How To Apply for Invitation Letter in Shanghai?
Due to the spread of COVID-19, the National Immigration Administration issued a notice to temporarily suspend the entry of foreigners holding valid visas and residence permits (the relevant information can be found in the FAQ issued by iVisaChina on March 28). Therefore, the families of a group of foreigners employed in China, and some foreigners who intend to come to China for business activities cannot enter the country, and it is difficult to apply for valid visa abroad. In order to alleviate this situation, the Chinese government has opened an application channel for government invitation letters (PUs) for foreign personnel who come to China to resume production and engage in important economic and trade activities.
由于疫情的蔓延，国家移民管理局发布了暂时停止持有效签证，居留许可的外国人入境的公告（相关解读可见ivisa3月28日发布的FAQ），因此一批在华就业的外籍人员的家属，以及部分准备来华从事商贸活动的外籍人员无法入境，且在境外难以申请到入境签证。为了缓解这个情况，我国政府为来华复工复产，从事重要经贸活动的外籍人员，开放了政府邀请函（PU）的申请通道。
Here iVisaChina shares with you the general documents and process of government invitation letter (PU) application.
在此iVisaChina和您分享下办理政府邀请函（PU）的大致材料及流程。
1. An application in writing by employer
邀请单位书面申请
Specify the needs, necessity and urgency of the invitation, the list of invited personnel (including name, work unit, position, and the specific relationship if carrying family members); if dependents are invited separately, specify the situation of the business personnel in China and their company, and the necessity of inviting family members to come to China.
具体说明邀请事项的需求、必要性和紧迫性，邀请人员名单（包括姓名、工作单位、职务、如携带家属请注明具体关系）；如单独邀请家属，具体说明已在华商务人员本人及所在公司的情况，邀请家属来华的必要性。
2. Information Form
信息表
Please specify where you will apply for the visa. Due to the temporary closure of consulates in many countries, please confirm whether the Consulate is still working normally.
签证申请地点，请具体到某个国家的城市。由于疫情期间，很多国家的领事馆都暂时关闭，请确认签证所在地的领馆是否正常工作。
1) Contact name / contact number: Please fill in the name and contact number of the handling person (mobile phone number is much better)
2) Proposed date of entry: XX / XX / 2020
拟入境日期：2020年XX月XX日
3) Length of stay: specific days (up to 180 days can be applied)
4) Place of visa application: Country + city
5) Place of visit: Shanghai (if you want to visit other provinces and cities, please attach the approval letter from the relevant provincial Foreign Affairs Department)
6) Purpose: Foreigners and accompanying family members please check "business trade / exchange visit". For the foreign family members who have already been in China, please check "family members" and check the nationality of those who are already in China (i.e. "resident" in the form)
7) If you apply for more than one person, same information in one form, otherwise it needs to be filled in separately.
申请多人, 如“签证申请信息”内容完全相同，则填在一张表里，如有不同则分开填写 (如办理签证地点不同, 需分两张信息表填写)。
3. Summary of company information
公司信息汇总表
The proposed entry date of the summary form, the information form and the personnel order should be consistent.
《汇总表》与《信息表》的拟入境日期须保持一致，人员顺序须保持一致。
4. Scanned copy of employee’s passport information page
拟邀请人员护照基本信息页扫描件
5. If the foreign family members are invited separately, the family relationship shall also be submitted.
如邀请已在华商务人员的外籍家属，还需提交家属关系证明
6. If applying for fast track, please indicate in the application and provide closed-loop management scheme.
如申请快捷通道，请在申请书中标明，并提供闭环管理方案
1. The company must apply either at the sub-district office, functional zones, or at the district competent authorities that oversee its industry (Commission of Commerce, Science and Technology Commission, Education Commission, etc.). This should be done in the district in which the company is registered.
公司必须在街道办事处或负责其行业的地区主管部门（商务委员会，经济委员会，营商服务中心等）申请。取决于公司具体注册地。
2. The sub-district office, functional zones, or district competent authorities will next submit the application to the company’s District Foreign Affairs Office (FAO). If the District FAO makes the determination that the employee is essential to business operations, the District FAO will notify the company and forward the application to the Shanghai FAO.
街道办事处或负责其行业的地区主管部门将向公司注册地的区外事办公室（FAO）提交申请。如果区外事办公室确定该员工对业务运营至关重要，他们将通知公司准备相关材料并将申请转发给上海外事办。
3. The Shanghai FAO will review the application and, if approved, will issue a visa notification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Beijing and to the relevant Chinese Embassy or consulate in the country where the employee is located. The company will also receive a copy of the notification.
上海外事办将对申请进行审查，如果获得批准，将向北京外交部和中国驻该雇员所在国的有关使领馆发出签证通知。公司将得到一份邀请函。
4. The company should send a fax or scanned copy of this notification to the employee, who will then present it at their local Chinese Embassy or consulate for visa application. The notification will include a bar code that grants the Embassy or consulate access to all information collected by the Shanghai authorities. Please note, however, that additional information may still be required by the MFA or by the local Embassy or consulate.
公司应将此邀请函的传真件或扫描件发送给员工，然后由员工在当地的中国大使馆或领事馆提交申请签证。使领馆会扫描邀请函上的条形码来获得信息，但是，请注意，外交部或当地大使馆或领事馆可能仍需要更多信息。
Pudong 浦东 | 28282640 | District FAO(区外办) |
Jinshan 金山 | 57921316 | District FAO(区外办) |
Hongkou 虹口 | 25658367 | District Commission of commerce (区商务委) |
Putuo 普陀 | 52564588*2599 | District FAO(区外办) |
Chongming 崇明 | 59612211 | District FAO(区外办) |
Jingan 静安 | 33371830 | District Commission of commerce(区商务委) |
Qingpu 青浦 | 69733065 | Production and Work Resumption group(区复工复产组) |
Minhang 闵行 | 33885231 | District Committee for Economic Affair(区经济委员会) |
Jiading 嘉定 | 69989128 | District Commission for Economic Affairs, Foreign Investment Division(区经委外资项目科) |
Huangpu 黄浦 | 33134800*31086 | District Commission of Commerce(区商务委) |
Changning 长宁 | 22051409 | District FAO(区外办) |
Fengxian 奉贤 | 67184258 | District FAO(区外办) |
Songjiang 松江 | 37735271 | District FAO(区外办) |
Yangpu 杨浦 | 25033655 | District FAO(区外办) |
Baoshan 宝山 | 56131350 | District FAO(区外办) |
Xuhui 徐汇 | 64872222 | District FAO(区外办) |
Here is the sample of the government invitation letter (PU).
附上一份成功申请到的政府邀请信样张供大家参考。
1. Please note that employees may be required to submit a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test with their visa application materials to the Embassy or consulate.
外国人在申请签证时可能会被要求提交72小时以内的COVID-19阴性核酸检测报告，可参考各使领馆的具体要求。
2. Passengers need to declare the health conditions online 24 hours to get the QR code, or to fill in the paper form on site.
外国人可以在入境24小时前进行线上出入境申报来获取健康码，可节约通关时间。也可以在口岸现场填写纸质表格申报。
http://health.customsapp.com/ads/?from=groupmessage&isappinstalled=0
Foreigners who have obtained entry permits should be well prepared for centralized 去quarantine for 14 days after entering the country. Upon entry into China, an additional nucleic acid test and an antibody test will be administered. Furthermore, if anyone aboard the flight tests positive for COVID-19 on arrival in China, then additional procedures may apply. And it is necessary that you or your company inform your neighborhood committee in China about your return to China.
取得入境许可的外国人应做好入境后集中隔离14天的准备。入境后，将进行额外的核酸检测。此外，如果飞机上的任何人在抵达中国时检测出COVID-19呈阳性，则可能需要进行额外的检测或隔离手续。另外抵达目的地后，很有必要通知你所居住地的居委做好相关登记。
Q: Can an application include or be solely for dependents?
A: Based on current information, companies can include dependents in their applications. It is not clear, however, if dependents can apply on their own. In addition, the local Chinese Embassy or consulate may make an additional determination whether to issue a visa for dependents.
问：邀请函是否可以包括或仅适用于家属？
答：可以，如携带家属需注明具体关系。如单独邀请家属，需具体说明已在华商务人员本人及所在公司的情况，邀请家属来华的必要性。
Q: Can individuals apply for these visas, or must this be done through a company?
A: While there are no prohibitions against individuals applying for letters of invitation, it appears that the district government takes into consideration the economic importance of the applicant in approving the invitation letter, which could make it difficult for individuals to obtain a visa.
问：个人是否可以单独申请邀请函，还是必须通过公司申请？
答：虽然没有禁止个人申请邀请函，但外事办在批准邀请函时会考虑到申请人的经济重要性，这可能会使个人难以获得邀请函。
Q: Upon arrival, what’s the whole process?
A: The first step is scanning then getting passport photocopies to go along with some forms, then a lab test tube issued with details of name and passport number, barcode etc.
The second step is to do the COVID-19 test.
The third step is to go through the customs and fill in the form in the designated area, with name, passport number, contact information, address and other information.
The fourth step is a bus will take you to the isolation site.
问：抵达后大概会经历怎么样的流程？
答：第一步是扫描护照复印件和一些表格，然后发放实验室试管，上面有姓名、护照号码、条形码等详细信息。
第二步进行核酸检测
第三步通过海关，到指定区域填写机场管理局的表格，上面有姓名、护照号码、联系方式和地址等信息。
第四步班车送往隔离地点进行隔离，隔离期间不可以外出。
Q: Can incoming passengers quarantine at home?
A: Passengers should be prepared for 14 days of centralized quarantine after entry. Countries taking fast track can implement isolation at home after passing the test according to relevant guidance. For non - fast track countries, except for special reasons, the possibility of centralized isolation for 14 days is very high. The details are subject to the local isolation policy and on-site coordination after arrival.
问：可以选择在家隔离吗？
答：应做好入境后集中隔离14天的准备。走快捷通道的国家可根据相关指导，通过检测后实施在家隔离。非快捷通道国家，除特殊原因外，集中隔离14天的可能性很大。具体以抵达后当地隔离政策及现场协调为准。
Q: Can international credit cards be used in isolated hotels?
A: Most isolated hotels can use international credit cards. It is recommended to confirm in advance when choosing the isolated hotels.
问：隔离酒店可以使用国际信用卡吗？
答：大部分隔离酒店可以使用国际信用卡，建议在选择隔离酒店时提前确认。