Terms for Application

Those expatriates with Ph.D degrees and currently work in Shanghai, and abide by Chinese laws, have good health, and have no criminal records can apply for permanent residence in China.

The foreign spouse and their unmarried children under 18 years old of the above foreign 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 expatriates with Ph.D degrees (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 employment-typed residence permits, and 2 copies of each should be submitted.

(3) Ph.D degree diploma and the Authentication Certificate, and provide 2 copies of each. If the diploma was issued by a domestic educational institution, then China Higher-education Verification Report (via China Higher-education student information website, or Shanghai Students Affairs Center) also must be provided. If the diploma was issued by an overseas educational institution, then foreign academic degree verification issued by Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) (via Overseas Academic Degree Accreditation System by Education Ministry) must also be provided.

(4) Valid Working Permit (or Employment Permit, Foreign Expert Certificate), and provide 2 copies of this.

(5) Employment certificate issued by the employer, and provide 1 copy of this.

(6) Employer’s Business License (counterpart) or relevant registration certificate, its online annual report for recent year, 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, not required for domestic companies), and provide 2 copies of each.

(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. 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).

(9) 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 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