Shanghai streamlines visa process

Expatriates in Shanghai are finding it easier to renew their visas and apply for permanent residence permits after a set of new policies came into effect earlier this month, the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau said on Wednesday.

The new policies require fewer documents from foreigners.

The policies exempt those applying for certain visas from providing documents concerning their Chinese hosts if the hosts remain the same from previously granted visas, said Cai Baodi, foreigner visa management division chief at the bureau.