China Permanent Residence(Green Card）

It has always been a challenge for foreigners in China to apply for a China permanent residence, as the application process is not only lengthy, but complicated as well.

Guangdong Province, which boasts the largest import-export volume across China over years, is a livable province with many popular cities among foreigners as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Zhaoqing...

On November 22, 2021, Guangdong Province finally issued a notice titled "Notice for foreigners whose annual income from wages and annual personal income tax payments in Guangdong meet the required standards to apply for permanent residence in China".

I.Legal basis

"Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China", "Measures for the Approval and Administration of Permanent Residence of Foreigners in China" and its implementing regulations, "Approval on the Implementation of Entry and Exit Policies and Measures to Support the Construction of Guangdong Free Trade Zone and Innovation-driven Development", "Notice on the Implementation of 12 Immigration and Entry Facilitation Policies and Measures”.

II. Application requirements

1. Foreigners who have worked continuously in Guangdong for four years, have actually resided in China for a total of at least six months each year, have an annual income (before tax) of at least RMB 400,000 in salaries for four years in succession at the time of application and before the date of application, and have paid individual income tax of at least RMB 70,000 each year, may apply for permanent residence in China upon recommendation of their employers.

2.Foreigners who have worked exclusively in Guangdong for four years, who have resided in China for at least six months each year, whose annual wage income is not less than six times the average wage of the local employees employed in the previous year and whose annual personal income tax payment is not less than 20% of their annual wage income, may apply for permanent residence in China upon the recommendation of their employer (foreign spouses and minor children). (Foreign spouses and minor children can apply with them).

III. The application process

Applicants can apply to the Exit-Entry Administration Department of the Public Security Organs where they are permanently residing.If the place of residence and work are not in the same area, you can apply to the public security authorities of the place of employment.

Applicants can also entrust their relatives and state agencies or relevant legal entities to apply on their behalf. If you entrust a relative to apply on your behalf, you should issue a power of attorney (notarized) written and signed by the applicant, which should state the relationship between the applicant and the entrusted person, the reason for the entrustment, and provide the identity certificate of the entrusted person. Entrust the applicant to state organs or relevant legal institutions, should issue a power of attorney written and signed by the applicant (subject to notarization), the power of attorney should indicate the basic situation of the applicant and the entrusted person, entrusted matters, etc. The specific contractor should provide the power of attorney of the entrusted institution. The power of attorney issued by the applicant abroad shall be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.

IV. Application Documents

• (a) Fill out the "Application Form for Permanent Residence of Foreigners in China" (the employee and his/her spouse and children) in triplicate and submit three tested recent blue color photographs (size: 48×33mm) of the applicant without hat on the front side.
• (b) Valid foreign passport and visa identification of the applicant.
• (b) health certificate issued by the health and quarantine department designated by the Chinese government or issued by a foreign health care institution certified by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate abroad.
• (d) A certificate of no criminal record abroad certified by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad (must be submitted for countries or regions where the applicant has resided continuously for more than 2 years, and the certificate must be certified by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, and the certificate and the certification issued by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad should be issued within 6 months before the date of receipt)
• (e) the applicant's CV (18 years old to the present, requesting consecutive years and months between). If the applicant had Chinese nationality, the resume must detail the acquisition of permanent residence in a foreign country, accession to foreign nationality, and submit proof of foreign settlement status, proof of naturalization, the passport of the People's Republic of China used at the time of naturalization, proof of cancellation of household registration, etc.
• (f) The original payroll certificate issued by the employer for four consecutive years prior to the date of application.
• (g) personal income tax payment proof issued by the tax authorities ( payment of taxes should be for four consecutive years before the date of application).
• (h) the original letter of recommendation issued by the current employer (the letter of recommendation should indicate that the applicant has worked in Guangdong for four years, annual wage income and annual payment of personal income tax to meet the required standards, etc.).
• (i) "Foreign Expert Certificate" or "Employment Certificate for Foreigners" (valid for 4 consecutive years prior to the date of application submitted by the applicant, the information on the documents regarding the employer, position and personal situation should be consistent with the certificate of employment and other relevant certificates).
• (j) proof of employment registration (such as a copy of the business license, organization code, etc.) and annual inspection certificate (valid for a period of four consecutive years before the date of application); such as the employment of foreign-invested enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises should also submit the certificate of approval and joint annual inspection certificate (valid for a period of four consecutive years before the date of application).

V. Notes

• (a) The application form must be filled out with a black water pen or signature pen and submitted in original; other materials in triplicate, the original must be submitted in copy (A4 size).
• (b) the certificate issued by the relevant foreign institutions must be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country. Foreign language materials shall be translated into Chinese and the official seal of the translation company shall be affixed on the translated documents and the copy of the business license of the translation company.
• (b) The information on the passport information page such as applicant's photo, name, gender, date of birth, passport number, passport validity period, etc. shall be clear and precise. If the relevant information on the passport cannot be distinguished by the receiving authority due to handwriting or the foreign language of the country concerned, a clear explanation or Chinese translation from the embassy or consulate of the country concerned shall be issued.
• (d) If the applicant is a foreign Chinese who has changed his or her name after joining a foreign country (English name is not the transliteration of Chinese name), a notarization procedure is required for the change of his or her name.
• (e) If the applicant needs to print his or her Chinese name on the Permanent Resident Certificate, he or she should fill in the "Other Matters Requiring Explanation" section of the application form with "Chinese Name: XXX", otherwise fill in Otherwise, fill in "None".
• (f) If the relevant matters need to be investigated and verified by the public security authorities, the investigation time will not be counted as working days.