China’s residency rules are shifting in 2026. The PhD pathway—once the easiest route to permanent residence—now has higher bars and stricter reviews. How did the policy evolve over the past decade? How are cities diverging today? Where is it heading next? Here’s what you need to know.
To simplify cross-border document procedures, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) will begin issuing electronic Apostilles (e-Apostilles) for public documents. The MFA’s pilot will first cover Certificates of Origin issued by the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Starting 18 June 2025.
Expats with a doctoral degree working in Shanghai now have the opportunity to directly apply for Chinese permanent residence, commonly known as the Chinese green card, according to the official website “Online platform for Government Affairs of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.”
Chinese health authorities announced late on Monday that they have decided to immediately rename the term “novel coronavirus pneumonia” to “novel coronavirus infection” and downgrade the management of the disease from category A to category B starting Jan 8. Disease control measures targeting incoming travelers and imported cargo will be lifted.
According to the Notification on Optimizing the Prevention and Control Measures Against COVID-19 for More Scientific and Targeted Practice released by China National Health Commission on Nov.11,2022.
According to news released by several Chinese embassies abroad, students holding valid Chinese residence permits for study are allowed to enter China with no need for applying for new visas from 0 a.m., 24 August 2022.