Who Can Apply for a Chinese Green Card

Who Can Apply for a Chinese Green Card
May 20, 2013 By eChinacities.com

If you’ve spent a length of time living in China, you’ve surely heard about that mystical permanent residence card for foreigners otherwise known as a Chinese green card or “外国人永久居留证”. But up until November last year, Chinese green cards were simply just a myth for most expats, with nobody actually knowing how to get one or who even qualifies.

Then, on November 14 the clouds suddenly parted and a glimmer, if ever so vague, of what this green card actually is was presented. In a statement in Washington D.C. Deputy Director of China's Ministry of Public Security's Exit and Entry Administration announced that China is considering relaxing restrictions on the green card and widening the scope of who qualifies.


Photo: southcn.com

Another miracle happened on December 12 when this time, the Central Organization Department, Human Resources and Social Security and 23 other ministries jointly issued new guidelines outlining the rights of foreign “green card” holders – this esteemed group of foreign individuals would enjoy the same rights as Chinese, it was declared. At last, some information was there to behold, but scepticism among the foreign community reigned nonetheless.

Despite the grandiose announcements of several months back, most foreigners in China still don’t have a clue how to go about getting one of these golden tickets that promise the end of visa hassle forever. So without further ado, we’ve compiled and translated instructions on who can apply for a Chinese green card. Perhaps you don’t meet the requirements just yet, but if you plan to make China your permanent home, you can start working towards fulfilling the requirements now. Oh, and do remember that this being China, rules and instructions tend to be overtly ambiguous and are subject to change.

The types of green cards available

1) Green Card for Investors: immigrants who’ve invested over 2 million USD
Have you invested over 2 million USD in China over three or more years? This category may be for you! According to paragraph 1 of article 6 of the “Permanent Residence for Foreigners Methods”, foreign citizens who have directly invested in China for three successive years and who have a clean tax record can apply for the green card.  Four types of investments are accepted in this category:

  1. Those who invested over 500,000 USD through companies encouraged by the Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalog  
  2. Those who invested over 500,000 USD in western parts of the country or in counties involved in national poverty alleviation schemes
  3.  Those who invested over 1 million USD in central regions
  4. Those who invested over 2 million USD in China

2) Green Card for Technical Personnel: Someone with senior titles
This category is open for those who are deputy general managers, deputy directors, associate professors or have other high-ranking titles. To qualify, you must have held this position for four full consecutive years and within those four years you must have spent an accumulative time of three years in China and paid taxes. The following four work units qualify:

  1. Organizations under State Council departments or provincial level government departments
  2. Prominent schools and universities
  3. Enterprises that have carried out projects for the government or important technology enterprises and industries
  4. High-tech enterprises, foreign-invested companies, foreign-invested advanced technology companies or foreign-invested export companies

3)  Green Card for People with Special Skills or Needed by the State: The most convenient option
This one, which is being called the easiest or most convenient category to apply through, grants a green card to those who have helped promote economic development or have made outstanding contributions to society. Talents who are deemed of great value to the country or who have special skills or are reputed in the technology sector are also welcome to apply through this category.

4) Family Reunion Green Card: Must be a spouse for at least 5 years
This is one is divided into three sub-categories:

  1. Husband & wife reunion green card: Chinese citizens or the spouse of a foreign citizen and their child under 18 years in possession of a Chinese permanent residence card can apply through this category provided they’ve been together and lived in China nine months out of each year for five years. They must also demonstrate that they have a stable life and residence here
  2. Relatives reunion green card: people over 60 who have no next-of-kin abroad and who are seeking refuge with direct relatives in China. These people must have lived in China for five consecutive years, of which at least nine months of the year was spent in China. They too must demonstrate stability and a residence in China

To keep up to date on the most recent updates of developments, check out the website of the Central People’s Government http://english.gov.cn/service/immigrating.htm. We also strongly urge you to read all about the new (stricter) extry/exit rules that go into effect on July 1, 2013 here.

Source: 163.com; shanghai.gov.cn

Related links
China to Relax Restrictions on Chinese “Green Card” for Foreigners?
The War on Illegal Foreigners: Beijing as Ground Zero
China Drafts Up Special New Visas for Foreign-Born Chinese

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Keywords: permanent residence card for foreigners

7 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.

bhambii

how to get i.d card in china? and how much is it?

Sep 23, 2016 04:37 Report Abuse

Raunchy

I have a foreign experts honorary award give to me by the Chinese government, will that get me a green card

May 23, 2013 21:31 Report Abuse

Raunchy

i have spent over one million on computer parts will that qualifier for investing

May 23, 2013 21:27 Report Abuse

Guest736662

Nothing mysterious about the "green card" (permanent residence card), just have to follow the rules, submit odious paperwork, eventually get the card. I've got mine since mid-2011, and it is actually quite handy in various situations (anywhere when a local would slap their 'shifenzheng' ID card). As for the rules, they are pretty clear (when compared to other Chinese rules) and it is possible to meet them (I did), just not for your average TEFL (TOFL?) certificate holder, or those who can't even read the rules (i.e. the "Dear sirs, I hav China girlfreind tree monts, please give green crad" type), mei banfa...

May 23, 2013 13:13 Report Abuse

BrandeX

Yep no change. You can't work on "spouse visa" you need a permanent residence card. You can't have a permanent residence card unless you own a house with your name on the title You can't afford to buy a house without a job You can't get a job without... a permanent residence card.. repeat in a circular fashion (yea I know I am glossing over normal work permits, but no need to be dicks to families)

May 21, 2013 09:55 Report Abuse

nonotz

oh good, all you need is invest 500k ..................

May 20, 2013 23:32 Report Abuse

carlstar

Soon. Soon i will be able too stay forever.... God that is depressing.

May 20, 2013 19:38 Report Abuse