China Permanent Residence — the "Chinese Green Card", the Official NIA Guide in Plain English
China's permanent residence status means your stay period is not limited — no more visa runs or permit renewals. We transcribe the official NIA eligibility guideline (all seven qualification routes, documents, fees and the six-month decision timeline) from the Guidelines for Approval of Foreign Nationals' Eligibility for Permanent Residence in China and the 2004 Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence of Aliens in China — no summarizing away the details.
Notice: "The English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version." — National Immigration Administration. Everything below is transcribed from the English guideline dated 2023-03-27 (re-verified unchanged on 2026-09-06) and the 2004 Regulations (page dated 2021-03-09) — the most recent versions NIA publishes.
Quick reference: the 7 official eligibility routes
Before any route applies, every applicant must abide by Chinese laws and regulations, be in good health, and have no criminal record — then meet one of the seven conditions below (guideline Section IV):
| Route | Who it's for | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Investment | Direct investors in Chinese enterprises | Direct & stable investment, good tax records for 3 consecutive years (USD 500k–2M thresholds by region) |
| Employment | Senior executives & associate-senior title holders | Deputy GM / deputy factory director or above, or associate senior title+ (or equivalent salary) for 4 consecutive years, residing ≥3 years within 4, good tax records |
| Special contribution | Persons of exceptional contribution urgently needed by China | Significant, outstanding contribution to China + specially needed by the state; recommendation letter from a competent Chinese authority |
| Family of the above | Spouse & unmarried children under 18 of eligible investors, employees or special contributors | Marriage / birth / parent-child certificates + the principal's Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card |
| Marriage | Spouses of Chinese citizens or of permanent-residence foreigners | Married ≥5 years, ≥5 consecutive years of residence in China with ≥9 months per year, stable income and domicile |
| Minor children | Unmarried applicants under 18 dependent on parents | Birth or parent-child relationship proof (adoption certificate if adopted) |
| Elderly dependents | Applicants 60+ with no direct relatives abroad, living with direct relatives in China | ≥5 consecutive years of residence with ≥9 months per year, stable income and domicile |
Who can apply: scope of the official guideline
The official scope: "This Guidelines applies to foreign nationals applying for permanent residence status in China." In plain terms, permanent residence is the top tier of China's stay system — unlike a visa extension (which tops up a visa and can never exceed its original duration) or a residence permit (renewed in 1–5 year cycles), permanent residence sets no limit on your stay period (Regulations, Article 2).
Who it realistically serves: long-term investors, senior executives and associate-senior professionals with four or more consecutive years in China, persons of outstanding contribution, and family members joining Chinese citizens or existing permanent residents.
Legal basis
Two official documents govern permanent residence:
- The Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China — the umbrella law for all entry-exit matters.
- The Measures for the Administration of Examination and Approval of Foreigners' Permanent Residence in China — the 2004 Regulations examined and approved by the State Council on 13 December 2003 and promulgated by Decree No. 74 of the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 15 August 2004.
Where to apply: accepting and approving authorities
You file at the public security organ under the municipal people's government of the city with subordinate districts — or, in Beijing/Shanghai/Chongqing/Tianjin, the public security sub-bureau or county-level public security sub-bureau — where your investment is made or where you long-term reside (guideline Section III).
Behind the counter, the official three-tier chain works like this (Regulations, Article 5; guideline Section VII):
- Acceptance & investigation — the municipal-level public security organ investigates within three months of acceptance and reports eligible applications upward;
- Review — the provincial-level (province / autonomous region / direct-controlled municipality) public security administration reviews within two months and reports to NIA;
- Approval — the National Immigration Administration (Ministry of Public Security) makes the final decision and issues the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.
The 7 eligibility routes in detail
1. Investment
"The applicant has made direct and stable investments in China, with good tax payment records for three consecutive years." The Regulations quantify "direct investment" (Article 7): at least USD 500,000 in State-encouraged industries, USD 500,000 total in western or State-designated poverty-relief counties, USD 1 million total in the central region, or USD 2 million total in China. Eligible employers for the employment route are defined in Article 8: institutions under State Council ministries or provincial governments, major higher-learning schools, enterprises executing major State engineering or scientific projects, and high-tech / encouraged / advanced-technology / export-oriented foreign-invested enterprises.
2. Employment
Holding the position of deputy general manager or factory deputy director or above, or a professional associate senior title or above (associate professor, associate researcher), or enjoying the equivalent salary, for at least four consecutive years, residing in China a total of not less than three years within four, with good tax records.
3. Special contribution
"Significant and outstanding contribution(s) to China and is especially needed in the country" — documented by a recommendation letter and related proofs issued by the competent authority of the Chinese government (Article 12).
4. Family of eligible investors, employees and special contributors
The spouse and unmarried children under 18 of a person meeting condition (1), (2) or (3), evidenced by marriage / birth / parent-child relationship certificates and the principal's Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Article 13).
5. Marriage
The spouse of a Chinese citizen or of a foreigner holding permanent residence, married for a minimum of five years, with five consecutive years of residence in China and no less than nine months each year, plus a stable source of income and domicile (Article 14).
6. Minor children
Unmarried applicants under 18 who come to live with their parents, evidenced by birth or parent-child relationship proof — or an adoption certificate in adoption cases (Article 15).
7. Elderly dependents
Applicants over 60 with no direct relatives abroad, living with direct relatives in China, after five consecutive years of residence with at least nine months each year and a stable, secured living status and place to live (Article 16).
Year-counting rule (official): "Time period of year mentioned in this article refers to the continuous period of time prior to the day of application." (Article 6.) The qualifying years must run continuously backwards from your application date — broken stays reset the clock. "Over" and "including" include the number itself (Article 27).
Application materials
For every route, the base package is (guideline Section VI; Regulations, Article 9): a valid foreign passport, a Health Certificate, and a foreign Certificate of No Criminal Record, plus the application form and four recent two-inch color photos.
| Applicant group | Additional materials (official) |
|---|---|
| Investors | Business license (duplicate) copy, enterprise annual-report disclosure certificate, Confirmation Letter on Foreign-funded Projects, capital verification report, and the individual tax payment certificate — encouraged-type projects also need the State-issued confirmation letter. |
| Employees | Employment certificate, Foreigner's Work Permit, employer's registration certificate, annual-report disclosure certificate, project certificate or confirmation letter, and the individual tax payment certificate. |
| Special personnel | Recommendation letter and copies of relevant awards and achievements. |
| Spouse & children of eligible (1)–(3) persons | Marriage certificate, birth or parent-child relationship certificates, and the principal's Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card copy. |
| Marriage-route spouse | Marriage certificate, spouse's identity certificate (household registration or PR card), housing rental or property ownership certificate, and proof of a stable source of income. |
| Children | Birth or relationship certificate, parents' identity documents (household registration if Chinese; valid passports and PR cards if foreign), and guardianship proof if the parents are divorced. |
| Elderly dependents | Proof of no direct relatives abroad, domestic kinship proof, the Chinese sponsor's household registration and ID (or the foreign sponsor's passport and PR card), housing certificate, and stable-income proof. |
Two paperwork rules catch many applicants: certificates issued by foreign authorities (no-criminal-record, marriage, birth, kinship, name-change) must be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate of the corresponding country, and an application submitted by an entrusted person requires a notarized Power of Attorney (certified by the Chinese embassy/consulate if issued abroad).
The process and the six-month clock
- Application — file at the city-level public security organ where you invest or long-term reside (sub-bureau or county-level bureau for direct-controlled municipalities). Parents may apply for applicants under 18; entrusted applications need the notarized Power of Attorney.
- Investigation (≤3 months) — the processing authority investigates and reports eligible applications to the inspection authority.
- Review (≤2 months) — the provincial-level authority reviews and reports to NIA for approval.
- Decision (≤6 months total) — public security organs decide within six months from acceptance, and the decision is final. Approved applicants receive the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by NIA.
- Delivery — the card is sent to the applicant, guardian or entrusted person, and the old valid visa or residence permit is canceled at the same time.
Fees
Official standards (basis: Cai Zong [2004] No. 32 and Fa Gai Jia Ge [2004] No. 1267):
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Application fee | CNY 1,500 |
| Production of card | CNY 300 |
| Re-issuance due to loss or damage | CNY 600 |
| Renewal upon expiration | CNY 300 |
Still at the visa stage? Visa application and reissuance fees are charged on a separate official schedule — see our China visa fees guide.
Permanent residence, the D visa and residence permits — how they connect
Permanent residence is not a visa and not a residence permit. The status means the stay period is not limited (Article 2); the certificate is a legitimate identity card that may be used independently (Article 3); and you enter and exit China on your valid passport plus the certificate (Article 4).
Two official connection points:
- If you are approved while abroad: the Ministry of Public Security issues a Form of Confirmation of Permanent Residence of Aliens. You apply for a D visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate on the strength of the Form, and collect the Certificate of Permanent Residence from the originally accepting public security authority within 30 days upon entry (Article 19).
- When the card is delivered: your old valid visa or residence permit is canceled (guideline Section X) — the permanent residence card replaces them as your residence credential.
For the steps below permanent residence, see our visa extension, change & reissuance guide (stretching a visa stay) and the residence permit guide (staying beyond 180 days on work, study or family grounds).
Common misconceptions, corrected by the official text
❝Permanent residence means becoming a Chinese citizen❞
No. Both official documents address holders exclusively as "foreign nationals" or "aliens" — the Certificate of Permanent Residence of Aliens is defined as "the legitimate identity card of aliens having obtained permanent residence in China" (Regulations, Article 3). Nothing in the official materials changes your nationality. Permanent residence ≠ Chinese citizenship.
❝The green card is just another visa or residence permit❞
It is neither. The permanent residence status means "the period of foreigners' stay in China is not limited" (Article 2), and the certificate "may be used independently" (Article 3). You enter and leave China on your valid passport plus the certificate (Article 4). Once the card is delivered, your old valid visa or residence permit is canceled — the official guideline is explicit about this.
❝Once approved, I can live abroad and keep the card indefinitely❞
Permanent residence comes with a physical-presence obligation. Holders should stay in China for more than three months in accumulation every year; if actual needs prevent this, approval from the provincial-level public security administration is required — and even then, your stay within any five-year period must be no shorter than one year (Article 20). Without approval, residence of less than three months per year or less than one year within five years is an official ground for canceling the status and confiscating the card (Article 24; guideline Section V).
❝The card never expires❞
It does. The certificate is valid for five years (holders under 18) or ten years (holders 18 and over) (Article 21). You must apply for renewal within one month before expiry, and apply for a change within one month of any content change; loss or damage must be handled in a timely manner (Article 22–23). Renewal costs CNY 300, re-issuance after loss or damage CNY 600.
❝Nobody knows how long the review takes❞
The official guideline sets a hard timeline: processing authorities complete the investigation within three months of acceptance, inspection authorities complete the review within two months, and public security organs decide within six months from the date of acceptance. The decision is final. (Guideline Sections VII & IX; Regulations, Article 18.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is China's permanent residence the same as Chinese citizenship?
No. Chinese permanent residence (the "Chinese green card") is an immigration status for foreign nationals — the official documents define it as the identity status of aliens whose stay period in China is not limited. You remain a foreign national holding your own passport; the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card is your legitimate identity card in China and may be used independently.
What is the Chinese green card officially called?
Officially the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (formerly "Certificate of Permanent Residence of Aliens" under the 2004 Regulations). It certifies permanent residence status in China — a stay period that is not limited — and serves as a legitimate identity card usable on its own.
How long is the China permanent residence card valid?
Five years for holders under 18 and ten years for holders aged 18 or over. Apply for renewal within one month before expiry (renewal fee CNY 300); changed information must be reported within one month, and loss or damage handled promptly (re-issuance fee CNY 600).
Can I lose Chinese permanent residence if I live outside China?
Yes. Permanent residents should stay in China for more than three months in accumulation every year; with provincial-level approval for actual needs, you must still stay at least one year within every five-year period. Without approval, staying less than three months a year — or less than one year across five years — is an official ground for canceling your permanent residence and confiscating or invalidating the card.
How long does the China permanent residence application take?
Up to six months — the legal maximum from the date of acceptance. Inside that window: the processing public security organ completes its investigation within three months, the provincial-level inspection authority reviews within two months, and the National Immigration Administration makes the final approval decision. The decision of the public security organs is final.
How much does the Chinese green card cost?
Application fee CNY 1,500, card production CNY 300. Re-issuance after loss or damage costs CNY 600 and renewal upon expiration CNY 300. These permanent-residence fees are separate from visa fees — see the China visa fee schedule for visa-stage costs.
What is the China D visa?
The D visa is the entry visa for applicants granted permanent residence while abroad. The Ministry of Public Security issues a Form of Confirmation of Permanent Residence; you apply for a D visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate with it, then collect your Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card from the originally accepting public security authority within 30 days of entry.
Where do I apply for permanent residence in China?
At the public security organ under the municipal people's government of the city with subordinate districts (or the public security sub-bureau / county-level sub-bureau of a direct-controlled municipality) where your investment is made or where you long-term reside. Applications may be submitted by an entrusted person with a notarized Power of Attorney — one issued abroad must be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate.
Source & verification
Source: National Immigration Administration — Guidelines for Approval of Foreign Nationals' Eligibility for Permanent Residence in China, updated 2023-03-27. https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147423/n147478/n147715/c158291/content.html
Source: Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence of Aliens in China (Decree No. 74, promulgated 2004-08-15; page dated 2021-03-09). https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155972/content.html
Last verified: 2026-09-06
The English version is for reference only — the authoritative Chinese version prevails. The guideline page had not been re-issued in a newer version as of the 2026-09-06 verification; conditions, documents and fees are quoted from the English text of the official pages.
Investment thresholds in USD follow the 2004 Regulations; specific application windows, appointment systems and city-level practices are not covered by the official pages and may vary locally.