Who is eligible?
1. Those people who are married to a Chinese citizen (having registered Chinese permanent citizenship), or to a foreigner who has the qualification for permanently staying in China.
2. They have been married for 5 years.
3. They have lived in China for 5 consecutive years and staying in mainland China for no less than 9 months every year.
4. They have stable life security and accommodations in China.
Application Process
1. Apply to the public security organ of the municipal people’s government.
2. After accepting the application, carry out relevant investigations, and report to the provincial public security organ for review if the application meets the requirements.
3. Those who meet the requirements after review shall be reported to the National Immigration Administration for approval. After the approval, the National Immigration Administration will issue a foreigner’s permanent residence ID card.
Time and Payment for Processing
Time:
The time varies from place to place, currently 4-6 months in Guangzhou; 6-12 months in Beijing; 6-9 months in Shanghai.
Payment:
- Processing fee: RMB 1,500
- Card fee: RMB 300
Documents Required
1. Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China and provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos (Read the Notice for more details).
2. Valid passport and valid visa (or residence permit) and provide 2 copies of each.
3. Marriage certificate and provide 2 copies of this. If this certificate was issued abroad, a verification from the Embassy/Consulate General of China is also needed, which has a validity of up to 6 months. Two copies of ID certificate used for marriage registration are also required.
4. ID card and Household Register for spouse with Chinese nationality, or valid passport and Permanent Resident ID Card for spouse with foreign nationality and provide 2 copies of this. Marriage status in the spouse’s Household Register should note married or indicate the same English name as the valid passport. Copies of issuance page and spouse’s information pages of Household Register should be submitted.
5. Proof of financial security or financial sources and provide 1 copy of this.
Proof of financial security is applicant’s or their spouse’s Certification of Deposit in domestic banks of no less than RMB 200,000, and this should be verified by a notary office. If the deposit is under the name of applicant’s spouse, the declaration that the spouse is willing to guarantee security should be notarized and submitted as well.
6. House property certificate or house renting contract and provide 2 copies of this. If the house is owned by the applicant and spouse, the house property certificate should be submitted, and the name indicated on this must match the English name on the valid passport.
7. A Health check certificate which was issued by a domestic entry-exit inspection and quarantine agency (or by foreign medical institutions verified by Embassy /Consulate General of China) and provide 1 copy of this. The health certificate should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.
8. A Criminal Record/ Background check which shows no trace or history of any kind must be verified by the Embassy/Consulate General of China, and 1 copy should also be provided. The Record Check must be issued by relevant national-level competent authority and shall specify the verification result of the applicant criminal record.
Notice
1. The photo should be taken in color with a white background. No hats or other obscuring items are permitted, and the full face must be visible. The shirt collar or collarbone should be visible.
2. In case the applicant has changed nationality, certificate of naturalization is required. In case the applicant was once of Chinese nationality, the former mainland Chinese citizen shall also provide their previous private passport and overseas permanent resident certificate.
3. In case the applicant has changed their name, relevant certifications and 2 copies of these are required. Certifications issued in a foreign country should be verified by the Embassy/Consulate General of China.
4. The Criminal Record/Background check, Marriage certificate, Birth certificate, relationship certificate, adoption paper, name changing proof or other relevant documents issued by overseas authorities must either be verified by the Embassy/Consulate General of China or be certified by his/her country’s Embassy/Consulate General in China (personal statement is not acceptable).
5. Certifications in foreign languages should be translated into Chinese and stamped by an eligible domestic translation agency, and a copy of the business license of this translation agency is required.
6. The applicant can mark down “Need to print Chinese name” in “Others” column of the application form, if he/she hopes to have a Chinese name printed on Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.
7. Exit-entry administration of public security organs may, as they deem necessary, require applicants to attend an interview or submit additional supporting documents. Applications which fail to provide the requisite information within the required time will be rejected, unless caused by a force majeure event.