Application for Permanent Residence Status in China
There are various ways a Non-Chinese national can apply for permanent resident status in China.
Senior/professional staff who have worked consecutively for 4 years (residence in China no less than 3 years) and have good tax records.
Employees who have worked in China continuously for 4 years with an annual salary income (before tax) exceeding RMB600,000, and have paid annual individual income tax exceeding RMB120,000, and stay in mainland China for no less than 6 months every year within the 4 years can apply for permanent residence in China upon their employer's recommendation.
Foreign Investors who invest in China and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 2 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years).
Those people who are married to a Chinese citizen (having registered Chinese permanent citizenship), or to a foreigner who has the qualification for permanently staying in China can apply for permanent residence in China, if they meet all of the following four requirements: (1) They have been married for 5 years; (2) They have lived in China for 5 consecutive years and staying in mainland China for no less than 9 months every year; and, (4) They have stable life security and accommodations in China.
Our Services
We assist by explaining the application procedures and requirements to obtain a Chinese Permanent Residence Card and by helping you obtain a non-criminal record certificate from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police or another police department in Canada.
- Our Canadian lawyer and notary will meet with the applicant to verify the applicant’s identity and provide a certified true copy of the applicant’s passport. This is a copy of the applicant’s passport which has been verified and notarized by our notary public.
- At the same meeting we will take your fingerprints.
- We will order your non-criminal record certificate from the Canadian police
- Your non-criminal record certificate will be authenticated by Global Affairs in Ottawa and then legalized by a PRC embassy or consulate in Canada.
- We will deliver your authenticated and legalized non-criminal record certificate to you in China.
The process normally takes three weeks on average.
Responsible Departments
Applications for permanent residence in China relating to foreign nationals are received by the public security bureau at the city level, checked by the municipal public security organs, reviewed by public security departments at the provincial level and examined and approved by the Ministry of Public Security.
Processing Times
The public security bureau decides to approve or not to approve the application within six months from the day the foreign applicant submits the application for a permanent residence permit.
Documents Commonly Required (Varies Depending on the Category of the Application)
• A Criminal Record/ Background check which shows no trace or history of any kind must be verified by the Embassy/Consulate General of China. The Record(s) should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months
• Completed application form for permanent residence in China
• Two 2-inch recent photos
• Valid passport
• Company or Employers Business License (applicable for applicants under the foreign investment category)
• A capital verification report showing that the company’s registered capital has reached the standard (applicable for applicants under the foreign investment category)
• Foreigner’s work permit for the past 4 consecutive years before the date of application.
• Original work residence permit for the past 4 consecutive years before the date of application.
• Title or job title certificate issued by the employer.
• Tax payment certificate issued by the tax authority for paying personal income tax for the past 4 consecutive years before the date of application
• Employer’s business licenses
• Health certificate issued by a medical institution designated by the Chinese government or issued by foreign medical institutions certified by a Chinese embassy or consulate. The health certificate should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.
There are various ways a Non-Chinese national can apply for permanent resident status in China
Foreigners who meet one of the following conditions and have good tax records can apply for permanent residence in China:
- Investors who invest in China and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 2 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);
- Investors who invest in Central China and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 1 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);
- Investors who invest in China’s western regions and key national poverty alleviation and development counties, and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);
- Investors who invest in “Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Project” encouraged by the State, and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);
- Investors who submit direct investment in Shanghai consistently as an individual or through the company as a controlling shareholder with individual status for three consecutive years, and whose total amount of investment reaches more than 1 million U.S. dollars (or 500,000 U.S. dollars for the “Foreign Investment Guideline Project” encouraged by the State.
The foreign spouse and their unmarried children under 18 years old of the above applicants can apply for permanent residence together.
Permanent Residence for Couples
Those people who are married to a Chinese citizen (having registered Chinese permanent citizenship),or to a foreigner who has the qualification for permanently staying in China can apply for permanent residence in China, if they meet all of the following four requirements: (1) They have been married for 5 years; (2) They have lived in China for 5 consecutive years and staying in mainland China for no less than 9 months every year; (3) They have stable life security and accommodations in China.
Core members of research teams recommended and guaranteed by foreign leading experts or pioneering researchers who have been introduced by Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone or China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter call “Double Zones”) and recognized by the Administration Committee of Double Zones can apply for permanent residence in China. The foreign spouse and unmarried children under 18 years old of the above foreign applicants can apply for permanent residence together.
Foreign people who meet one of the following conditions can apply for permanent residence in China:
- World-class talents, special skilled professionals or celebrities who have made significant and outstanding contributions to national economic development and social progress or who have great value to the country and recommended by Ministry, Commission or Administration of the State Council, or Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.;
- Foreigners who meet the criteria of high-level talent as set by the national key development zones, such as Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone or China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-Gang Special Area, and are recommended by the administration committee of the said zones;
- Foreign financial talents recommended by Shanghai financial administration authorities.
The foreign spouse and unmarried children under 18 years old of the above foreign applicants can apply for permanent residence together.
Applicants are eligible for permanent residence if they are employed in the following 5 types of organizations and hold positions of chairman, vice chairman, general manager, deputy general manager, or have titles of associate professor, associate researcher and above, and have worked consecutively for 4 years (residence in China no less than 3 years), and have good tax records:
- Research institutes of the State Council or Shanghai Municipal People’s Government or public institutions with administrative management or functions
- Key universities (“211 Project” schools and the first batch of admissions colleges
- Enterprises and institutions that undertake the task of national key projects or major scientific and technological projects
- High-tech enterprises, encouraged foreign-invested enterprises, foreign-invested advanced technology enterprises or foreign-invested product export enterprises
- Enterprises and institutions like national laboratories, national key laboratories, national engineering laboratories, national engineering research centers, national accredited enterprise technology centers, national engineering technology research centers, or foreign-funded R&D centers
Those who have worked in Shanghai continuously for 4 years with an annual salary income (before tax) exceeding RMB600,000, and have paid annual individual income tax exceeding RMB120,000, and stay in mainland China for no less than 6 months every year in this 4 years can apply for permanent residence in China with the present employer’s recommendation.
Those overseas Chinese who have PhD degrees and currently work in Shanghai can apply for permanent residence in China.
Foreign high-level experts (talents) who are accredited by a competent national or municipal administration, or employed by science and technology innovation companies designated by a competent department of Shanghai as professionals with expertise can apply for permanent residence in China with the present employer’s recommendation if they have acquired an employment-typed residence permit noted with “Talents” and have worked in Shanghai for over 3 years.