1. Shanghai – Permanent Residence for Foreign Associate Professors at Prestigious Shanghai Universities
Foreign nationals serving as associate professors (or higher) at renowned 985 or 211 universities in Shanghai, including
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
- Fudan University,
- Tongji University,
- East China Normal University,
- East China University of Science and Technology,
- Shanghai University,
- Donghua University,
- Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and
- Shanghai International Studies University,
can apply for permanent residence through a “university recommendation” method after four years of service. This is contingent upon the university’s willingness to provide an official recommendation letter approved by the immigration bureau.
2. Shanghai – Requirement of Hague Apostille for New Work Permits
For new work permit applications in Shanghai, foreign nationals must provide the original non-criminal record certificate authenticated by the Hague Apostille.If the Hague Apostille is only available as an electronic stamp, a printed copy will not be accepted by the Foreign Expert Bureau.
3. Shanghai – Additional Documentation for Former Foreign Teachers
Foreign nationals with previous teaching experience in China applying for a new work permit in Shanghai may be required to submit a “Non-Teaching Commitment Letter.”This document must affirm that the applicant’s new position is unrelated to teaching and that they will not engage in any teaching-related activities upon obtaining the new work permit and work-related residence permit.
4. Beijing – Employment-Based Permanent Residence Application Criteria
Foreign nationals applying for employment-based permanent residence must have had their work-related residence permits issued in Beijing for the four years preceding the application.If the initial two years of residence permits were issued in Shanghai, followed by two years in Beijing, the Beijing immigration office would not accept the application, even if the individual’s income tax was consistently paid in Beijing.
5. Suzhou – Consistency Requirement for Company Addresses
Companies in Suzhou planning to hire foreign nationals must ensure that their actual office address matches the registered address on their business license. Discrepancies will result in the rejection of their application for an account on the “Foreigners Working in China” platform. Companies must first update their business license with the actual office address before reapplying.
6. Simplified Procedures for Work Card Applications Post-Resignation
In February 2024, a new policy was introduced, significantly simplifying the work card application process for foreign nationals.For those who submit a new work permit application within one month of cancelling their residence permit due to resignation, there is no need to provide a non-criminal record certificate and a medical examination report.However, if the cancellation of the residence permit exceeds one month, regardless of whether it is the first time applying for a work card, applicants must resubmit a non-criminal record certificate with Hague Apostille to the Foreign Expert Bureau.
Applications submitted more than three months after cancellation are treated as entirely new, requiring both a non-criminal record certificate with Hague Apostille and a medical examination report. The original medical examination report must be presented when processing the residence permit at the immigration office.
7. Passport Holding Certification for Foreign Chinese Nationals
Foreign Chinese nationals unable to provide the original of their former Chinese passport can apply for a “Passport Holding Certificate” at the immigration office of the passport’s place of issue. This certificate serves as an essential document for permanent residence applications.
