Chinese permanent residency: benefits & requirements

A lot of foreigners love the vitality of China, especially in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, which are full of creativity and opportunities. There is a constant stream of foreigners who wish to work, live, and realise their dreams in China. Many of them wish to apply for China permanent residency because of their job requirements. However, there are a number of requirements that need to be met in order for a foreigner to stay in China permanently.

For expats in China, sending money from China to your own country is another essential and pressing need. You can go to a traditional bank to make the transaction. Better yet, use Wise, an international money transfer, to transfer earnings out of China, and receive and convert money in a cheaper way.

Send money home using Wise today

Is there a permanent residence in China?

Yes, there is. Since 2004, China has formally established a system for the administration of permanent residence permits for foreigners¹. The China permanent residence status of foreigners is also known as the "China Green Card". (Now known as the China Five Star Card!) It makes it possible for foreigners to reside in China for extended periods of time without needing to deal with tedious annual visa applications.

How many types of long term residency permits are there in China?

In accordance with Chinese law, foreigners who invest in China or engage in economic, scientific and technological, or cultural co-operation with Chinese enterprises or institutions, or who have other needs for long-term residence in China, may, with the approval of the competent organs of the Chinese Government, be granted long-term residence or permanent residence status².

Long-term residence is mainly for people who come to China to study, work or invest in China and are granted visas and residence permits for multiple trips of one to five years³.

Permanent residence is another form of long term residence. There are two types of permanent residence. According to the Measures for the Administration of Approval of Foreigners' Permanent Residence in China⁴:

• Foreigners under the age of 18 who have been approved for permanent residence in China shall be issued with a permanent residence permit valid for five years.
• Foreigners over the age of 18 who have been approved for permanent residence in China shall be issued with a permanent residence permit valid for 10 years.

Benefits of having permanent Chinese residency

In 2012, the Measures for ‘Foreigners' Enjoyment of Relevant Treatment for Permanent Residence in China’ was issued and stipulates that foreigners who hold a permanent residence permit for foreigners in China shall, in principle, enjoy the same rights as Chinese nationals and bear the same obligations, except for their political rights and specific rights and obligations that are not permitted by the provisions of laws and regulations⁵.

Specifically, they are entitled to the following treatments⁵:

Requirements to apply for a Chinese permanent residency

Foreign nationals must follow Chinese laws and regulations, be in good health, and have no criminal record in order to apply for permanent residence in China. In addition, they must either have made notable contributions to China's social and economic development or fulfill one of the following requirements⁶:

1. (I) The applicant has invested directly and steadily in China and has maintained a clean tax payment history for the past three years;

(II) The candidate is employed as 1) deputy general manager, 2) factory deputy director, or 3) someone with a professional associate senior title, such as associate researcher or associate professor; or has been receiving the equivalent salary in China for a minimum of four years in a row, and has lived in China for a total of three years within a four-year period while maintaining a clean tax record;

(III) Those who have made significant and outstanding contributions to China as well as those whose talents are in special need by China.

(IV) The spouses of the persons referred to in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) and their unmarried children under the age of 18;

(V) Spouses of Chinese citizens or foreigners who have been granted permanent residence status in China, whose marriages have lasted for five years, who have resided in China for five consecutive years, who have resided in China for not less than nine months each year, and who have stable livelihood security and residence;

(VI) Unmarried children under the age of 18 who come to join their parents;

(VII) Those who are 60 years of age or older, who have lived in China for five years straight, who spend at least nine months there annually, who depend on their immediate family members in China and have no relatives outside of China, and who have a stable source of income and place to live.

Materials to apply for permanent residency in China

To apply for permanent residence in China, the applicants shall:

1. Valid foreign passport
2. Certificate of No Criminal Record
3. Health Certificate
4. Submit the supporting materials required for each type of applicant⁵.

Wise: A cheap and hassle-free way to transfer your earnings out of China!

While you are planning on a Chinese permanent residency, you can use Wise to send money from China to your family or loved ones in another country whenever needed. Wise makes it possible to transfer your legal earnings out of China to 160+ countries, with a maximum amount of 100,000 CNY per transaction. In a few seconds on your Wise app or online, it is done.

It is cheap to send money, receive money, or convert money with Wise, as it makes the transaction at the fair mid-market rate and a small upfront conversion fee. All you need to do is have a Wise multi-currency account. Then, you can select from 40+ currencies to hold or convert, from CNY, GBP to EUR, HKD, etc. Get access to the best international money transfer app by joining the 16 million users that use Wise globally!

*This service is provided in partnership with a licensed third-party payment provider in China.