Residence permit (居留许可) — what it is

A residence permit (居留许可, jūliú xǔkě) is China's long-term stay authorization, issued by the exit-entry administration to foreigners who qualify for a longer stay — most commonly because they work, study, or have family in China. It appears in your passport as a sticker with your photo and an expiry date (usually 1-5 years).

It's different from a visa: a visa gets you into China; a residence permit keeps you in China legally for work, study or family life. People on a residence permit don't queue for visa extensions — they renew the permit before it expires (start 60 days early).

In Shanghai, the work-based route works like this:

1. Your employer obtains your work permit.
2. You enter on a Z visa.
3. Within 30 days, you apply for the work residence permit with your police registration, medical check and photos.
4. Approved in ~7 working days; renew before it lapses.

Your permit's conditions matter: a work permit ties you to your employer (changing jobs means changing the permit), and your accommodation registration should stay current, because permits and registration are checked together at the border.