Overseas Chinese Working Staff to Apply for Permanent Residence in China

Source: E-government Platform of Exit-Entry Administration Offices of Branches of Shanghai Public Security Bureau

 

Requirements for overseas Chinese working staff to apply for Permanent Residence in China:

 

Those overseas Chinese who work in Shanghai Zhangjiang National Innovation Demonstration Zone or China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter called “Double Zones”), or in demonstration base of “mass entrepreneurship and innovation” (hereinafter called “Double Innovation”) area for at least 4 consecutive years, and have good tax records, and who live in mainland China for no less than 6 months each year can apply for permanent residence.

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

 

Documents required for overseas Chinese working staff to apply for Permanent Residence in China:

 

1. Documents Required for Overseas Chinese Working in “Double Zones”, “Double Innovation” Areas (principal applicant)：

(1) Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China, and provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos (recorded in a CD) (Read the Notice for more details).

(2) Valid passport and employment-typed residence permit in proof of the applicant’s working in “Double Zones”, “Double Innovation” area for 4 consecutive years before the application, and provide 2 copies of each.

(3) Certificate indicating that the applicant is of ethnic Chinese origin, and provide 2 copies of this. This certificate can be the applicant’s previous Chinese passport, ID card, Household Register (or deregistration certificate), or Overseas Chinese Certificate issued by Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

(4) Recognition of Permanent Residence Application issued by “Double Zones” Administration committee (or its authorized branch agents), or “Double Innovation” administration department, and provide 1 copy of this.

(5) Foreigner’s Work Permit (or employment permit, Foreign Expert Certificate) issued in Shanghai consecutively for 4 years before this application, and provide 2 copies of this.

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

(7) 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 last 4 years, and provide 2 copies of each.

(8) Individual income tax clearance certificate issued by the Shanghai taxation bureau documenting the last4 consecutive years before this application, and provide 1 copy of this.

(9) 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.

(10) 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.

 

 

2.Documents Required for Spouse：

(1) Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China, and provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos (recorded in a CD) (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 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.

3. Documents Required for children:

(1) Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China, and provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos (recorded in a CD) (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 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 for overseas Chinese working staff applying for Permanent Residence in China:

 

(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 guardian parent shall process the application).

(2) 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 mainland Chinese 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), former Taiwanese shall also provide a residence deregistration certificate; former Hong Kong/Macau people shall also provide an ID cancellation certificate. 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.

 

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

 

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