Coincidence or Consequence? Why 3 Diverse Expats Sought Chinese 5-Star Card on the Same Day
Recently, following the emergence of new changes regarding foreign nationals’ work permits in Shanghai, I have noticed a very obvious phenomenon: An increasing number of foreign nationals who have already lived in China for many years are beginning to seriously study the matter of “Chinese permanent residency status.”
This is because there is a particular point in the current policy that has suddenly given many people a “sense of the future.” Namely: After reaching 60 years of age, standard Category B Work Permits can no longer be renewed. Moving forward, individuals in this age bracket can only apply for Category A Work Permits, which apply to groups such as those scoring above 85 points or meeting higher salary standards. This policy itself is not actually targeted at the majority of ordinary foreign nationals.
However, the actual impact it brings is that many people who have lived in China for a long time are, for the first time, beginning to seriously reflect: “If I get older in the future, will I still be able to remain in China stably and long-term just as I do now?”
This type of reflection actually rarely occurred in the past. Because previously, what many people took for granted was: As long as the company is stable and the job is stable, the work permit can always be renewed normally. But now, more and more people are starting to realize that “living in China for a long time” and “truly staying with stability” are actually two completely different things.
Previously, he had never seriously considered permanent residency. Because in his understanding, as long as the company is stable and the position is stable, there would not be any issues with the work permit. However, over the past two years, the corporate headquarters has begun to continuously adjust its Asian operations. Organizational restructuring, departmental optimization, and regional adjustments have become increasingly frequent.
Coupled with the recent changes regarding work permits after reaching 60 years of age, he began to seriously consider for the first time: If his age increases in the future, what should he do about his long-term legal status?
He said something that left a deep impression on me: “Previously, I always felt that I had already stabilized; only now do I realize that many of my assets and arrangements are actually still predicated on the fact that ‘the job is still there.'”
Particularly, many foreign nationals over the age of 50 will begin to care more and more about:
- What if the industry changes in the future?
- What if I change jobs later on?
- What if I get older and older?
- What if I do not want to frequently renew my visa in the future?
These questions might not be seriously thought about when one is young. But after truly living in China for a long time, many people will gradually begin to ponder them.
But after his child started attending school, his mindset began to change. For the first time, he began to seriously research:
- Long-term residency
- Educational issues
- Stability of legal status
- Long-term life planning
He said: “Previously, I felt that I was already considered to have ‘stayed for good,’ but later I discovered that living in China for a long time is actually very different from truly staying with stability.”
This statement is actually incredibly true to life. Many foreign nationals have stayed in China for many years: they have careers, clients, families, and social circles. However, the legal status itself may still be highly tied to employment. And once age increases, jobs change, or policies adjust, this “sense of uncertainty” can suddenly become very pronounced.
For example:
- What if I develop in China long-term in the future?
- What if I get older later on?
- What if policies continue to change in the future?
- What if I want to live and work more freely in the future?
He said that in the past, he always felt: “The Chinese Green Card is very far away from me.” But after truly understanding it, he discovered that many foreign nationals developing in China long-term are actually much closer to the permanent residency application criteria than they imagined. It is just that they had never seriously planned for it before.
At that time, everyone was more focused on:
- Salary
- Job opportunities
- Industry development
- Company platforms
As long as the work permit could be renewed, there seemed to be no major issues. But now, more and more people are starting to realize that a “stable work permit” does not equal “genuine stability.”
Particularly over these two years, many foreign nationals developing in China long-term have begun to care more and more about:
- Companies are changing faster and faster
- Industries experience layoffs
- Career risks after aging
- Job-changing audits are becoming increasingly detailed
- Social security, individual income tax, academic qualifications, and job-position matching issues
- Children’s education and long-term living issues
- Once employment is terminated, the stability of one’s legal status may be immediately affected
Many people only reach this stage to truly realize for the first time: although they have lived in China for many years, many things are, in fact, still “temporary.”
Particularly now, Shanghai actually already has an increasing number of pathways suitable for long-term foreign residents in China:
- High-income talents
- PhD-tier talents
- Application pathways for individuals of Chinese origin
- Entrepreneurial pathways
- Family reunion permanent residency
- Applications based on long-term stable employment
Many people previously felt that “the Chinese Green Card is very far away from me.” But in reality, what many people living in China long-term truly lack is not the qualifications, but rather advanced planning.
Because permanent residency itself is never a matter of “making a sudden decision and being able to apply immediately.” In many cases, social security, individual income tax, salary structures, years of employment, company conditions, and even the choice of legal pathway all need to be prepared several years in advance.
Previously, when many foreigners came to China, what they thought was: “Let’s stay for a few years and see.”
But now, what more and more people are seriously pondering is: “Can I truly stay here long-term?” And this shift has, in fact, become increasingly conspicuous.
