The Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates China diplomatic missions, consular posts and other agencies abroad, which are responsible for processing visa applications.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Science and Technology (formally known as the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs) and their respective local counterparts are jointly responsible for the issuance of work permits and the overall administration of the employment of foreign nationals.

The Ministry of Culture and its local counterparts are responsible for certain approvals of foreign nationals who engage in commercial performances in China, while China National Offshore Oil Corporation is responsible for approving foreign nationals who engage in offshore petroleum operations in China.

The exit and entry administration divisions of the local public security bureaus (PSBs) — which are under the National Immigration Administration — are responsible for processing extension and change of visa applications and foreign nationals' residence permit applications domestically. The National Immigration Administration and local PSBs are also responsible for enforcing applicable laws and regulations and enforcing penalties for noncompliance.