The Shenzhen Municipal Office Foreign Affairs and the Shenzhen Municipal Office of Overseas Chinese Affairs, both directly under the municipal government, provide services at the same office.

Its major responsibilities include:
1) to implement national regulations, policies and guidelines on foreign affairs and overseas Chinese affairs; to execute relevant instructions and decisions by provincial and municipal authorities; to direct the drafting of relevant regulations, measures, procedures and programs, and to implement the approved ones; to coordinate relevant local affairs; to undertake the routine work of the municipal party committee's Directing Team of Foreign Affairs;

2) to direct the reception of state guests, political guests, foreign embassy/consulate officials and other important foreign figures; to direct or assist major Shenzhen-based international events (including conferences); to assist municipal leaders to arrange their schedules of international affairs;

3) to provide management services for overseas journalists; to direct relevant local departments in relevant interview affairs; to provide regulation services for overseas media groups' Shenzhen branches and correspondents; to direct the education and training programs for local foreign-affair officials;

4) to provide management services for overseas business trips; to direct the reviewing and approving affairs for overseas business trips and invitation of foreigners into Shenzhen; to submit municipal leaders' schedules of overseas visits to senior authorities for review and approval; to direct the issuing and endorsing of passports or the "Exit-entry Permit for Traveling to/from Hong Kong and Macau" for overseas business travelers; to provide agent services for legalization by embassy or consulate; to review and approve the Application of Foreigners' Entry into China;

5) to arrange communications between Shenzhen and foreign embassies/consulates in China; to coordinate major management affairs involving foreigners in Shenzhen; to direct relevant affairs involving foreign experts in the city; to cooperate with relevant departments in major foreign affairs;

6) to implement the central government's policies and guidelines toward Hong Kong and Macau; to cooperate with Hong Kong and Macau authorities in border-related affairs; to direct major official and semi-official exchanges between Shenzhen and the two regions; to undertake the routine work of the Municipal Directing Team of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs;

7) to direct the exchanges between Shenzhen and its foreign sister cities; to direct local public exchanges with international counterparts; to direct the entitlement of and services for the city's Honorary Citizens;

8) to cooperate with relevant departments in international promotion events, as well as public education programs for foreign affairs; to conduct researches on foreign affairs; to provide the municipal government with materials necessary in making foreign affair-related decisions; to cooperate with relevant departments in education and training programs for foreign affair personnel;

9) to help overseas Chinese and their families in protecting their legal rights; to implement the polices for overseas Chinese;

10) to cooperate with relevant departments in introducing overseas capital, technology and professionals; to support enterprises founded or owned by overseas Chinese;

11) to manage the donations from overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau residents; to support such donors' in domestic public causes including culture, education and public health;

12) to direct the promotion of overseas Chinese policies; to improve the communication with overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macau residents; to direct Chinese education in overseas markets; to address the cross-strait issue with the help of overseas Chinese;

13) to establish an efficient communication channel with local enterprises for better services;

14) to undertake other assignments given by the municipal party committee, the municipal government and other governing authorities.

* Note: Two public associations, the Shenzhen People's Association of International Friendship and the Shenzhen Association of Returned Overseas Chinese, also provide services under their respective constitutions at the same office with the two administrative offices.