Important Notice

The National Immigration Administration facilitates nationwide free trade zones to promote and implement the 12 convenience policies over immigration and border entry-exit.

01

Foreign high-level talents, foreigners who have made significant outstanding contributions, and foreigners who are being in special needs by our country, can apply to the immigration administrations for permanent residences in China upon the recommendations of the relevant national administrative departments, provincial people's governments or the management departments of national key development sectors. The foreign spouses and minor children of the above personscan be permitted to apply for permanent residences together.

02

Foreigners, who have worked for 4 consecutive years in China, actually lived in China for a minimum of 6 months per year, have an individual annual wage income not less than six times the previous year’s average annual wage of urban employees in the region,and have paid an individual income taxnot less than 20% of annual wage income, can apply to the immigration administrations for permanent residences in China. Their foreign spouses and minor childrencan be permitted to apply together.

03

Foreign Chinese working in China, who have obtained Ph.D. degree or have worked in key national development sectorsfor 4 consecutive years and actually lived in Chinafor a minimum of 6 months per year, can apply to the immigration administrations for permanent residencesin China. Their foreign spouses and minor childrencan be permitted to apply together.

04

Foreign experts and scholars, who are invited by domestic key universities, research institutes and well-known enterprises, as well as the foreign high-level talents in management and technological profession, who are identified and recognized by the talents administration or technology & innovation administration of municipal level or higher people's government, can apply to visa department of entry-exit administration for the entry visas. After entering the country, they can apply for multiple visas or residence permits with a validity period of less than 5 years to the entry-exit administration with the invitation letter and other materials.

05

Foreign talents and members of the innovation and entrepreneurship teams brought in for domestic key development sectors and industries can apply to the entry-exit administrations for  residence permits with a validity period of less than 5 years with materials such as work permits and unit invitation letters. Foreign members of the innovation and entrepreneurship teams can also apply for residence permits with a validity period of less than 5 years with the letters of guarantee from the team leaders.

06

Foreigners who have made significant outstanding contributions or are being in special needs by our country can recommend foreign members and scientific research auxiliary personnel within their working teams to apply to the entry-exit administrations for long-term visas or residence permits with a validity period of less than 5 years.

07

Foreigners, who are employed by enterprises and institutions in China, have already obtained work permits but are unable to take exits for applying for work visas within the required time frame, can apply for work-type residence permits to the entry-exit administrations based on the work permits and other materials. Those, who have two consecutive times successfully applied for work-type residence permits with a validity period of more than 1 year and have no record of violations of laws and regulations, can apply to the entry-exit administrations for work-type residence permits with a validity period of 5 years in the third time applications.

08

Foreign high-level talents working in domestic key universities, research institutes, and well-known enterprises are allowed to have part-time jobs or do innovative and entrepreneurial activities with the consent of the main work units and part-time work units. All part-time jobs and innovative and entrepreneurial activities must be filed to the entry-exit administrations.

09

Outstanding foreign students, who have obtained bachelor's degree or above in domestic  key universities and colleges and engaged in innovative and entrepreneurial activities in China after graduation, can apply to the entry-exit administrations for residence permits with a validity period of 2 to 5 year based on college graduation certificates and other proof materials involved into the innovative and entrepreneurial activities.

10

Foreign students, who have graduated from internationally renowned universities and come to China to do innovative and entrepreneurial activities within 2 years after graduation, can apply for residence permits with a validity period of 2 years to the entry-exit administrations with the proof materials such as academic qualifications (degrees).

11

Foreign students from overseas universities and colleges invited by domestic well-known enterprises and institutions for internship in China can apply to the entry-exit administrations for one-year visas for internship activities with the invitation letters and the college admission certificates and other materials. Foreign students from overseas universities and colleges who have come to China for internship under the intergovernmental agreements can apply for  work-type residence permits in accordance with regulations.

12

Exploratory set up the establishments of immigration service centers (sites) in such areas where foreigners are more concentrated, and provide resident foreigners with work, study and living convenience services as policy advices, residence & travel, legal aid, language & culture and other information.

Editor｜Vicki Song

Translator｜Eric Ye

Source｜The National Immigration Administration