Instructions on Application for Permanent Residence in China by Foreign Nationals of Chinese Origin Working in the 9 Cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Ⅰ. Eligible applicant

Foreign nationals of Chinese origin who have a PhD degree and work in Guangzhou with a work residence permit; or foreign nationals of Chinese origin who have worked in Guangzhou for 4 consecutive years with a cumulative period of not less than 6 months in terms of actual residence in China each year, may apply for permanent residence in China.

Ⅱ. Documents required for application (in triplicate)

(1) Complete and submit the Form of Application for Permanent Residence of Foreigner in China (for both employees and their spouses and children) in triplicate; submit 4 recently taken bareheaded and full-faced color photos of applicant against a blue background (standard: 48 x 33mm);

(2) Valid foreign passport and visa of the applicant;

(3) Health certificate issued within 6 months by a health and quarantine authority designated by the Chinese government or issued by a foreign health and medical institution accredited by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad;

(4) Certificate of no criminal record authenticated by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad (which shall be issued by each country or region in which the applicant has/had resided for 2 or more consecutive years, and the issue date of both the certificate and the authentication shall be within 6 months prior to the time of application);

(5) Applicant's resume (from the age of 18 to present. Years and months are required to be continuous). If the applicant has once held Chinese nationality, the resume should detail his/her obtainment of the right of foreign permanent residence and his/her naturalization and he/she shall submit a certificate of his/her foreign settlement qualification, a certificate of naturalization, the passport of the People's Republic of China used at the time of acquiring foreign citizenship and the certificates of cancellation of Chinese household register;

(6) Proof of having possessed nationality of the People's Republic of China (PRC), such as identity card, household register, Certificate of Renunciation of PRC Nationality; or certificate of being a foreign national of Chinese origin issued by an overseas Chinese affairs office at the country or higher level of Guangdong Province;

(7) Other relevant documents:

1) If the applicant has a PhD degree, he/she shall submit the following documents: (a) A degree certificate (if it is issued by an overseas educational institution, it shall be authenticated by local Chinese embassy or consulate or the authentication organization designated by the national education department); (b) An original employment certificate issued by the current employer; (c) Foreign Expert Certificate or Employment Permit or Foreigner's Work Permit (The relevant information in these certificates regarding the employer, position and personal details shall comply with the employment certificate or any other relevant certificate); (d) Certificate of personal income tax clearance as issued by the tax authority (the period of tax payment shall be of the current year prior to the date of application); (e) The employer's registration certificate (for example, a copy of its business license or its organization code) and its current year's annual inspection certificate; if the employer is a foreign investment enterprise, both certificate of approval for establishment of enterprises with foreign investment and certificate of current year's joint annual inspection shall be submitted;

2) Applicants who have worked for 4 consecutive years in Guangzhou prior to the date of application shall submit the following: (1) An original employment certificate issued by the current employer (which proves that the applicant has worked in Guangzhou for 4 consecutive years prior to the date of application); (2) Foreigner's Work Permit or Foreign Expert Certificate or Employment Permit for Foreigner (the valid period shall be the last 4 consecutive years prior to the date of submitting the application, with the relevant information in these certificates regarding the employer, position and personal details shall comply with the employment certificate or any other relevant certificate); (3) Certificate of personal income tax clearance as issued by the tax authority (the period of tax payment shall be 4 consecutive years prior to the date of application); (4) The employer's registration certificate (for example, a copy of its business license or its organization code) and its annual inspection certificate (the valid period shall be the last 4 consecutive years prior to the date of submitting the application); if the employer is a foreign investment enterprise, both certificate of approval for establishment of enterprises with foreign investment and certificate of joint annual inspection (the valid period shall be the last 4 consecutive years prior to the date of submitting the application) shall be submitted; and

(8) Any other supporting documents deemed necessary by the relevant public security authority.

Ⅲ. Processing Time

180 days.

Ⅳ.  Application accepting organ

(1) Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau;

(2) Exit and Entry Administration Department of Nansha Sub-bureau of Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau (only for those foreign nationals of Chinese origin who have been employed by the enterprises located in Nansha area of Guangzhou of Guangdong pilot free trade zone). 

Ⅴ.  Remarks

(1) Please complete the Application Form in black ink and submit the original thereof; for other documents, three photocopies thereof (A4) shall be submitted, together with the original for examination and verification; documents whose original is required shall be submitted in accordance with the relevant requirements.

(2) Certificates issued by a relevant foreign organization shall be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.

(3) Documents in a language other than Chinese shall be translated into Chinese, and the seal of the translation company shall be affixed on both the translated documents and the photocopy of the translation company’s business license.

(4) If the applicant needs to print his or her Chinese name on the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, he or she should fill in "The Chinese name XXX should be typed when the card is produced" in the "Other Matters Needing to be Specified" column on the Application Form.

(5) If any relevant matter needs to be investigated and verified by the relevant public security authority, the investigation time shall not be included in the processing time.