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

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

Southern China Office Directory

Western and Central China Office Directory

Northern China Office Directory

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.

Registration Actions and Controls

Based on what you just read:

• Ready to act? Read [guide: CG360-WORK-VISA-GUID-001]
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• 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.

Official Sources

• Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
• Labor Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China
• National Government Service Platform: employment and social-security services