Should you consider the "Chinese Green Card"?

Original Julian Expat Services SH 2023-03-22

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In this article, we compile and update the details of 3 prior published articles:

Applying for "Chinese Green Card" as Chinese spouse,
Applying for a "Chinese Green Card" based on one’s income,
Applying for a "Chinese Green Card" as investor.

We also note that a "Chinese Green Card" is not appropriate for everyone. Potential applicants shall weigh the advantages and disadvantages with holding this status. We have discussed in a previous article: Drawbacks of the "Chinese Green Card".

Applying for a "Chinese Green Card"

as Chinese spouse

Requirements:

1-Married to a Chinese national (with a Hukou or family registration).

2-Have been married for at least five years.

3-Have lived in China continuously for five years and spent nine months or more of each year in China.

4-Stable and ensured living and residence.

Documents Required:

1-Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China.

2-Passport valid for at least six months.

3-Provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos.

4-Health certificate from an approved hospital. It should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.

5-A statement of non-criminal record (please check the note at the end of the article for further information, you can also refer to our previous article here).

6-Four 2-inch passport photos.

7-Original Hukou and ID card of the Chinese spouse.

8-Original marriage certificate.

9-Proof of taxes that were paid for the past five years.

10-Notarized house ownership certificate or rental contract.

11-Certificate of deposit in a closed bank account of at least 200,000 RMB. This should NOT be withdrawn during the processing period of the application otherwise you will be rejected. Please note that the amount of deposit varies from one city to another so double check with the Public Security Bureau for the exact figure.

Additional Notes:

The application is be done through the Public Security Bureau where the Chinese spouse’s hukou orresidence status are located.

The official waiting period is six months, but it can go up to two years or more, and the exact time will vary from one location to another.

During that waiting period, the Public Security Bureau will not keep your passport with them, so this will not affect your travel and business affairs in the meantime.

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Applying for a "Chinese Green Card"

based on one’s income

Requirements:

We have tailored this section toward those in Shanghai; however, similar requirements are true for other cities and areas in China.

1-Worked in Shanghai continuously for four years with an annual salary income (before tax) exceeding RMB 600,000.

2-Paid annual individual income tax exceeding RMB 120,000.

3-In China for no less than 6 months every year during the four years prior to application.

Please note that the annual salary income criteria for this type of "Green Card" varies from one city to another so please double check with the local Public Security Bureau on the amount required for the city you are in.

Documents Required:

1-Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China.

2-Provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos.

3-Passport valid for at least six months.

4-Employment-typed residence permits issued in Shanghai for consecutively 4 years before this application, and 2 copies of each should be submitted.

5-Income certificate of the last 4 years issued by employer(s) and provide 1 copy of this.

6-Individual income tax clearance certificate issued by Shanghai taxation bureau documenting the last consecutive 4 years before this application and provide 1 copy of this.

7-Valid Working Permit (or Employment Permit, Foreign Expert Certificate) issued in Shanghai, and 2 copies of this.

8-Letter of recommendation issued by the present employer, and provide 1 copy of this.

9-Employer's Business License (counterpart) or relevant registration certificate, Approval Certificate of Foreign Invested Enterprise or Foreign Invested Enterprise Filing Receipt (not required for domestic companies) and annual inspection certificate of the recent 4 years, and provide 2 copies of each.

10-Health certificate from an approved hospital. It should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.

11-A statement of non-criminal record (please check the note at the end of the article for further information, you can also refer to our previous article here).

Applying for a "Chinese Green Card"

as investor

Requirements:

To qualify for "Green Card" as an investor, the foreign applicant would need to register a company in China and his or her company needs to meet one of the following categories:

1-Paid capital (e.g. total investment) 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 paid capital (e.g. total investment) 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 submitted paid capital (e.g. total investment) of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years).

4-Investment in “Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Project” encouraged by the State, and have actually submitted paid capital (e.g. total investment) 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.

Please refer to the following text of law to know the approved sectors of foreign investment in China:

http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/i/jyjl/e/202012/20201203027240.shtml?ivk_sa=1023197a

Documents Required:

1-Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China.

2-Provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos.

3-Passport valid for at least six months.

4-Valid residence permit along with 2 copies of each.

5-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).

6-The Business License, "Approval Certificate for Foreign-invested Enterprises" or "Return receipt for the establishment of a foreign-invested enterprise" (not required for a domestic enterprise) and annual inspection certificate of the last 3 years, and 2 copies of this.

7-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.

8-Health certificate from an approved hospital. It should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.

9-A statement of non-criminal record (please check the note at the end of the article for further information, you can also refer to our previous article here).

Additional Note:

Foreigners who are approved to reside permanently in China shall have a total residence of not less than three months in China each year. If it is really impossible to stay in China for three months due to actual needs, it must be approved by the public security department and bureau of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the central government, but it must be no more than one year in China within five years.

For all the situations

Time and Place to Apply:

The Exit-Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau

Mon - Fri, 9:00 am ~ 11:30 am, 13:30 pm ~ 17:00 pm (except holidays and festivals)

Time for Processing:

The application will be resolved in 180 working days after all the required documents are submitted. (If further investigation is needed, then the application will take longer)

Payment:

1. Processing fee RMB 1,500

2. Card fee: RMB 300

Notice:

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.

The non-national must stay in China for at least three consecutive months each year to maintain the “Green Card.”

The foreign spouse and their unmarried children under 18 years old of the above applicants can apply for permanent residence together.

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 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. Most cities will not accept a Chinese issued non-criminal record and the national report (e.g. FBI or equivalent) is required. You can also refer to our previous article here.

Authors:

Are you looking for more useful tips for your life in China? Get in touch with contributors for a consultation and follow us in our WeChat Group to receive the latest news. Expat Services (WeChat ID: ExS-SH) can add you into our WeChat group if you would like to ask the authors specific questions or concerns.

Julian is based in Shanghai but often travels for work and runs a company that works with individuals and organizations doing business between the US, China, and Africa. He has been based in China for a number of years.

Ikky is an R&D Manager working in Shanghai. He has been living in China for over 11 years.

Jatin (known by the nickname “Prince Jatin”) is a Multicloud DevOps Expert working in Shanghai. He has been living in China for over Nine years and owns four Indian communities WeChat groups known for "Helping Indians by Indians" with their specific inquiries regarding China affairs, he is also an active contributor to few other expat communities with expat work affairs based his knowledge and research expertise.

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