open Monday–Friday, 9:00–12:00 and 13:30–17:00. Digital submissions accepted through the SAFEA online portal. Tel: +86-10-8915-0392. English support is limited — bring a Chinese-speaking representative or use your agency’s representative.
Shanghai SAFEA Window: Situated within the Shanghai HR and Social Security Bureau building at 865 Shibo Avenue, Pudong. Open Monday–Friday, 9:00–11:30 and 13:00–16:30. Shanghai operates the most advanced digital submission system, allowing most Category B applications to be filed entirely online. Tel: +86-21-2311-0276. Limited walk-in hours — appointments recommended.
Guangdong SAFEA Office (Guangzhou): Located at the Guangdong Provincial Government Services Data Bureau, 2/F, 79 Tiyu West Road, Tianhe District. Open Monday–Friday, 8:30–12:00 and 14:00–17:30. Guangzhou requires a city-specific Foreign Employee Registration Form in addition to the standard documents. Tel: +86-20-3892-0808.
Shenzhen SAFEA Window: Situated in the Shenzhen Civic Centre, Futian District. Open Monday–Friday, 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:45. Shenzhen operates a green channel for Qianhai Cooperation Zone enterprises, reducing processing time by approximately 40%. Tel: +86-755-8812-5879.
Chengdu (Sichuan SAFEA Office): Located at the Sichuan Provincial Government Services Centre, 2/F, 5 Shuncheng Avenue, Qingyang District. Open Monday–Friday, 9:00–12:00 and 13:00–17:00. Accepts electronic signatures on employment contracts. Tel: +86-28-8613-5047.
Chinese Visa Application Service Centres (Z-Visa Stage)
The Z-visa is applied for at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in the employee’s home country. These centres are managed by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs through authorised third-party operators. Each CVASC serves a specific consular district — the employee must apply at the CVASC covering their place of legal residence, not their nationality jurisdiction.
CVASC London: 15 Wharfside Court, 1 Upper Ground, London SE1 9QX. Tel: +44-20-7786-8091. Processing time: 4 working days (standard), 3 days (express, 50% surcharge), 2 days (rush, 100% surcharge). Appointment booking required — typical wait time 7–14 days.
CVASC New York: 5th Floor, 520 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036. Tel: +1-212-868-2078. Processing time: 4 working days standard. Appointment wait time approximately 10–21 days. Special rules apply for US passport holders — the New York centre handles applicants from the Northeastern US consular district.
CVASC Singapore: 80 Robinson Road, #16-01/02, Singapore 068898. Tel: +65-6717-2888. Processing time: 4 working days standard. Singapore-based applicants benefit from the closest consular relationship with China, with some categories eligible for express processing.
CVASC Tokyo: 7F, Shinjuku Mitsui Building, 1-1, Nishi-Shinjuku 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0407. Tel: +81-3-6435-8411. Processing time: 4–5 working days. Japan has a simplified visa arrangement for certain categories of foreign workers under bilateral agreements.
CVASC Frankfurt: Goethestrasse 21, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Tel: +49-69-2045-6880. Processing time: 4 working days standard. Serves the EU’s largest economy. Schengen area residents must apply through the CVASC covering their country of legal residence.
Exit-Entry Administration Bureaus (Residence Permit Stage)
The Public Security Bureau (PSB) Exit-Entry Administration handles residence permit applications and renewals. Each city’s bureau operates independently, with different document requirements, processing times, and service levels. The employee must apply at the PSB office covering their registered residential address in China — usually the district-level bureau, not the city-level headquarters.
Beijing PSB Exit-Entry Hall: 2 Andingmen East Street, Dongcheng District. Open Monday–Saturday, 9:00–17:00. Processing time for residence permits: 10–15 working days. Appointment booking required via the Beijing PSB WeChat mini-program. Tel: +86-10-8402-0100.
Shanghai Exit-Entry Bureau: 1500 Minsheng Road, Pudong New Area. Open Monday–Saturday, 9:00–17:00. Processing time: 7–12 working days — the fastest among major cities. Online appointment booking through the “Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration” WeChat account. Tel: +86-21-6854-1199.
Guangzhou PSB Exit-Entry Centre: 155 Guangzhou Avenue, Tianhe District. Open Monday–Friday, 8:30–17:00, Saturday 9:00–12:00. Processing time: 10–15 working days. Guangzhou requires an additional “Foreign Employee Registration Form” not needed elsewhere. Tel: +86-20-8311-5708.
Shenzhen Exit-Entry Bureau: 4018 Jiefang Road, Luohu District. Open Monday–Friday, 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–18:00. Processing time: 7–10 working days. Shenzhen operates a dedicated foreign talent service window with English support available. Tel: +86-755-8446-5440.
Hangzhou Exit-Entry Centre: 85 Huajian Road, Xiacheng District. Open Monday–Friday, 8:30–12:00 and 14:00–17:00. Processing time: 10–15 working days. Hangzhou’s digital system accepts most applications online with only a brief in-person verification required. Tel: +86-571-8728-0303.
Contact Information Organisation by Region
Eastern China Office Directory
| City | SAFEA Office Address | PSB Exit-Entry Address | SAFEA Phone | PSB Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | 865 Shibo Ave, Pudong | 1500 Minsheng Rd, Pudong | +86-21-2311-0276 | +86-21-6854-1199 |
| Hangzhou | 799 Xueyuan Rd, Xihu District | 85 Huajian Rd, Xiacheng District | +86-571-8839-8687 | +86-571-8728-0303 |
| Nanjing | 100 Jiangdong Rd, Jianye District | 198 Bailongjiang St, Jianye District | +86-25-8369-2732 | +86-25-8442-0008 |
| Suzhou | 2 Suhua Rd, Suzhou Industrial Park | 8 Yinhe St, Suzhou Industrial Park | +86-512-6288-0909 | +86-512-6511-2771 |
| Ningbo | 118 Ningchuan Rd, Yinzhou District | 700 Zhongshan Rd W, Haishu District | +86-574-8386-7120 | +86-574-8775-8220 |
Southern China Office Directory
| City | SAFEA Office Address | PSB Exit-Entry Address | SAFEA Phone | PSB Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | 79 Tiyu W Rd, Tianhe District | 155 Guangzhou Ave, Tianhe District | +86-20-3892-0808 | +86-20-8311-5708 |
| Shenzhen | Shenzhen Civic Centre, Futian | 4018 Jiefang Rd, Luohu District | +86-755-8812-5879 | +86-755-8446-5440 |
| Foshan | 94 Dongfeng Rd S, Chancheng District | 480 Jihua Rd W, Chancheng District | +86-757-8338-9533 | +86-757-8338-7748 |
| Dongguan | 28 Hongfu Rd, Nancheng District | 33 Dongcheng Rd, Dongcheng District | +86-769-2283-6228 | +86-769-2248-0091 |
| Zhuhai | 99 Renmin Rd E, Xiangzhou District | 288 Yinshan Rd, Xiangzhou District | +86-756-2128-815 | +86-756-8640-505 |
Western and Central China Office Directory
| City | SAFEA Office Address | PSB Exit-Entry Address | SAFEA Phone | PSB Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu | 5 Shuncheng Ave, Qingyang District | 66 Shuangqing Rd S, Qingyang District | +86-28-8613-5047 | +86-28-8640-7055 |
| Chongqing | 99 Xindong Rd, Yuzhong District | 232 Qianxing Rd, Jiangbei District | +86-23-8686-8205 | +86-23-6396-1917 |
| Xi’an | 1 Fenghui Rd, Gaoxin District | 136 Youyi Rd W, Beilin District | +86-29-8729-4221 | +86-29-8727-8278 |
| Wuhan | 138 Donghu Rd, Wuchang District | 180 Linshan Ave, Jiang’an District | +86-27-8723-1227 | +86-27-8539-5421 |
| Kunming | 105 Dongfeng Rd E, Panlong District | 28 Jixiang Alley, Wuhua District | +86-871-6363-1129 | +86-871-6515-5748 |
Northern China Office Directory
| City | SAFEA Office Address | PSB Exit-Entry Address | SAFEA Phone | PSB Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 1F Government Services, Haidian | 2 Andingmen E St, Dongcheng | +86-10-8915-0392 | +86-10-8402-0100 |
| Tianjin | 88 Anshan Ave, Nankai District | 23 Xin’guang Rd, Hedong District | +86-22-8360-5286 | +86-22-2445-8825 |
| Qingdao | 17 Donghai W Rd, Shinan District | 37 Hubei Rd, Shinan District | +86-532-8591-2683 | +86-532-6658-7200 |
| Dalian | 219 Huanghe Rd, Shahekou District | 100 Wuyi Rd, Xigang District | +86-411-8454-9170 | +86-411-8430-0078 |
| Shenyang | 19 Beiling Rd, Huanggu District | 10-2 Qingyun Rd, Heping District | +86-24-8689-3208 | +86-24-2311-8025 |
Digital Portals and Online Service Platforms
China’s government digital transformation programme has brought significant improvements to visa-related online services, though adoption varies by city. Understanding which services are available online in your target city can save multiple in-person visits.
- SAFEA Online Portal (National): http://fwp.safea.gov.cn — The primary online platform for Work Permit Notice applications. All Category B and Category A applications can be initiated online. The system supports document upload, status tracking, and electronic approval notices for most cities.
- National Immigration Administration e-Portal: https://nia.gov.cn — Handles residence permit extensions, visa status inquiries, and appointment booking. Available in Chinese only.
- Shanghai “One-Stop Service” Platform: https://hrsa.sh.gov.cn — The most advanced city-level portal, supporting full digital submission for work permits, residence permits, and document uploads. No in-person visit required for most Category B applications.
- Guangdong Province i-Portal: https://www.gdzwfw.gov.cn — Supports work permit applications across Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan). Partial digital submission — some documents still require in-person verification.
- Beijing Government Services Portal: https://banshi.beijing.gov.cn — Online appointment booking and document pre-submission. Genshen consultation (in-person document review) is still required for first-time applications.
Best Practices for Engaging with Chinese Visa Offices
Navigating China’s government office network requires preparation and cultural awareness. These practices will help ensure smooth interactions and avoid common delays:
- Always book appointments in advance — Most visa-related government offices now operate on an appointment-only basis. Walk-in slots are limited and may result in waiting 2–4 hours or being turned away entirely. Book through the office’s WeChat mini-program or official website 7–14 days in advance.
- Bring a Chinese-speaking representative — English support is inconsistent across offices. Major cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen) have dedicated foreign service windows with English-speaking staff; second- and third-tier cities generally do not. Even when English support is advertised, bring a Chinese-speaking colleague for complex discussions.
- Prepare three complete sets of documents — Most offices require one original set for filing, one for their internal review, and one for your records after stamping. Offices rarely offer photocopying services on-site.
- Verify office hours before visiting — Government office hours vary significantly between cities and may change during national holidays and the Chinese New Year period (typically 2–3 weeks in January/February). Check the office’s official WeChat account for holiday schedule announcements.
- Use the digital portal first, visit as a last resort — Whenever possible, submit documents through the online portal before visiting in person. Digital pre-submission reduces in-person waiting time by an average of 60 minutes and allows office staff to pre-review your documents.
- Maintain a relationship with your district-level PSB office — Residence permits are typically handled at the district level, and maintaining a positive relationship with your local PSB staff can expedite renewal applications and document queries.
Where to Go From Here
Based on what you just read:
- Ready to act? Read [guide: CG360-WORK-VISA-GUID-001]
- Still comparing? See [comparison: CG360-WORK-VISA-RESO-049]
- Need numbers? Try [tool: CG360-WORK-VISA-TOOL-054]
China Visa Office Contact List by City for Foreign Employers — first published on China Gateway 360. Last updated: July 2026.
