Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government

Room 1606, No. 129, West Yan’an Road (Huaqiao Mansion)

Monday--- Friday 9:00—11:30, 13:30--- 17:00

62490880-81237, or 81232, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government 62490880-81237, 81232，

Time limit for Chinese Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government to do the investigation, examination and approval on the application materials is 40 working days from the day when the materials are transmitted to Chinese Affairs Office from Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai of from relevant resident organs of the People’s Republic of China in foreign countries.

Overseas Chinese (Chinese citizens residing overseas)

Application materials:

<P> A written application on the applicant requiring to return to reside in the People’s Republic of China;

<P> Passport and visa of the applicant;

<P> Certifications on his former registered residence before going abroad;

<P> A written report on the household head of the place where the applicant wishes to reside agreeing on accepting the applicant into the household;

<P> Residential registration booklet of the place where the applicant wishes to reside;

<P> House property certificate or certifications on house tenancy of the place where the applicant wishes to reside;

<P> Where the applicant is divorced, relevant certification on the divorce shall be provided.

<P> To accept the application:

<P> The applicant personally, or his relative in China, file in the application to Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai; after initial examination is done by Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai, the application is accepted; then the applicant shall fill in Application Form on Overseas Chinese Returning to Reside in the People’s Republic of China (in duplicate);

<P> Where the applicant is in a foreign country, he can file in the application to the diplomatic representative organ or consulates of the People’s Republic of China in the country concerned or to other resident organs in the country concerned authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Formalities for the application filed in within the boundary of the People’s Republic of China:

<P> After Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai accepts the application, the application is to be transmitted to Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Municipal government;

<P> Department of Inland Area Affairs is to send an official letter concerning information provided by the applicant to the offices on overseas Chinese affairs on district or county level and to relevant departments for investigation and verification on relevant information;

<P> The investigated and verified information will be replied by letter to Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from the offices on overseas Chinese affairs on district or county level and relevant departments;

<P> Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affair Office from the municipal government shall, according to the conditions of applicant and verified information, make the decision on approving or dissuading the applicant from residing in Shanghai;

<P> The decision is to be sent by an official letter from Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from the municipal government to Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai, and a copy of the decision is to be sent to Overseas Chinese Association of Shanghai and to Overseas Chinese affairs offices on district of county level of the place where the applicant wishes to reside. For applicants getting approval to return to reside, Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai shall issue a Certificate for Overseas Chinese to Return to Reside in the People’s Republic of China;

<P> Public security organ shall process the job of residential registration on seeing the Certificate for Overseas Chinese to Return to Reside in the People’s Republic of China.

<P> Formalities for the application filed in in foreign countries:

<P> Embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China in the country concerned transmits the application to Overseas Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal Government after accepting the application;

<P> Department of Inland Area Affairs is to send an official letter concerning information provided by the applicant to the offices on overseas Chinese affairs on district or county level and to relevant departments for investigation and verification on relevant information;

<P> The investigated and verified information will be replied by letter to Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from the offices on overseas Chinese affairs on district or county level and relevant departments;

<P> Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affair Office from the municipal government shall, according to the conditions of applicant and verified information, make the decision on approving or dissuading the applicant from residing in Shanghai;

<P> The decision is to be sent by an official letter from Department of Inland Area Affairs of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office from the municipal government to the embassy or consulate of the People’s Republic of China in the country concerned, who shall inform the applicant of the decision. For the ones getting approval, a copy of the decision is to be sent to Overseas Chinese Association of Shanghai and to Overseas Chinese affairs offices on district of county level of the place where the applicant wishes to reside.

<P> For applicants getting approval to return to reside, Entry-Exit Administration Bureau of Shanghai shall issue a Certificate for Overseas Chinese to Return to Reside in the People’s Republic of China;

<P> Public security organ shall process the job of residential registration on seeing the Certificate for Overseas Chinese to Return to Reside the People’s Republic of China.

1. Issues Related to Formalities for Overseas Chinese Returning to Reside in the People’s Republic of China issued by Ministry of Public Security, (88) G.L.(2) No.642;

2. Written Opinions on Examination and Approval Work on Overseas Chinese Applying to Return to Reside in the People’s Republic of China issued by Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, (87) Q.Z.A.Z., No.167;

3. Written Opinions on Overseas Chinese Applying to Return to Reside in the People’s Republic of China, (91) G.N.Z.H.Z., No.031;

4. Notice from Overseas Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal Government and Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau on Doing a Good Job in Examination and Approval on Overseas Chinese and Compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao Applying to Return to Reside in Shanghai, H.F.Q.B.(89) No.207.

The above services are free of charge.