With the popularity of "Becoming Chinese" and the boom in foreign investment entrepreneurship, more and more foreigners, including digital nomads, are coming to Shanghai to chase their entrepreneurial dreams.
随着“Becoming Chinese”热潮兴起、外资创业热持续升温，越来越多老外（包括数字游民）奔赴上海，追逐创业梦想。
But 90% of foreign entrepreneurs will encounter a core confusion at the starting line: Should I register a foreign-invested company first, or apply for a work permit first?
但90%的外籍创业者，在起步阶段都会遇到一个核心困惑：到底是先注册外资公司，还是先办工作许可？
Wrong order = wasted time + repeated procedures + even legal risks!
顺序搞错=浪费时间+重复跑窗+甚至面临法律风险！
Today, we will directly solve this pain point for foreign entrepreneurs, take Shanghai as the core, clearly explain the compliant logic of "first company → then work permit", material linkage, one-stop agency and time-saving highlights, all strictly based on the "Regulations on the Administration of Foreigners Working in China", no exaggeration or fabrication.
今天，就专门为外籍创业者破解这个痛点，以上海为核心，清晰拆解“先公司→后工签”的合规逻辑、材料联动、一站式代办及省时亮点，全程严格依据《外国人在中国就业管理规定》，无夸大无杜撰。
Hot Trend: Foreigners Flock to Shanghai for Entrepreneurship, Digital Nomads Settle Down
热点趋势：老外扎堆上海创业，数字游民纷纷落地
In 2026, the upsurge of foreigners coming to China to start businesses continues to rise, and the "Becoming Chinese" trend has made Shanghai a top choice for foreign entrepreneurs.
2026年，老外来华创业热潮持续升温，“Becoming Chinese”趋势下，上海成为外籍创业者的首选之地。
From digital nomads engaged in cross-border e-commerce and cultural creativity to foreign talents starting technology companies, they all hope to seize the development opportunities in Shanghai.
从从事跨境电商、文化创意的数字游民，到创办科技公司的外籍人才，都希望抓住上海的发展机遇。
However, many people rush to start the process without clarifying the order of company registration and work permit, resulting in unnecessary troubles.
但不少人未理清公司注册与工签的顺序就仓促启动流程，反而徒增不必要的麻烦。
❓ Core Q&A: Why Must We Register the Company First, Then Apply for the Work Permit?
❓ 核心问答：为什么必须先注册公司，再办工作许可？
This is not an arbitrary requirement, but a mandatory compliance regulation clearly stipulated in the official policies, mainly based on two core logics:
这并非随意要求，而是官方政策明确规定的强制性合规要求，主要基于两大核心逻辑：
1. Legal Subject Requirement: To apply for a work permit, a foreigner must have a confirmed employing unit, and the foreign-invested company registered by himself is the legal employing unit for entrepreneurship.
1. 主体合规要求：申请工作许可，外籍人士必须有确定的用人单位，而自身注册的外资公司，就是创业所需的合法用人单位。
2. Procedure Correlation: The materials for work permit application (such as the company's business license, legal person certificate) can only be obtained after the foreign-invested company is registered.
2. 流程关联要求：工签申请所需材料（如公司营业执照、法人证明等），需在完成外资公司注册后才能获取。
Tips: If you apply for a work permit first without registering a company, it will be directly rejected due to the lack of a legal employing unit.
提示：若未注册公司就先申请工签，会因缺少合法用人单位，被直接驳回申请。
Pitfall Warning: What Happens If the Order Is Reversed?
避坑警示：顺序搞反，会有哪些后果？
Many foreign entrepreneurs mistakenly think that "applying for a work permit first is faster", but in fact, reversing the order will lead to three major risks:
不少外籍创业者误以为“先办工签更快”，实则顺序搞反，会面临三大风险：
1. Application Rejection: The work permit application is directly rejected, and the materials submitted are invalid, resulting in a waste of time.
1. 申请驳回：工签申请被直接驳回，提交的材料全部失效，白白浪费时间。
2. Procedure Repetition: After registering the company later, you need to re-prepare materials and re-apply, which doubles the handling time.
2. 流程重复：后续注册公司后，需重新准备材料、重新申请，办理时间翻倍。
3. Legal Risks: Engaging in entrepreneurial activities without a work permit and a legal company will be identified as illegal employment, facing heavy fines.
3. 法律风险：未取得工签、无合法公司就开展创业活动，会被认定为非法就业，面临高额罚款。
✅Compliant Process: Shanghai Foreign Investment Company Registration + Work Permit Correct Time Line
✅ 合规流程：上海外资公司注册+工签正确时间线
To save time and avoid pitfalls, we sort out the compliant time line (one-stop agency can shorten 30% of the time), clear and controllable:
为节省时间、避开坑点，我们整理了合规时间线（一站式代办可缩短30%耗时），清晰可控：
1. Foreign-Invested Company Registration (5-7 working days): Complete the registration of Shanghai foreign-invested company, and obtain the business license and other materials.
1. 外资公司注册（5-7个工作日）：完成上海外资企业注册，领取营业执照等相关材料。
2. Entrepreneurship Consultation & Material Collation (1-2 working days): Professional consultation on entrepreneurial policies, and collation of work permit application materials linked with company registration.
2. 创业咨询+材料整理（1-2个工作日）：专业解读创业相关政策，整理与公司注册联动的工签申请材料。
3. Work Permit Application & Review (3-5 working days): Submit materials online, and the official reviews in accordance with the regulations.
3. 工签申请及审核（3-5个工作日）：线上提交材料，官方按规定审核。
4. Work Permit Issuance (1 working day): After passing the review, collect the work permit and complete the whole compliant process.
4. 工签发放（1个工作日）：审核通过后，领取工作许可，完成整个合规流程。
Key Highlight: Material Linkage, One-Stop Handling Saves Time
核心亮点：材料联动，一站式办理省时间
The biggest advantage of handling company registration and work permit through one-stop agency is the linkage of materials, avoiding repeated submission:
公司注册与工签通过一站式代办办理，最大优势就是材料联动，避免重复提交：
1. Shared Materials: The business license, legal person information and other materials obtained from company registration can be directly used for work permit application, no need to re-prepare.
1. 材料共享：公司注册获取的营业执照、法人信息等材料，可直接用于工签申请，无需重复准备。
2. Synchronous Progress: While handling the company registration, the consultant will pre-review the work permit materials, and submit the work permit application immediately after the company registration is completed.
2. 进度同步：办理公司注册的同时，顾问同步预审工签材料，公司注册完成后立即提交工签申请。
One-Stop Agency Service for Foreign Entrepreneurs (Shanghai Exclusive)
外籍创业者专属一站式代办服务（上海专属）
Many foreign entrepreneurs are not familiar with Shanghai's foreign-invested company registration policies, work permit application specifications and material linkage requirements, which leads to delayed handling.
不少外籍创业者不熟悉上海外资公司注册政策、工签申请规范及材料联动要求，容易导致办理延误。
In view of this, we launch an exclusive one-stop agency service for foreign entrepreneurs in Shanghai, covering all core needs:
针对这一痛点，我们推出上海外籍创业者专属一站式代办服务，覆盖所有核心需求：
✅ Shanghai Foreign-Invested Company Registration: Handle the whole process of company registration on your behalf, including name verification, material submission and business license collection.
✅ 上海外资公司注册：代你办理公司注册全流程，包括核名、材料提交、营业执照领取。
✅ Foreigner Entrepreneurship Consultation: One-on-one interpretation of entrepreneurial policies, answering questions about company registration and work permit.
✅ 外国人创业咨询：一对一解读创业相关政策，解答公司注册、工签相关疑问。
✅ Work Permit Agency: Link with company registration materials, handle work permit application, review follow-up and certificate collection in one stop.
✅ 工作许可代办：联动公司注册材料，一站式办理工签申请、审核跟进、证件领取。
✅ Material Linkage Service: Sort out and verify materials uniformly, avoid repeated submission, and shorten the handling time.
✅ 材料联动服务：统一整理核验材料，避免重复提交，缩短办理耗时。
热门跟贴