From 1 July 2009, the City of Shanghai allows extended residence of certain foreign talent. Under the new regime, foreigners may now apply for visas of up to 5 years instead of a single year.

Workers that fall under one of the following six categories qualify for the extended visa:

1. A foreigner who is recipient of 'honorary citizen of Shanghai', 'magnolia award' or 'award of magnolia honors'.
2. A foreigner who is province (municipality) level special talent or celebrity.
3. Academic or scientific research leader or researcher or teacher having vice-senior title or above who is employed by a state-level or province (ministry)-level research institution or a key institution of higher learning.
4. Legal representative, managing director, vice managing director or chief financial officer of a new and high-tech enterprise, foreign-invested enterprise in the encouraged category, foreign-invested advanced technology enterprise or foreign-invested product exporting enterprise.
5. Legal representative, managing director, vice managing director or chief financial officer of Shanghai regional headquarters, research and development center or investment company of a transnational corporation.
6. Legal representative, managing director, vice managing director or chief financial officer of an enterprise with the registered capital of more than 3 million USD.