Employment-Based China Permanent Residency

1. Permanent Residence for Working Staff

Those who have worked in Shanghai continuously for 4 years with an annual salary income (before tax) exceeding RMB 600,000, have paid annual individual income tax exceeding RMB 120,000, and stay in China for no less than 6 months every year in these 4 years can apply for permanent residence in China with the present employer’s recommendation.

2. Permanent Residence for Foreigners Holding Residence Permits for Work (Marked “High Qualified Person”)

Foreign high-level experts (talents) who are accredited by a competent national or municipal administration, or employed by science and technology innovation companies designated by a competent department of Shanghai as professionals with expertise can apply for permanent residence in China with the present employer’s recommendation if they have acquired an employment-typed residence permit noted with “Talents” and have worked in Shanghai for over 3 years.

3.Permanent Residence for Senior/Professional Staff

Applicants are eligible for permanent residence if they are employed in the following 5 types of organizations and hold positions of chairman, vice chairman, general manager, deputy general manager, or have titles of associate professor, associate researcher and above, and have worked consecutively for 4 years (residence in China no less than 3 years), and have good tax records:

1) Research institutes of the State Council or Shanghai Municipal People’s Government or public institutions with administrative management or functions

2) Key universities (“211 Project” schools and the first batch of admissions colleges)

3) Enterprises and institutions that undertake the task of national key projects or major scientific and technological projects

4) High-tech enterprises, encouraged foreign-invested enterprises, foreign-invested advanced technology enterprises or foreign-invested product export enterprises

5) Enterprises and institutions like national laboratories, national key laboratories, national engineering laboratories, national engineering research centers, national accredited enterprise technology centers, national engineering technology research centers, or foreign-funded centers.

4.Permanent Residence for Special Talents

Foreign people who meet one of the following conditions can apply for permanent residence in China:

1) World-class talents, special skilled professionals or celebrities who have made significant and outstanding contributions to national economic development and social progress or who have great value to the country and recommended by Ministry, Commission or Administration of the State Council, or Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.;

2) Foreigners who meet the criteria of high-level talent as set by the national key development zones;

3) Foreign financial talents recommended by Shanghai financial administration authorities.

5. Permanent Residence for Foreign Staff Working in China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-Gang Special Area

Those who have worked in Shanghai continuously for 4 years with an annual salary income (before tax) exceeding RMB 600,000, have paid annual individual income tax exceeding RMB 120,000, and stay in China for no less than 6 months every year in these 4 years can apply for permanent residence in China with the present employer’s recommendation.

6.Permanent Residence for Core Members of Research Teams

Core members of research teams recommended and guaranteed by foreign leading experts or pioneering researchers who have been introduced by Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone or China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter call “Double Zones”) and recognized by the Administration Committee of Double Zones can apply for permanent residence in China.

7.Permanent Residence for Excellent Foreign Graduates

Foreign graduates from key domestic universities (on the List of World-Class Universities and First-Class Disciplines (“Double First-Class” initiative) released by the Ministry of Education) or well-known overseas universities[top 300 universities on Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities (originally compiled and issued by Shanghai Jiao Tong University)] who were engaged in innovative entrepreneurship in Shanghai with a residence permit for private affairs (marked “entrepreneurship”) within 2 years after graduation, became employed by eligible Shanghai organizations during those 2 years and worked there for three consecutive years, and have good records of work performance, tax payment, and social credit may apply for permanent residence in China upon recommendation of their organizations.