Terms for Application

Expats who meet one of the following conditions, abide by Chinese laws, have good health, and have no criminal records, and have good tax records can apply for permanent residence in China:

1. Investors who invest in China and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 2 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);

2. Investors who invest in Central China and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 1 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);

3. Investors who invest in China’s western regions and key national poverty alleviation and development counties, and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);

4. Investors who invest in “Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Project” encouraged by the State, and have actually submitted a registered capital of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years);

5. Investors who submit direct investment in Shanghai consistently as an individual or through the company as a controlling shareholder with individual status for three consecutive years, and whose total amount of investment reaches more than 1 million U.S. dollars (or 500,000 U.S. dollars for the “Foreign Investment Guideline Project” encouraged by the State.

The expat spouse and their unmarried children under 18 years old of the above applicants and abide by Chinese laws, have good health, and have no criminal records can apply for permanent residence together.

Documents Required

1. Documents Required for Foreign Investors (principal applicant)：

(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) Individual income tax clearance certificate issued by taxation bureau for the past 3 consecutive years before this application, and 1 copy of this (Applicants meeting the above Term 5 shall submit the tax clearance certificate issued by the Shanghai taxation bureau).

(4) The Business License (counterpart), its online annual report for the past 3 years, Certificate of Approval for Establishment of Enterprises with foreign investment or Receipt for the Establishment of Enterprises with foreign investment or Receipt for Change of Enterprises with foreign investment(If the document can be provided), and 2 copies of each.

(5) A capital verification report showing that the company‘s registered capital has reached the standard and an audit report showing this for the last 3 consecutive years, and provide 2 copies of each. In the Foreign Investment Guideline Project issued by the state, investment in encouraged industries requires the confirmation of foreign investment projects that the country encourages to develop, or the Certificate of foreign-invested enterprise that the state encourages to develop. As a controlling shareholder of a company, it is also necessary to submit a relevant investment and controlling certificate. If the Certificate is issued abroad, it must be verified by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General.

(6) 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.

(7) 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. The name on the Record Check must match that on the valid passport. In case the applicant has changed names, the former names should be noted in the Record, in case the applicant has lived in a country/region outside the passport-issuing country for successively two years or longer after he/she is 18 years old, a clear Criminal Record check from that country/region is also required. The Record(s) should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months (In case the duration of validity noted on the Record Check is less than 6 months, then the note on the Record Check shall prevail).

(8) The original and one photocopy of the Certificate of No Criminal Record in China (which should cover all passport numbers used by the applicant during their stay in China).

2. Documents Required for Spouse:

(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 certification 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 certifications used for marriage registration are also required.

(4) 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.

(5) 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. The name on the Record Check must match that on the valid passport. In case the applicant has changed names, the former names should be noted in the Record, In case the applicant has lived in a country/region outside the passport-issuing country for successively two years or longer after he/she is 18 years old, a clear Criminal Record check from that country/region is also required. The Record(s) should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months (In case the duration of validity noted on the Record Check is less than 6 months, then the note on the Record Check shall prevail).

(6) The original and one photocopy of the Certificate of No Criminal Record in China (which should cover all passport numbers used by the applicant during their stay in China).

3. Documents Required for Children:

(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 visa (or residence permit), and provide 2 copies of each.

(3) Birth Certificate (or parent-children relationship certificate, or adoption proof), and provide 2 copies of this. If the certification or proof was issued abroad, then verification by the Embassy/Consulate General of China is required.

(4) ID certificates of both parents, and provide 2 copies of each.

(5) Marriage certificate of parents and 2 copies of this (in case the parents have divorced, the principal applicant should provide valid sole-guardianship proof, such as a court verdict, etc.). If the certification was issued abroad, then verification by the Embassy/Consulate General of China is required.

(6) Nationality identification should be processed in the first place if one/both of the parents was/were of Chinese nationality when the child was born.

★Notice

(1) Applicant above 18 years old should come to process the application in person. For those under 18 years old both parents should come to process the application (in case the parents are divorced, the sole guardian parent shall process the application).

(2) The applicant should have their electronic ID photo taken at the social service photo station at the Immigration Service Center of Exit-Entry Administration department. In addition, they need to provide two ID photos taken recently. 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 photo size must be 48mm*33mm, with a facial width of 18mm±1mm, and head height (top of head to top of photo) between 1.5mm～2.5mm. The shirt collar or collarbone should be visible.

(3) In case the applicant has changed nationality, certificate of naturalization is required. In case the applicant was once of Chinese nationality, the former Chinese mainland citizen shall also provide their previous private passport and overseas permanent resident certificate (Chinese nationals who join another nationality when holding an official/service passport must renounce Chinese nationality first). If necessary, certifications issued abroad must be verified by the Embassy/Consulate General of China.

(4) 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.

(5) 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).

(6) 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.

(7) 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.

(8) 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.

Time and Place to Apply:

Immigration Service Center of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau (No 8-9, Lane 36, Xuelin Road, Pudong New District):

Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 11:30 am, 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm（except holidays and festivals）

Exit-entry administration offices of each branches of the Shanghai Municipal PSB:

Read the list of “Branch Offices Information” for detailed address and working hours.

Time for Processing:

The application shall be handled and reported to the Ministry of Public Security in 90 working days after all the required documents are submitted (Time for investigation is excluded if some items need to be investigated by the Public Security Bureau).

Payment:

1. Processing fee RMB 1,500

2. Card fee: RMB 300

Service Tel: 021-12367

Supervision Tel: 021-68547109

E-government Platform: https://gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/

Public WeChat: Shanghai Public Security Exit-Entry Administration

(All contents of the guideline are authentic in Chinese, English is for reference only.)

Source: gaj.sh.gov.cn