Permanent Residence ID Card
Guidance on Getting a Chinese ¡°Green Card¡±/Foreign Permanent Residence ID Card
The foreign permanent residence ID card, or the Chinese "green card", is a valid identity certificate for foreigners whose residence period in China is not limited.
The organs that accept applications for foreign permanent residence ID card in our province are the departments or bureaus of public security at the level of municipality or autonomous prefecture in the place of applicant¡¯s long-term residence.
Foreigners applying for permanent residence in China must abide by Chinese laws, be in good health, have no criminal record and meet at least one of the following criteria:
I.Made a direct and stable investment in China resulting in stable operations and a good tax-paying record for three consecutive years.
II.Hold the post of deputy general manager, deputy factory director or above; or of associate professor, associate research fellow and other associate senior titles of professional post or above, or enjoying the equivalent treatment, for at least four consecutive years, with a minimum period of residence in China for three cumulative years within four years, and with a good tax-paying record.
III.Made a great and outstanding contribution to China or being specially needed by China.
IV.Be the spouse or unmarried child under 18 years old of a person in I, II, OR III.
V.Be married to a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China, for at least five years, with at least five consecutive years of residence in China and at least nine months of residence in China each year, and having stable source of subsistence and dwelling place.
VI.Be an unmarried person under 18 years old who comes to live with parents in China.
VII£®Be at least 60 years old, with no direct relatives abroad and have sponsoring relatives in China stayed in China for at least five consecutive years with at least nine-month residence in China each year and have stable source of subsistence and dwelling place.
Foreigners who have been approved to stay permanently in China shall reside in China for at least three months each year. The validity period of the Foreign Permanent Residence ID card is five or ten years.
The public security organ shall decide whether to approve or reject the application for permanent residence permit within 6 months of receiving the application.
Materials all applicants must submit:
1. Application Form for Foreigner¡¯s Permanent Residence in China;
2. A copy of valid passport or other certificate;
3. A health certificate issued by a health quarantine agency designated by the Chinese government or by a foreign health quarantine agency recognized by the relevant Chinese government or by a foreign health quarantine agency recognized by the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate;
4. A certificate of No Criminal Conviction in the main living area of foreign countries (more than 2 years¡¯ residence) certified by Chinese embassies in foreign countries;
5. Four recent full-face color photos (2 by 2 inches, bareheaded) of the applicant; and,
6. Other relevant materials or special materials required for different application categories.
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Other requirements:
For those who made a direct and stable investment in China resulting in stable operations and a good tax-paying record for three consecutive years:
The Amount of Investment
1. Investment in any industry encouraged under the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries: at least $500,000;
2. Investment in western China or any key county under poverty alleviation efforts or development program: at least $500,000;
3. Investment in Central China: at least $ 1 million; and,
4. Investment in China: at least $ 2 million;
Special materials:
1.A certificate of approval for the foreign-invested enterprise;
2.Certificate of registration and joint annual inspection certificate;
3.Report on the verification capital and personal tax payment receipt; and,
4. In the case of a foreign-invested enterprise in encouraged fields, a letter of confirmation.
For those who hold the post of deputy general manager, deputy factory director or above; or of associate professor, associate research fellow and other associate senior titles of professional post or above, or enjoying the equivalent treatment:
Employer requirements:
1.An institution subordinate to any department of the State Council or to the people's government at the provincial level;
2.A key college or university;
3.An enterprise or government-sponsored institution implementing a national key engineering project or major scientific research project; and,
4. A high-tech enterprise, foreign-invested enterprise in encouraged fields, advanced technology enterprise with foreign investment or export-oriented enterprise with foreign investment.
Special materials
1.A certificate of position or professional title issued by the employer;
2.Foreign Expert Card or Foreigner Employment Card;
3.A certificate of registration and certificate of annual inspection of his employer, certificate of personal tax payment; if the employer is a foreign-invested enterprise, a certificate of approval for the foreign-invested enterprise and joint annual inspection certificate are required;
4.If the employer is an enterprise or institution carrying out a national key engineering project or major scientific research project, a certificate of the project issued by the authority at the provincial or ministry level;
5.If the employer is a high-tech enterprise, a high-tech enterprise certificate; and,
6.If the employer is a foreign-invested enterprise in encouraged fields, advanced technology enterprise with foreign investment or export-oriented enterprises with foreign investment, a certificate of such.
For those who made a great and outstanding contribution to China or being specially needed by China:
Special Material:
A letter of recommendation and related certificates issued by the authority of the Chinese government.
For the spouse or unmarried child under 18 years old of a person in I, II, OR III:
1.Marriage certificate in the case of a spouse; and,
2.Birth certificate or proof of parenthood in the case of an unmarried child under 18 years old, and an adoption certificate in the case of an adopted child.
For those who married to a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with permanent residence status in China:
1. Chinese spouse¡¯s registered permanent residence certificate or foreign spouse's Foreigner's Permanent Residence Card;
2. Marriage certificate;
3. A notarized certificate of source of subsistence; and,
4. House lease certificate or ownership title.
For an unmarried person under 18 years¡¯ old who comes to live with parents in China:
1. Chinese parent's household registration certificate or foreign parent's Foreigner's Permanent residence card; and,
2. Birth certificate or proof of parenthood and adoption certificate in the case of an adopted child.
For those who are at least 60 years old, with no direct relatives abroad and have sponsoring relatives in China stayed in China:
1. Household registration certificate of the Chinese citizen or Foreigner's Permanent Residence card;
2. A notarized certificate of kinship;
3. A certificate stating that the applicant has no direct relatives abroad;
4. A notarized certificate for financial source or notarized certificate of financial guarantee by the sponsor; and,
5. A notarized house lease certificate or ownership title of the applicant or sponsor.
Other frequently asked questions:
1.Where should I submit my application?
The public security organ of the city with subordinate districts, or the branch or county bureau of public security of the municipality directly under the Central Government, in the place where the principal investment was made or of long-term residence.
2.Can somebody else submit the application for me?
If applying through an agent, a power of attorney issued by the applicant must be submitted, which needs to be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country concerned.
3.How long will it take for my application to be approved?
Within six months from the date of receipt of the application.
4.How long is the permanent residence card valid?
10 years, or five years for foreigners under 18.
Source: enghunan.gov.cn