Welcome to apply for foreign journalist residence permit. Please provide the following documents and thank you for your cooperation.

Foreign journalist residence permits are issued to foreign nationals permanently stationed in China by foreign news agencies.

I. Application Procedures

1. Applicants for foreign residence permits must enter China with a "J-1" visa.

2. For first-time foreign residence permit applications, applicants must contact the department of the Entry and Exit Administration Bureau in advance and  be interviewed by the responsible police officers.

3. The first-time application for a foreign residence permit must be done in person. For extension applications, the host institutions can apply on behalf of relevant applicants. However, applicants must personally submit their application documents when the visa authority think that it is necessary.

II. Required Documents

1. Valid passport or other international travel documents.

2. Fill in visa application forms.

3. Submit a recent 2-inch, half-length photo showing the applicant’s bare head and full face. For first-time applicants, photos can be taken on-site free of charge. For non-first-time applicants, a paper photo is required, or a photo can be taken on-site.

4. A letter and press card issued by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government.

5. Health certificate issued by the Tianjin Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of China's General Administration of Customs for foreign nationals age 18 and over (not required for the extension application of foreign residence permits).

6. Visa authorities are entitled to request additional documents in accordance with specific circumstances.

III. Friendly Reminders

1. Host institutions that apply for the visa for foreign nationals for the first time should register their information with local administrations of entry & exit affairs before visiting reception halls of entry & exit administration service centers affiliated with the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Public Security and the Bureau of Public Security Bureau in Tianjin Binhai New Area to submit a visa application along with relevant materials.

2. Foreign nationals or their hosts should register personal information with local public security departments within 24 hours of their check-in if they reside or stay in places other than hotels.

3. Foreign nationals can lawfully stay in China with acceptance receipts when their passports or other international travel documents are submitted to visa authorities for approval. The validity period of acceptance receipts for visa application and residence permits does not exceed seven working days from the acceptance date. For residence permit applications, the validity period of acceptance receipts does not exceed 15 working days from acceptance date.

4. If there is a change in the registered information about foreign nationals' residence permit, the holders should apply for the change at the entry and exit administration service center of public security bureaus within ten days from the date of the change. The registered items for foreign residence permits include: the holder's name, gender, date of birth, purpose and length of residence, issuance date and place, passport or other international travel document number, etc.

5. For foreign infants born in China, their parents or guardians should apply for a stay or residence registration at the entry and exit service center of public security bureaus within 60 days of their birth and present the birth certificate.

When a foreign national dies in China, their family, guardian, or agent should report it to the entry and exit service center of public security bureaus, presenting his or her death certificate, to terminate  the stay or residence permit.

6. Among the documents that need to be submitted, marriage and birth certificates, proof of relationship and name change issued by foreign competent authorities or notary offices must be accompanied by additional certificates issued by those authorities of contracting foreign states. Relevant foreign documents should be translated into Chinese.

IV. Processing Time

Processed within 5 working days from the date of acceptance.

V. Reception Time and Location

The Entry and Exit Administration Service Center of the Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau: No. 5-7 counters, 2nd Floor, Haitai Building, No. 6 Meiyuan Road, Huayuan Industrial Park, Tianjin. Tel: 12367

Working hours: 9:00-17:00 on weekdays, no break at noon.

The Entry and Exit Administration Service Center of Tianjin Binhai New Area Public Security Bureau : No. 2 counter , Building B, Guangyao Oriental Plaza, Intersection of Yingbin Avenue and Jihua Road, Binhai New Area, Tianjin. Tel: 12367

Working hours: 9:00-17:00 on weekdays, no break at noon.

VI. Fee Standards

Less than 1 year: ¥ 400/person;

From 1 year (inclusive)  to 3 years: ¥ 800/person;

From 3 years (inclusive)  to 5 years (inclusive): ¥ 1000/person;

Additional accompanying persons: Additional charges in accordance with the above standards;

Reduced accompanying persons: ¥ 200/person;

Item changes: ¥ 200/person.

VII. Inquiry Telephone: 12367

Supervision Telephone: 24459652 (Binhai Entry and Exit Administration Service Center: 66977410)

This notice is finally interpreted by the Entry and Exit Administration Service Bureau of Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau.