Suishenban (随申办) is Shanghai's official government app, and after verifying your passport you can book residence-permit and visa appointments, view accommodation registration。
Suishenban (随申办) is Shanghai's official one-stop government app, and once you verify your identity with your passport you can book residence-permit and visa appointments, view your accommodation registration, pull vaccination and health records, pay utility and traffic fines, and check social insurance. Switch it to English from the profile screen. It is free, and it runs as a standalone app or a WeChat mini-program.
What is Suishenban, and do expats really need it?
Yes, if you live here it saves you real trips. Suishenban (literally "handle Shanghai affairs") is run by the Shanghai municipal government as the digital front door to city services. Before it existed you queued at a different window for every task. Now a lot of that lives in one login: appointment booking for the exit-entry bureau, your accommodation (police) registration record, social insurance and provident-fund balances, medical and vaccination records, and payment of everyday official bills. You do not need it for a weekend trip, but if you hold a residence permit it is one of the first apps I install for friends.
How do I download Suishenban and switch it to English?
Install it, then flip the language toggle before you do anything else.
- Get the app. Search "随申办" in your phone's app store, or open WeChat, tap the search bar, choose Mini Programs, and search 随申办. Alipay carries it as a mini-program too.
- Find the English switch. Open the app, go to the profile or settings screen (the person icon, usually bottom right), and look for the language option to switch to English. Many services also have an "International" or "Expat" entrance on the home screen that presents everything in English.
- Log in. Register with your mobile number and the SMS code. If you do not have a local number yet, sort that first with our Shanghai SIM and phone-number guide.
How do I verify my identity as an expat?
You complete real-name authentication (实人认证) with your passport and residence permit. In the profile area, choose the verification or authentication option, select passport as your document type, enter your name exactly as printed, key in your passport and residence-permit numbers, and follow the face-scan prompt. Getting the name and numbers to match your documents is the step people trip on, so copy them character for character. Once verified, the appointment and records services unlock.
What can I actually do on Suishenban? (the useful bits)
The features expats reach for most:
- Exit-entry appointments. Book a slot to apply for or renew a stay permit, residence permit or the permanent-residence card, instead of turning up and hoping.
- Accommodation registration record. View and, at some stations, handle the police registration you are required to file when you move. Pair this with our 24-hour registration guide.
- Health and vaccination records. Pull your digital records, useful when a clinic or school asks for proof. See our vaccinations guide for what those records cover.
- Social insurance and fund balances. Check contributions if you are on a local payroll.
- Bill and fine payments. Settle certain utility bills and traffic fines from your phone.
How do I book an exit-entry appointment for my residence permit?
Open the exit-entry or International section, choose the visa, stay-permit or residence-permit service, and pick a date and time from the calendar. Have your passport, current permit and any supporting documents (work permit, employer letter) ready before you start, because the form asks for the numbers. Booking ahead matters: walk-in slots at the Immigration Service Center fill up, and an appointment lets you skip the general queue. If your appointment is tied to a work-permit renewal, line it up with your work-permit health check so the paperwork is current.
Is the WeChat mini-program the same as the standalone app?
Broadly yes. The WeChat and Alipay mini-programs share the same core services and the same login, so your verification carries across. The standalone app tends to surface the full menu and handles document uploads more smoothly, while the mini-programs are quicker to reach because you already have WeChat open. I keep the app for anything involving appointments or uploads, and use the mini-program for quick lookups.
Which version is for you
- If you mainly check records and pay the odd bill, the WeChat mini-program is enough.
- If you handle appointments, permit renewals or document uploads, install the standalone app.
- If you cannot read Chinese at all, use whichever one shows you a clear "English" or "International" entrance and stick with it.
Laozi wrote 上善若水, the highest good is like water, which nourishes everything without contending. The gentler way through officialdom runs the same course: less force, more knowing where the current already flows in your favour.
As the Book of Changes puts it, 穷则变，变则通, when you are stuck, change your approach and a way opens. Half of settling into Shanghai is learning which app quietly solves the thing you were about to queue for.
Do I need a Chinese ID to use Suishenban?
No. Expats verify with a passport and residence permit through real-name authentication. You do need a working local mobile number to register and receive the login code, so sort your SIM first.
What if my name will not verify on Suishenban?
Almost always a mismatch between what you typed and your passport. Re-enter your name and document numbers exactly as printed, including spacing and capitalisation, and make sure you selected passport as the document type. If it still fails, a community affairs centre counter can verify you in person.
Can I use Suishenban outside Shanghai?
It is built for Shanghai city services only. Other provinces and cities run their own government apps, so Suishenban is the one for anything Shanghai, and it will not help you in Beijing or Hangzhou.
Is Suishenban free to use?
Yes, entirely free, whether you use the standalone app or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. It is a government service, so there is no subscription and no charge for booking appointments or pulling your records.
