Shanghai上海

The 2026 business-climate 'breakthrough tasks' reform explicitly supports foreign natural persons investing and starting businesses. Pudong and other districts have issued OPC support policies; Yangpu launched an online 'OPC Super-Individual Service Zone' linked to the city registration system with 29 FAQs and full online processing.

Hongqiao, Yangpu, Lingang, Xuhui and Jing'an host OPC communities. Lingang's 'ZeroBox' OPC community (since Oct 2025) has gathered 150+ OPC entities in AI hardware, digital health and smart hardware. Hongqiao International Business District partnered with Alibaba to build the 'Hongcheng OPC Community'.

The Hongqiao 'Hongcheng OPC Community' offered an entry subsidy of 45% off until 31 Jul 2026, with ~100 shared desks and free meeting/roadshow space. Districts (Pudong, Yangpu, Lingang) provide startup support as part of their OPC policy packages.

Yangpu launched the 'OPC Super-Individual Community' on Fuxing Island (Mar 2026) as a global innovator hub; Lingang's ZeroBox runs at Dishui Lake; Hongqiao's Hongcheng community opened in Mar 2026 with ~100 workstations and cross-border payment, tax compliance and visa support services.

The K visa (China's 13th ordinary visa class, for STEM young talent) does not require a domestic employer or invitation — holders may enter and engage in education, science, culture, entrepreneurship and business. OPC founders can then use their own company as employer to apply for a Foreigner's Work Permit and switch residence to 'work'; A-class permits (up to 5 years) are available in AI, biotech and other priority fields. The 2026 talent rules also cover foreign nationals who were formerly Chinese students.

The 2026 'breakthrough tasks' agenda moves from cutting time and cost to cutting uncertainty, with one-stop OPC services covering cross-border payment, tax compliance and international talent visa guidance — coordinated by Hongqiao Business District and Minhang District.