Get Your Visa Extension Done As Soon As Possible

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]oreigners in Shanghai who could not apply for a visa and residence permit extension before their documents expire because of lockdowns will enjoy a measure of understanding from exit-entry authorities, but not unconditionally.

 
The authorities advised on Friday that people with expired documents should apply for an extension as soon as possible once they can travel to application centers.

“It happened back in 2020 when some people applied for an extension several months after we fully restored the service, citing pandemic reasons, and in such cases, it was difficult for us to exempt them from punishment,” an official of the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau said.

We advise foreigners in China to extend their visa seven days before its expiry and to extend their residence permit 30 days before the expiry date if they need an extension.

As long as they successfully extend the documents before their expiry, they will be exempt from punishments for overstaying.

Under special circumstances, authorities will take into consideration applicants who apply after their documents have expired.