What the status rests on and who decides
The legal basis is stated in the guidelines themselves: the PRC Law on Administration of Entry and Exit and the Measures for the Administration of Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence of Foreigners in China.
The receiving authorities are the public security bodies under municipal people’s governments of cities with subordinate districts, as well as the district public security bureaux and county-level bureaux of centrally administered municipalities.
The general eligibility criterion is worded as follows: foreign nationals who have made a notable contribution to China’s economic and social development, or who meet other permanent residence conditions, may submit an application.
Three conditions that apply to everyone without exception: compliance with Chinese laws and regulations, good health, and a clean criminal record.
The applicant must then satisfy one of seven grounds. The guidelines state the other side of this explicitly: applications for permanent residence in China will not be accepted from foreign nationals who do not meet the specified conditions.
- Exit and Entry Administration Law and Measures on Approval of Permanent Residence
- Compliance with the law, good health, and a clean criminal record — for everyone
- Seven grounds, the list is exhaustive
- If you don’t meet any of them, the application will not be accepted at all
All seven grounds in full
First: investors — the applicant has made direct and sustained investments in China and has a good tax record for three consecutive years.
Second — employees: the applicant holds the position of deputy director-general, deputy factory director or above, or holds a professional title of associate professor level or above — for example, associate professor or senior researcher; or has received a salary in China commensurate with such a level for at least four consecutive years, having resided in China for a total of at least three of those four years and having a sound tax record.
Third — outstanding merit: the applicant has made a significant and exceptional contribution to China’s development and is especially needed by the country.
The fourth — family members of the first three: the spouse and unmarried children under 18 of an applicant who qualifies under the first, second, or third ground.
Fifth — spouses: the applicant is married to a Chinese citizen or to a foreigner who holds permanent residence in China. Three conditions apply, all mandatory: at least five years of marriage; at least five consecutive years of residence in China, with no fewer than nine months spent in the country in each of those years; and a stable source of income and housing.
The sixth — children: the applicant is under 18, unmarried, and dependent on their parents.
Seventh — elderly relatives: the applicant is aged 60 or over, has no immediate relatives abroad, and lives with an immediate relative in China. The same presence requirements also apply: at least five consecutive years in China with no less than nine months in each year, a stable source of income, and housing.
| Grounds | Key condition | Presence |
|---|---|---|
| Investors | direct and stable investments | tax history for 3 consecutive years |
| Employees | deputy director-general or above, or associate professor rank | 3 out of 4 years, salary for 4 consecutive years |
| Special merits | substantial contribution, exceptional necessity | not established |
| Family of the first three | spouse and children under 18 | not established |
| Spouses | marriage of 5+ years to a citizen or resident | 5 consecutive years, at least 9 months per year |
| Children | under 18, unmarried, dependent | not established |
| Elderly relatives | 60+, no immediate family abroad | 5 consecutive years, at least 9 months per year |
How already-obtained status is lost
Article 24 of the Measures sets out four circumstances under which the State Migration Administration may revoke previously obtained permanent residence, confiscate a permanent resident card, or declare it invalid.
First — foreign nationals who may endanger China’s national security or interests. Second — those sentenced to deportation by a people’s court. Third — those who obtained permanent residence through fraudulent materials or other unlawful means.
A fourth point, usually discovered last: foreign nationals whose residence in China without the appropriate permit amounts to less than three months per year or less than one year over a five-year period of residence.
This is the quietest way to lose a Chinese card. It has no expiry date in the usual sense, but it does require physical presence — and that requirement is defined by two thresholds at once: an annual one and a five-year one. Fewer than three months in a given year is already grounds for cancellation. Less than a year in total over five years is too.
- Threat to national security or interests
- A court order for deportation
- Obtaining status through fraudulent materials
- Less than 3 months per year or less than a year over a five-year period
Which documents are required for each basis
The core document set is the same for everyone: a valid foreign passport, a medical certificate, and a foreign criminal record clearance.
Investors additionally submit a copy of the duplicate business licence of the legal entity, a certificate of the enterprise’s annual report disclosure, a confirmation letter for foreign-funded projects, a copy of the capital verification report, and — only for those whose development is encouraged at the national level — a copy of a confirmation letter from the national authority or a certificate from authorised provincial bodies confirming that the enterprise is in an encouraged category, together with a copy of the personal tax payment certificate.
Employees submit a copy of the employment certificate, a copy of the work permit for a foreign national, a copy of the employer’s registration certificate, a certificate of disclosure of the company’s annual report, a copy of the project certificate or confirmation letter, and a copy of the personal tax payment certificate.
Highly skilled specialists — a copy of a recommendation letter and copies of relevant awards and achievements.
Spouse and unmarried children under 18 of those applying under the first three bases — copies of the marriage certificate, birth certificates or documents confirming family ties, and a copy of the investor’s, employee’s or specialist’s own permanent resident card.
Spouses applying under the fifth ground — a copy of the marriage certificate, a copy of the spouse’s identity document, a copy of the rental agreement or proof of property ownership, and a copy of a document confirming a stable source of income.
Children — a copy of the birth certificate or document proving the family relationship; copies of the identity documents of parents who are Chinese nationals, or copies of the passports and permanent resident cards of parents who are foreign nationals; if the parents are divorced, a copy of the document confirming that custody has been granted to the inviting party.
Elderly relatives — a copy of a document confirming no immediate relatives abroad, a copy of a kinship document within the country, copies of the household register and ID of the Chinese host, or copies of the passport and permanent resident card of a foreign host, a copy of a tenancy agreement or proof of property ownership, and a copy of a document confirming a stable source of income.
Originals are presented for verification; copies are submitted.
Process, timelines, and a final decision
The application is submitted to the public security authority at the place of investment or at the place of long-term residence.
An authorized representative may submit the application. This requires a power of attorney issued by the applicant and certified by a notary office; if the power of attorney was issued abroad, it must be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate of the relevant country. For an applicant under 18 years of age, the application may be submitted by parents or authorized representatives.
A three-stage review then begins. The receiving authorities complete their investigation within three months of the date the application is accepted and forward eligible cases to the reviewing authorities. The reviewing authorities complete their assessment within two months and forward eligible cases to the State Migration Administration for approval. For applicants who do not meet the requirements, the Administration issues a refusal decision.
The overall timeline is set separately: public security authorities must approve or refuse within six months of the date the application is accepted. And the next line of the guidance matters more than the deadline itself — a decision made by the public security authorities is final.
Upon approval, the permanent resident card is sent by the receiving authorities to the applicant, guardian or authorized representative. At the same time, the applicant’s existing valid visa or residence permit is cancelled.
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Investigation by the receiving authority | 3 months from the date of acceptance |
| Review by the supervising authority | 2 months |
| Approval by the immigration authority | following the review |
| Overall processing time | 6 months, decision is final |
How much does it cost and what are your obligations after filing
The rates are approved by separate acts of the Ministry of Finance and the State Committee for Development and Reform and are published in the guidelines themselves.
Application fee: 1,500 yuan. Card production: 300 yuan. Re-issuance in case of loss or damage: 600 yuan. Renewal upon expiry: 300 yuan.
The applicant’s obligations are listed in equally specific terms. The applicant must submit materials in good faith, report the true state of affairs to the administrative authorities, and bears responsibility for the accuracy of everything submitted.
A second obligation worth bearing in mind when planning: the applicant is required to cooperate with administrative authorities during interviews, phone calls and on-site visits — to confirm the accuracy of the materials submitted. In other words, after filing you need to remain reachable and, when necessary, be present where you can be verified.
| Action | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | 1 500 ¥ |
| Card production | 300 ¥ |
| Re-issuance after loss or damage | 600 ¥ |
| Renewal after expiry | 300 ¥ |
Permanent residence in China
- Identifying which of the seven grounds applies — it determines the entire document set
- Checking presence against the annual and five-year thresholds
- Gathering and legalising the basic set: passport, medical certificate, criminal record clearance
- A tailored document package for each ground: investor, employee, spouse, or family member
- Notarised and consularly certified power of attorney if a representative is submitting the application
- Support through to a decision and guidance on the consequences of cancelling the old visa
A legal consultation — 600 ¥ ($89).Credited toward the full service fee if you continue with us.
During the consultation the lawyer reviews your situation based on your documents and provides filing route: which basis, what will be needed and in what order.
Government fees, notarisation, certified translations and apostille, where required, billed separately at actual cost — we will itemise them for your situation. Processing time depends on the authority and its workload, which is why we do not publish an average figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many years do you need to live in China for permanent residence?
There is no single timeline — permanent residence is granted on one of seven grounds, each with different residency requirements. For investors, it is a clean tax record for three consecutive years; for employees, at least three years of residence within a four-year period with a qualifying salary for four consecutive years; for spouses of citizens and residents and for elderly relatives, five consecutive years with at least nine months of physical presence in each year.
How long does a decision take?
Six months from the date the application is accepted. Within that period, the receiving authority’s investigation takes up to three months, and the reviewing authority’s consideration takes up to two. The decision of the public security authorities is final.
Can you lose your permanent resident card?
Yes. Article 24 of the Measures lists four grounds: a threat to national security or China’s interests, a court order of expulsion, obtaining status through fraudulent documents, and — most commonly — residing in China without the relevant permit for less than three months per year or less than one year over a five-year period of residence.
How much does it cost?
Application fee: 1,500 yuan; card production: 300 yuan. Re-issuance in case of loss or damage: 600 yuan; renewal upon expiry: 300 yuan.
What investment amount is required?
The immigration administration guidance does not name a figure: the condition is framed as direct and sustained investment in China with a clean tax record for three consecutive years. Specific thresholds are set by separate instruments and vary by region and project category, so we do not list them here.
Can a representative submit the application?
Yes. A power of attorney issued by the applicant and certified by a notary is required; if issued abroad, it must be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate of the relevant country. Parents or authorized representatives may apply on behalf of a minor.
What happens to the old visa after approval?
It is cancelled. At the same time the permanent resident card is dispatched, the applicant’s existing valid visa or residence permit is revoked.
Verified September 9, 2026. The thresholds and amounts are tied to indicators that are reviewed annually — check the official source for your country before filing.
- National Immigration Administration of China — guidelines on approving permanent residence rights for foreigners: seven grounds, article 24, procedure, timelines and fees
- National Immigration Administration of China — official manual on issuing, extending, modifying and reissuing residence permits for foreigners
Services and prices — openly, before any conversation
People usually add: residence permit: filing and collection — 2 200 ¥ ($327) · residence permit renewal — 2 500 ¥ ($372). Two or more services — 5% off each.
Prices are in Chinese yuan and are all-inclusive — nothing is added on top. The dollar figure in brackets is for reference, based on a rate of $1 = ¥6.72. Chinese government fees are paid separately and directly: residence permit 400 ¥ for up to one year and 800 ¥ for one to three years, medical examination 480–500 ¥, permanent residence application 1,500 ¥. Russian consular legalisation costs approximately 8,540 ₽ per document.