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Understanding Permanent Residency in China

2018-04-16 Josh Bunnell ShanghaiWOWeng


The Chinese permanent residency card (or “green card”) is often seen as one of the most difficult in the world to obtain. Strict visa policies and government control over foreign immigration to China have long been the expectation for foreign workers and professionals coming to build a career and life here in the Middle Kingdom. However, as China continues to work its transition into an “innovation-led economy,” some of its key policies to attract and incentivize talented and high-level foreign professionals to bring their research and knowledge to China.

 

In recent years, the country has moved to the forefront of global technological advancement and innovation. In correlation with such improvements, the past decade has seen the emergence of a new economic policy built around one simple mission: to transform China’s traditional “export-led economy” into an innovation-led economy. Simply put, this transition aims to prioritize internal innovation, technological advancement, and capital investments while relying less on profit from traditional import / export trading companies, tariffs, etc. A key ingredient, as government officials note with their revision to strict visa policies, is foreign innovation and more talent being brought to China.

 

 

Understanding China’s priorities and economic focus is key to understanding how this permanent residency program works. The latest update to permanent residency highly promotes and prioritizes individuals with direct connections to capital investment, or time-investment in China and the local economy. Below is a breakdown of the policy by beneficiary groups and how each policy is tailored to address the needs of both the people and the local government.


Beneficiary Group A: Foreign Chinese



“The New Deal offers the greatest convenience to foreigners (expatriates who are either of Chinese descent or have Chinese nationality), which not only expands the scope for them to apply for permanent residence directly, but also eases their immigration and temporary residence conditions.”

 

Compared with the existing policies, the New Deal will no longer limit the number of people who can apply for permanent residency to special personnel such as the “National Thousand People Project“, as long as they have a doctoral degree or above or reside in China for at least four years.

 

Note that it is required that the foreigners who will be benefiting from this streamlined residency must be living in China for more than 6 months each year.

 

Long-term residence permits may also be issued to those with valid residence permits that total or more years. Visa processing time has also been reduced from 7 to 5 days, while the time for residence permits has been reduced from 15 to 10 days.


Beneficiary Group B: Foreign High-End Talent

 


Foreign high-end talent will be given more prioritization under these new visa policies.

 

Compared with the existing policies, the New Deal applies to more expatriates and simplifies the application process. In this effort for simplification, the time limit for application was reduced from the original 180 days by half to just 90 days.

 

At the same time, the New Deal also stipulates that foreign workers and senior management personnel selected by enterprises in certain demonstration zones should apply for a work visa at the port of entry if they have been issued a work permit invitation.

 

Beneficiary Group C: Long-Term Foreign Professionals

 


The main goal behind this new visa policy is to facilitate access and allow more people to apply for and obtain their permanent residency in China. In the past, only foreigners who met the requirements of their industry and job titles could apply for permanent residency. The New Deal aims to break this restriction.


Only after having lived in China for four consecutive years (at least three years total spent in China), foreign residents with an annual income of at least RMB 500,000 and annual personal income tax of at least RMB 100,000 can apply for permanent residence in China. This provision also allows their spouses and children to apply together.


Additionally, foreigners working in China who have already applied for the Residence Permit for Work three times in a row may apply for an extended residence permit for work. This extended permit will be valid for another 5 years.

 


These policy initiatives were first launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, many parts of which have been gradually rolled out nationwide. While there is still a long way to go, we can see a great deal of innovative policies coming from these “hubs” of innovation and technology such as Hangzhou’s Binjiang District (High-Tech Development Zone) and other second / third tier cities looking to establish strong centers for innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

Through competitive policy and support, local governments are working to facilitate innovation in their respective communities, with a particular focus on high-level talents, student entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as foreign resident stability, livelihood, and societal identity.


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