Refer China: Shanghai Work Permit ： 2-Year Visa via New Company for Spouse

How a French entrepreneur secured a 2-year Shanghai work permit for her husband through her newly registered company, saving 15 working days on renewal versus a new application.

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Shanghai Work Permit ： 2-Year Visa via New Company for Spouse

Securing a 2-Year Work Permit for a Client via a Newly Established Company

Client Background

Last year, a French entrepreneur walked into our office with a dream: to build her own consulting company in Shanghai. We helped her register the company and secure her own work permit. She was thrilled – but she wasn’t done.

This year, she came back with a new goal: she wanted her husband to join her in China, legally and long-term. Could we get him a work permit through the same company?

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What We Found

There were two obstacles.

First, the company’s registered business scope didn’t include education – which limited the types of positions we could apply for.
Second, the company was still in its early stages, not yet operating at full capacity. Hiring a second foreign employee would be a tough sell to the authorities.

The client, however, had a compelling story: her husband’s expertise in trade was exactly what the company needed to grow. His skills would bring in new business – and new revenue.

What We Did

We advised the client that the company needed to demonstrate sufficient revenue to justify hiring another foreign employee. She explained that her husband’s trade background was the very reason the company would generate more income.

We took that logic and built a clear, convincing case. We aligned the husband’s job position with the company’s actual business operations – import/export trade – and prepared the application with that narrative at its core.

The Result

We successfully secured a 2-year work permit for the client’s husband – exceeding her expectations. She had hoped for one year. She got two.

With a 2-year work permit, the client will only need 8 working days to renew the residence permit next year. That saves the 15 working days typically required to apply for a new work permit – saving significant time and effort while providing a stable 2-year visa guarantee.