APPLICATION FORM FOR CERTIFICATE OF PERMANENT OFFICE OF FOREIGN NEWS ORGANIZTION

APPLICATION FORM FOR THE REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS

Preface

1  How to apply for a journalist card?

2  How does a foreign news agency based in Shanghai apply for a Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency?

3  Do I need to go to Beijing to register with the Foreign Ministry of China?

4  What is the procedure of applying for a residence permit?

5  Do I need to go through health evaluation after arriving in Shanghai?

6  Where and how to apply for an official seal of the foreign news agency?

7  How do my accompanying family members(spouse and non-adult children) apply for their residence permits?

8  Do I need to declare my personal income tax in China?

9  What documents shall be presented when making the declaration for the first time? 

10 How to declare to the Customs if I need to import articles for my office and daily use?

11 What is the procedure if I need to import a car for personal and

office use?

12 How to employ local staff?

13 How to renew my journalist card?

14 How to apply for a new journalist card if the original one is lost? Do I need to report to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office if my office address is changed?

15 Do I need to submit a notice to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office when leaving my post in Shanghai permanently?

16 How to apply for interviews in Shanghai?

17 How to ask for help if I encounter any difficulties in work? 

18 Do I need to apply first before doing interviews outside Shanghai?

19 How to apply for an interview with the Shanghai city officials?

20 How to make satellite transmission in Shanghai?

Dear Sir/Madam,

    Welcome to Shanghai! To make your work and life in Shanghai more conveniently, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (Shanghai FAO) has made this brochure, in which you will find answers to most frequently asked questions  such as how to apply for a journalist card, and how to apply for the residence permit, etc. We hope that this brochure will be helpful for your work, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by 021-6215 8269. Thank you for your cooperation.

Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office

Most Frequently Asked Questions:

1. How to apply for a journalist card?

The foreign correspondent, who is sent to Shanghai as a resident correspondent with the approval of the Foreign Ministry of China, shall, within seven days of his/her arrival in Shanghai, register with the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. The correspondent shall be required to fill out and download an application form in duplicate for the Foreign Journalist Card from the website of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office (www.shfao.gov.cn). To register with the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the correspondent shall bring with him/her the application form, an appointment letter signed by the head of the headquarters of the sending news agency , his/her CV, six bareheaded passport photos taken recently and passport. The Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office is located at 1418 Nanjing Xi Lu (Tel: 6215 8269; Office Hours: 9:00 - 11:30 and 13:30 - 17:30 Monday through Friday). Please make an appointment beforehand.

2. How does a foreign news agency based in Shanghai apply for a Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency?

If the applicant is the first resident correspondent of a newly opened permanent office of foreign news agency in Shanghai, he/she shall fill out and download an application form in duplicate additionally for the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency. The Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office shall issue the Foreign Journalist Card and the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency to the applicant within ten working days of his/her registration.

3. Do I need to go to Beijing to register with the Foreign Ministry of China?

If the correspondent is the chief correspondent of the permanent office of a foreign news agency in Shanghai, he/she should, within 60 days of his/her registration with the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, go to Beijing to register with the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry of China. For registration appointment, please contact the International Press Center of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry of China in advance (Address: Prime Tower, Suite 1915, 22 Chaowai Avenue, Beijing; Tel: 010-6588 2585/6588 2586; Fax: 010-6588 2594; Office Hours: 9:00 - 11:00 and 13:00 - 15:00).

4. What is the procedure of applying for a residence permit?

The resident foreign correspondent shall, within 30 days of his/her arrival in China, apply to the Exit-Entry Administration of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau for residence permit (Contact person: Mr. CAI Baodi and Mr. SHEN Qiang; Address: 1500£¬Minsheng Lu, Pudong District; Tel: 6854 1199 or 2895 1374). The application takes five working days to be processed. The following documents are required for the application:

1.        An official reference provided by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office;

2.        An application letter provided and sealed by the correspondent¡¯s agency;

3.        The correspondent¡¯s Foreign Journalist Card and its photocopy;

4.        A photocopy of the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency in China;

5.        The correspondent¡¯s passport;

6.        The Health Certificate issued by the International Travel Healthcare Center of the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau;

7.        The residence reference provided by the hotel in which the correspondent lives or by the police station at the correspondent¡¯s place of residence. If the resident foreign correspondent lives in a rented residence, he/she shall, within 24 hours of his/her arrival in China, register with the local police station for temporary residence permit.

8. Two two-inch half-length and bareheaded photos taken recently; and the correspondent¡¯s CV.

5. Do I need to go through health evaluation after arriving in Shanghai?

After arriving in Shanghai, the resident foreign correspondent shall go through health evaluation as soon as possible at the International Travel Healthcare Center of the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on presentation of the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency in China, his/her passport and two two-inch photos. The Health Certificate shall be made available to the correspondent after three working days. The Center is located at 1701 Hami Lu (Office Hours: 8:30 -11:00 and 13:00 - 15:30 Monday through Friday). Please call 6268 7606 to make an appointment in advance.

6. Where and how to apply for an official seal of the foreign news agency?

Upon obtainment of the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency and the Foreign Journalist Card, the first resident correspondent of the permanent office of a foreign news agency shall apply as soon as possible to the Public Order Departments of relevant districts where the foreign news agency is located for the making of an official seal of the agency concerned. The applicant must present an official reference provided by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the original and photocopies of the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency in China and his/her passport and its photocopies at the point of application. The contact information of The Public Order Department of different districts is as follows.  

District	Address	Office Hours	Phone Numbers
Huangpu	171, Penglai Lu, Shanghai	9£º00-11£º30 14£º00-17£º00 Monday to Friday	6328 0123 ext.34333
Luwan	22, Jianguo Zhong Lu, Shanghai	9£º00-11£º30 14£º00-17£º00 Monday to Friday	6473 5330 ext.35591
Xuhui	1020, Zhongshan Nan Er Lu, Shanghai	9£º00-11£º00 Monday to Thursday 14£º00-17£º00 Friday	6486 8911 ext. 37315
Changning	37, Anxi Lu, Shanghai	9£º00-11£º30 13£º00-16£º30 Monday to Friday	6226 7612
Jing¡¯an	415, Jiaozhou Lu, Shanghai	8£º30-11£º00 14£º30-17£º00Monday, Wednesday and Friday 14£º30-17£º00 Tuesday	6258 8800 ext.38367
Putuo	39, Puxiong Lu, Shanghai	8£º30-11£º15 14£º00-16£º30 Monday to Friday	6244 1195 ext.40239
Zhabei	2, Tianmu Xi Lu, Shanghai	9£º00-11£º30 14£º00-16£º30 Monday to Friday	6317 2110 ext.41436
Hongkou	279, Tianbao Xi Lu, Shanghai	8£º30-11£º00 14£º00-17£º00 Monday to Friday	6575 0174
Yangpu	2057, Pingliang Lu, Shanghai	8£º30-11£º00 14£º00-17£º00 Monday to Friday	6543 1000 ext.31276
Pudong	1500, Yanggao Zhong Lu, Shanghai	9£º15-11£º30 13£º30-16£º30 Monday to Friday	5061 4567
Baoshan	588, Pangu Lu, Shanghai	8£º30-11£º30 14£º00-16£º30 Monday to Friday	5660 8111 ext.30520
Minhang	201, Xinjian Dong Lu, Shanghai	8£º30-11£º00 13£º00-16£º30 Monday to Friday	3412 0842

7£®How do my accompanying family members (spouse and non-adult children) apply for their residence permits?

If the correspondent¡¯s accompanying family members (spouse and non-adult children) apply for residence permits at the same time, they shall have to present the following documents:

1.        Photocopies of marriage documents (marriage certificate, notarized certificate of marriage and reference provided by the embassy of the country concerned in China);

2.        Photocopies of birth certificates of the children;

3.        The Health Certificates (not for children who are under 16);

4.        The Residence Reference; and

5.        Two two-inch half-length and bareheaded photos taken recently.

8.  Do I need to declare my personal income tax in China?

After assuming his/her post in Shanghai, the resident foreign correspondent shall declare, no later than the 7^th of each month, his/her personal income tax of the previous month to the Tax Administration of relevant districts where the foreign news agency is located. Please contact the relevant Tax Administration listed below for further information.

9. What documents shall be presented when making the declaration for the first time?

When making his/her first declaration, the correspondent shall present his/her passport, a photocopy of the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency in China, his/her Foreign Journalist Card, his/her residence permit and income reference (including salary, bonus, allowances, subsidies and any other job-related income) provided by the news agency he/she represents. Based on these documents, the taxation authority shall calculate his/her taxes in accordance with the Income Tax Law of the People¡¯s Republic of China and any bilateral taxation agreements.

10. How to declare to the Customs if I need to import articles for my office and daily use?

   According to the relevant Chinese laws, the resident foreign correspondent shall declare to the Shanghai Customs (28 Jinling Xi Lu, Tel: 6387 7422, Office Hours: 8:45 - 11:30 and 13:15 - 16:30 Monday through Friday; three working days are needed) imported articles for office and daily use, vehicles and equipment on presentation of his/her passport, Foreign Journalist Card, Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign New Agency in China and foreign residence permit, and go through tax procedures in accordance with the regulations concerned.

11. What is the procedure if I need to import a car for personal and office use?

The resident foreign correspondent shall register with the Traffic Police Department of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau (1101 Zhongshan Bei Lu; Tel: 6516 8168 ext. 54560; Office Hours: 8:30 - 11:30 and 13:30 - 16:00 Monday through Friday) car imported for his/her own use and apply for the license plate.

12. How to employ local staff?

If he/she wants to employ local people as staff members or service personnel, the resident foreign correspondent should go to the Shanghai Foreign Agencies Service Department (Floor 3, 448, Zunyi Lu; Tel: 6233 2928; Office Hours: 9:00 - 11:30 and 13:00 -17:00). He/she should not employ local people as staff members or service personnel without permission. If he/she wants to employ foreign citizens, he/she should make an application to the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry of China.

13. How to renew my journalist card?

The resident foreign correspondent shall go to the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office to apply for an extension of the Foreign Journalist Card in November or December of each year. Please make an appointment in advance. The correspondent should present the following documents:

1. The original of the Foreign Journalist Card;

2. Two two-inch color passport photos (blue background);

3. An application for extension of the Foreign Journalist Card issued by the foreign news agency the correspondent represents.

  The Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office shall issue the new Foreign Journalist Card to the applicant within ten working days of his/her application.

  Upon obtainment of the new Foreign Journalist Card, the permanent foreign correspondent shall, taking the official reference provided by the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, go to the Exit-Entry Administration of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau for an extension of the residence permit.

14. How to apply for a new journalist card if the original one is lost? Do I need to report to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office if my office address is changed?

In case the resident foreign correspondent loses his/her Foreign Journalist Card or the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency, he/she should declare the loss of the Foreign Journalist Card or the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency in a major Shanghai newspaper (such as Wenhui Daily, Jiefang Daily, etc.). After the declaration in the newspaper, the resident foreign correspondent shall, taking the application from his/her office and a photocopy of his/her declaration in the newspaper, go to the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office to apply for a new Foreign Journalist Card or the Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency.

In case the resident correspondent changes the office address, he/she should report to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office as soon as possible, return the original Certificate for Permanent Office of Foreign News Agency to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office and apply for a new one.

15£®Do I need to submit a notice to the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office when leaving my post in Shanghai permanently?

Upon leaving his/her post, the resident foreign correspondent should submit a notice signed by the head of the headquarters of the news agency he/she represents to the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office 30 days before his/her departure and return the Foreign Journalist Card to the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and the Residence Permit to the Exit-Entry Administration of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

16¡¢ How to apply for interviews in Shanghai?

The resident foreign correspondent may directly contact the individuals or units in Shanghai they wish to interview. And the individuals or units shall decide themselves whether to accept the interview or not according to the interview outline proposed by the correspondent. If the individuals or units accept the interview, the resident foreign correspondent can interview them directly.

17 How to ask for help if I encounter any difficulties in work?

In accordance with the Regulations Concerning Foreign Journalists and Permanent Offices of Foreign News Agencies, the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office protects the legitimate rights and interests of the resident foreign correspondent and provides him/her due convenience in work. When encountering difficulties in work, the resident foreign correspondent can ask the Press and Culture Division of the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office for help.

18 Do I need to apply first before doing interviews outside Shanghai?

If the resident correspondent wishes to go to areas outside Shanghai for news coverage, he/she should have the consent of the foreign affairs offices of the relevant provinces, autonomous regions or the municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government in advance. His/her news coverage activities shall be arranged and assisted by the foreign affairs offices of the relevant provinces, autonomous regions or the municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Central Government.

19 How to apply for an interview with the Shanghai city officials?

If the resident foreign correspondent wishes to interview the municipal officials of Shanghai, he/she shall first file through the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office an application with a proposed interview outline. The Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office shall, depending on circumstances, assist them in making the due arrangements.

20 How to make satellite transmission in Shanghai?

If they need satellite transmission service, the permanent offices of foreign news agencies can contact the Shanghai Oriental Radio & TV Tech Company (Contact person: Mr. BU Shoude; Address: 203, Lao Hutai Lu; Tel: 5603 5330).

When working in Shanghai, the resident foreign correspondent must observe the Regulations Concerning Foreign Journalists and Permanent Offices of Foreign News Agencies and other relevant laws, statutes and government regulations.

  The resident foreign correspondent should report according to the facts and respect the rights and dignity of the persons and units he/she interviews. If his/her report results in a negative effect to or infringement upon the rights of the interviewee due to his/her inconsistency with the facts or quoting out of context, he/she should bear the corresponding responsibilities, including the legal responsibility.

This Guide is amended in November 2005. The power to interpret this Guide is vested in the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office.