Application for Residence Permits

Foreigners should apply for residence permits at the local exit-and-entry department of the public security bureau.

I. Foreign Experts Applying for Residence Permits

Foreign experts applying for residence permits should answer relevant inquiries and provide the following documents:

1. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa;

2. One recent frontal hatless half-length passport-size photo;

3. The original Physical Examination Record for Foreigners and the original and photocopy of Foreign Experts Certificate;

4. Personal resume;

5. Official letter from the employer college;

6. Visa and Residence Permit Application Form.

Family members accompanying foreign experts applying for residence permits should answer relevant inquiries and provide the following documents:

1. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa of the family member(s) accompanying the expert;

2. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa and residence permit of the foreign expert;

3. One recent frontal hatless half-length passport-size photo;

4. The original Physical Examination Records for Foreigners;

5. Personal resume;

6. Official letter from the employer college and the Certificate of Kinship;

7. Visa and Residence Permit Application Form.

For the first application for residence permits, applicants should handle the formalities personally.

In case of changes of cause of residence, changes of passport number or changes of accompanying family members, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In case of changes of place of residence, changes of college for studies or changes of employer unit or unit where the foreigners hold positions, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In the event that holders of the residence permit for foreigners wish to move from one city to another within China, they shall apply to the exit-and-entry department of public security bureau stationed at the locality of their original residence or at the target locality for the changes.

 II. Foreign Students Applying for Residence Permits

Foreign students applying for residence permits should answer relevant inquiries and provide the following documents:

1. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa;

2. The original Physical Examination Records for Foreigners;

3. Form JW201 or Form JW202;

4. One recent frontal hatless half-length passport-size photo;

5. Official letter from the college where the foreign student is going to study and Admission Notice;

6. Visa and Residence Permit Application Form.

For the first application for residence permits, applicants should handle the formalities personally.

Accompanying family members of the overseas students should apply for visitor visas.

In case of changes of cause of residence, changes of passport number or changes of accompanying family members, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In case of changes of place of residence, changes of college for studies or changes of employer unit or unit where the foreigners hold positions, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In the event that holders of the residence permit for foreigners wish to move from one city to another within China, they shall apply to the exit-and-entry department of public security bureau stationed at the locality of their original residence or at the target locality for the changes.

II. Foreign Students Applying for Residence Permits

Foreign students applying for residence permits should answer relevant inquiries and provide the following documents:

1. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa;

2. The original Physical Examination Records for Foreigners;

3. Form JW201 or Form JW202;

4. One recent frontal hatless half-length passport-size photo;

5. Official letter from the college where the foreign student is going to study and Admission Notice;

6. Visa and Residence Permit Application Form.

For the first application for residence permits, applicants should handle the formalities personally.

Accompanying family members of the overseas students should apply for visitor visas.

In case of changes of cause of residence, changes of passport number or changes of accompanying family members, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In case of changes of place of residence, changes of college for studies or changes of employer unit or unit where the foreigners hold positions, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In the event that holders of the residence permit for foreigners wish to move from one city to another within China, they shall apply to the exit-and-entry department of public security bureau stationed at the locality of their original residence or at the target locality for the changes.

IV. Foreigners Engaged in Commercial Performances Applying for Residence Permits

Foreigners engaged in commercial performances applying for residence permits should answer relevant inquiries and provide the following documents:

1. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa;

2. One recent frontal hatless half-length passport-size photo;

3. The original Physical Examination Records for Foreigners;

4. Personal resume;

5. Official letter from the employed work unit and the performance approval issued by the Cultural Ministry or by cultural administrative departments of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities authorized by the Cultural Ministry;

6. Visa and Residence Permit Application Form.

Family members accompanying foreigners engaged in commercial performances applying for residence permits should answer relevant inquiries and provide the following documents:

1. The original and photocopy of valid passport and visa of the accompanying family member(s);

2. The original and photocopy of residence permits of the performers;

3. One recent frontal hatless half-length passport-size photo;

4. The original Physical Examination Records for Foreigners;

5. Personal resume;

6. Official letter from the employed work unit and the Certificate of Kinship;

7. Visa and Residence Permit Application Form.

For the first application for residence permits, applicants should handle the formalities personally.

In case of changes of cause of residence, changes of passport number or changes of accompanying family members, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In case of changes of place of residence, changes of college for studies or changes of employer unit or unit where the foreigners hold positions, holders of residence permits should apply for new ones within ten days since the change at the department where their original residence permits were issued.

In the event that holders of the residence permit for foreigners wish to move from one city to another within China, they shall apply to the exit-and-entry department of public security bureau stationed at the locality of their original residence or at the target locality for the changes.

V. Personnel with a New Passport Applying for Visa or Residence Permit

Foreigners with new passports applying for visa or residence permits should provide the following documents in addition to those required for applying for visa or residence permits:

1. Those who have lost their old passports and obtained new ones should provide the Lost Passport Certificate issued by the public security bureau or diplomatic notes issued by their foreign embassies or consulates in China;

2. Those who have obtained new passports due to their passport expiring or running out visa pages should provide their old passports used on their current entry to China;

3. Foreign infants born in China with an independent passport shall submit their birth certificates and photocopies of their parents’ passports.

VI. High-level Talents and Investors Applying for Visa and Residence Permits

High-level talents and investors refer to the following:

1. Senior consultants invited (or employed) by government offices at the province-level or ministry-level, as well as those high-tech and high-level managerial personnel serving the cooperative technology projects, key project agreements or talent exchange projects at the state-level, province-level or ministry-level signed by central or local governments and foreign countries;

2. Those who have made important or outstanding contributions to the country and society, as well as those who are carrying out gratis aid agreements between governments;

3. Leaders of academic or scientific research employed by scientific research institutes at the state-level, province-level or ministry-level or key institutions of higher education, as well as key scholars or researchers with professional titles no lower than associate professors, associate researchers, or enjoying equal favorable treatment employed by relevant institutions;

4. Senior managers and important professionals who hold posts as or enjoy equal favorable treatment with deputy general managers or higher positions in enterprises or institutions;

5. Those who have made an investment of 100 million U.S. dollars to the key counties listed in the state poverty alleviation and development projects in western or central regions of China, or three million U.S. dollars or more in other regions, as well as managers and professionals dispatched to China by foreign enterprises and other economic organizations which have completed such investment;

6. Chinese with foreign nationality who have been awarded important international prizes in science, as well as other outstanding or important Chinese with foreign nationality;

7. Spouses and children (under age 18) of those mentioned from item 1 to item 6.

When applying for F Visa, in addition to general documents, high-level talents should provide a visa notification letter/telegram issued by a senior authorized organization or company and other relevant documents and certificates, and the investors should provide Certificate of Approval for Establishment of Enterprises with Investment in China, Business License and other relevant documents and certificates.

When applying for residence permits, in addition to general documents, high-level talents should provide a visa notification letter/telegram issued by a senior authorized organization or company, Certificate for Foreign Experts, Work Permit and other relevant documents and certificates; and the investors should provide Certificate of Approval for Establishment of Enterprises with Investment in China, Business License and other relevant documents and certificates.