In July, the Shanghai municipal government loosened visa policies to attract foreign talents. In the past five months, it's received positive results with many more expats obtaining permanent residences.

According to the press conference held by the municipal government, since July 1, Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau has issued 1,708 entry visas and residence permits for qualified expats to work and live in Shanghai, 715 of them received long-term residence permits, 12 times higher than the same period in the previous year.

In addition, to create a more convenient living environment for overseas talents in the city, the city government established a policy to issue residence permits for foreign housekeeping workers hired by high-level expats working and living in Shanghai.

A 144-hour visa-free entry policy will also allow foreign tourists and businessmen who arrive in Shanghai (airports, ports, and stations), Jiangsu province (Nanjing Lukou airport) and Zhejiang province (Hangzhou Xiaoshan airport) to have a more convenient and flexible trip. Those foreign tourists passing through Shanghai via cruise will be benefiting from the 15-day visa-free entry policy as they will have a chance to walk around the city.