Reviewed by Scott, Scott Info Consulting · 1 November 2026
Open a company and get a work visa in Shanghai
Opening a company in Shanghai with your own work and residence permit costs $2,400 (about RMB 15,800) for the first year with our package. This includes both addresses you need and one year of bookkeeping. It takes about 6–9 weeks inside China, or 10–12 weeks from abroad; your original passport is needed to register.
What your money pays for
Your Shanghai first-year package is $2,400 (about RMB 15,800). It covers company registration as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), both addresses you need, a company bank account, tax registration, your work and residence permits, and one year of bookkeeping. A few costs are billed separately, listed below.
In our fees
- Registered address, 3 yearsa virtual address for the company
- Company registration, business licence and 3 company stampsoriginal passport required
- Company bank accountincluding the address check
- Tax registration
- Address for visa registration, 1 yeara real place for the official check and photos
- Work permit system registrationin-person check, or we go for you for $60
- Work permit
- Residence permitwith on-site support
- First year of bookkeeping and tax filingsmall-scale taxpayer
Budget separately
- Medical check
- Document notarisationas needed
- Document translationas needed
- International courieras needed
- Government residence permit feeabout RMB 400–800 (about $60–$120)
How the weeks add up
Inside China, the whole process takes about 6–9 weeks. From abroad, it takes about 10–12 weeks, including roughly two weeks for the Z visa. Once the company is registered, the bank account and the work-permit system registration run at the same time. The work permit takes 2 to 4 weeks, and the residence permit 1 to 1.5 weeks.
| Step | Inside China | From abroad | You need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Register the company (WFOE) | About 2 weeks | About 2 weeks | Original passport |
| Bank account | 1–2 weeks | 1–2 weeks (on your behalf) | Original passport |
| Work permit | 2–4 weeks (after 1–2 weeks system registration) | Work permit notice, then Z visa | A degree, or a no-degree route (salary or investor) |
| Residence permit | 1–1.5 weeks | After arrival in China | Work permit; government fee paid separately |
Inside China: about 6 to 9 weeks. Once the company is registered, the bank account and the work permit system registration run at the same time. The work permit takes 2 to 4 weeks and the residence permit 1 to 1.5 weeks. Lighter bars show how long a step can take.
From abroad: about 10 to 12 weeks, including about two weeks for the Z visa. Visa times vary a lot between Chinese consulates. Lighter bars show how long a step can take.
Your route, step by step
Prepare your documents
- TimeDepends on your documents
- You needOriginal passport
Translation and notarisation fees are paid separately.
Do I need to be in China to register a company in Shanghai?
No, but your original passport must be checked. Shanghai does not accept a notarised copy alone. If you are abroad, you courier your original passport to our office, we have it verified and send it back. If your passport has never been used to enter China (no Chinese entry stamp), you also need a notarised copy of the passport, in original.
Register the company
- TimeAbout 2 weeks
- AddressIncluded for 3 years
We register your company as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) with the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation. Your package includes a virtual registered address in a business park for 3 years. If you have your own office room, use it and we take the address off your package.
How much does it cost to open a company in Shanghai?
With your own work and residence permit, our package is $2,400 (about RMB 15,800) for the first year, including the registered address for 3 years, the address for your visa registration, a company bank account, tax registration and one year of bookkeeping for a small-scale taxpayer. The company alone is about $1,000 (about RMB 6,300). Not included: medical check, document notarisation, translation, international courier and the government residence permit fee.
Do I need an office, or can I use a registered address in Shanghai?
You can start with a registered address in a business park. It is one of the clearest advantages of Shanghai: the address is inexpensive, and you do not need to rent an office just to register. In many other cities, cheap park addresses are rare, or you end up renting an office later anyway.
Open the company bank account
- Time1–2 weeks
- You needOriginal passport
You can attend in person, or we can open it on your behalf.
Can a foreigner open a company bank account in Shanghai?
Yes. The slow part is the appointment: the bank first visits and photographs the company, then books you in, which usually takes at least a week. On the day itself, you leave with everything, including the online banking key. If you cannot attend, we can open it on your behalf for an extra fee. Banks still need your original passport.
Get your work permit
- Time2–4 weeks, after 1–2 weeks for the system registration
- IncludedAddress for visa registration, 1 year
The authorities check a real address for your visa, so your package includes one for a year: a real place that supports the official check and photos. Why two addresses? It is the cheapest setup. One real address that works for both the company and the visa check costs at least RMB 1,000 a month (about $150). If you have your own office room, you need neither: we take both off, and the rest of your package price stays the same.
The work-permit system registration — in the Service System for Foreigners Working in China — needs an in-person check. We can go for you for $60.
No degree? Shanghai has two routes
1. A higher salaryYour monthly salary, written into your employment contract, must be at least four times the Shanghai average wage: RMB 49,736 a month (about $7,500) — that is 4 × RMB 12,434.
2. The investor routeYour company needs about RMB 90,000 in invoiced revenue each quarter and pays social insurance for one Chinese employee every month. The first permit is usually for 6 months. The renewal then checks that revenue and those contributions.
Our service fees are the same as with a degree. Only the conditions and documents differ.
Can I get a work visa through my own company in Shanghai?
Yes. Your company applies for your work permit like any employer. With a bachelor’s degree, the usual route is Category B. Check your points to see which category you may qualify for.
Can I get a work permit in Shanghai without a degree?
Yes, through one of two routes. Either your monthly salary is at least four times the Shanghai average wage (RMB 49,736 a month, 4 × RMB 12,434), written into your contract, or you use the investor route: about RMB 90,000 in invoiced revenue each quarter and social insurance for one Chinese employee. The investor route starts with a 6-month permit.
Get your residence permit
- Time1–1.5 weeks in China
You get your residence permit from the Exit and Entry Administration. Government visa fees are paid separately. If you apply from abroad, you first get a Z visa at a Chinese embassy, which adds time.
Can my family get visas if I work in Shanghai?
Yes. Your spouse, children and some other family members can get family residence permits. The requirements depend on the family category (S1 or S2), so check which one applies before you prepare documents.
Every year after
- Every yearBookkeeping and tax filing
- With a visaVisa address and renewal
- Every 3 yearsRegistered address renewal
Government visa fees for renewals are paid separately.
What are the yearly costs after the company is set up?
From year 2, budget about $1,500 (about RMB 9,800) a year. This covers bookkeeping and tax filing, your visa address, and one visa renewal. A general taxpayer pays more for bookkeeping, and the registered address is renewed every three years. Government visa fees are paid separately.
What is required to renew my visa in Shanghai?
Shanghai looks at whether your company is genuinely doing business. Expect your invoices, tax filings and actual business activity to be checked, especially for a new company.
Why Shanghai works for real business owners
Shanghai suits foreigners who will actively run their company. At renewal, the authorities mainly check whether the company is really operating — your invoices, tax filings and actual business activity. You can handle the process as the owner; you do not need a local Chinese employee to act for you. The trade-off is strict document checks: your original passport must be verified.
Is Shanghai a good city for a foreigner to open a company?
Yes, if you plan to actively run your business. Registration can start with an inexpensive business-park address, and renewals focus on real business activity rather than on local staff handling the process for you. The trade-off is strictness on documents: your original passport must be checked.
Package prices for our services, valid until December 31, 2026. Not included: medical check, document notarisation, translation, international courier and government visa fees. USD converted at about 6.69 RMB per USD. Your final quote follows a short assessment of your situation.