China - Apply for Resident Permit

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Procedure

In addition to applying for a work permit and registering their temporary residence, expats need to apply for a working foreigners residence permit at their local PSB within 30 days of arriving in the country.

The Chinese residence permit is an expats proof that they are legally living in the country. These are generally valid for up to a year and can be renewed for a year at a time, usually when a work permit extension is applied for.

If someone wants to move to a different region of China, they will have to apply for permission at their local PSB and apply for a new residence permit at the nearest PSB in their new destination.

If any changes need to be made to the residence permit, such as a change of address, this has to be applied for less than 10 days after the change takes place.

The following may be required when applying for a residence permit for China:

• Passport, photos and other supporting personal documentation
• Fingerprints and other biometric information
• A health certificate that is valid for more than one year

Work permit and other relevant supporting materials issued by Chinese authorities

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Required Documents

• Passport with valid visa
• Residence Registration Certificate in China
• Fill in the Foreigner's Visa and Resident Permit Application Form, with the official seal of your news agency and a recent 2-inch passport photo, full-face, with a light blue background.
• Present Health Certification issued by the inspection & quarantine agency (for those over 18 years old and applying for the Resident Permits for the first time).
• Accompanying spouses and children are requested to present the Resident Permit or the Press Card (R) of the journalist and official letter from the permanent office.
• Marriage certificate for accompanying spouse is required.
• Kinship certificate for accompanying children is required.
• The resident journalists who originally entered China as short-term journalists holding J-2 visa are required to present the official letters of the Information Department to apply for Resident Permit.

Office Locations & Contacts

People's Republic of China Ministry of Public Security
Address: No. 14 East Chang An Avenue,
Beijing Zip: 100741
http://www.mps.gov.cn/

Division of Exit and Entry Administration of Beijing Public Security Bureau
Address: No.2 Andingmen Dongjie, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Tel: ?010?84020101
Office hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
Website: http://www.bjgaj.gov.cn/

Contacts for Municipal Public Security Bureaus of China

Eligibility

Applicants, their spouses and children holding "J-1" visa, according to the Implementation Rules of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens, should apply for Resident Permits at the Division of Exit and Entry Administration of local Public Security Bureau within 30 days of entry. Normally, the validity period of the Resident Permit is one year but shall not exceed that of passport.

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Normally, the validity period of the Resident Permit is one year but shall not exceed that of passport.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

The Resident Permit will be available in 5 working days.

Related Videos

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Instructions

Within 24 hours of arriving in China, expats have to complete a Temporary Residence Registration Form and produce their passport at the local police station. Sometimes expats staying in a hotel are able to register there. Expats staying with a Chinese resident, even if they are foreign nationals, will have to register at the local Public Security Bureau (PSB). Some cities may require expats to do this after every trip they make out of the country.

Required Information

• Full names
• Gender
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Residence
• Object of stay
• Address in china
• Date of entry
• Identification numbers
• Certificate no.

Need for the Document

If you wish to stay longer in China, you will need to apply for a residence permit which works like a multiple-entry visa, allowing you to leave the country and return without an additional visa as long as the permit remains valid (even if your original visa has expired).

Information which might help

There are three types of residence permits that allow you to live in China:

• Permanent residence permits (little green booklets) are issued to those holding a D visa and are renewable every 10 years.
• Temporary residence permits are valid for 6-12 months. Generally required for visiting scholars or those entering for job training.
• Foreigner Residence Permits are normally valid for one year and are renewable annually. They are the standard residence permits issued to the majority of foreigners working in China.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

It is not your visa but your residence permit that gives you the right to live in China. Upon arrival in China, you have 30 days to obtain your residence permit.

External Links

Applying for Resident Permit

Applying for a Residence Permit

Residence permit

State Organs

Others

Applicants may be required to pass a medical examination. Technically, this is compulsory, although some provinces are stricter about this than others. Tests should be arranged by the sponsor, and are usually carried out at an approved medical centre. Chest X-rays, eye and ear examinations, ECGs and blood tests are all part of the procedure. The medical examination can be failed for conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, STDs, other infectious diseases or mental illnesses. The cost ranges from CNY600 to CNY1, 000. In many cases, the employer or educational institution covers this fee, although they are not obliged to do so.

An appointment should be made at the PSB office to present the documents. An interview is conducted, which is often a formality rather than an in-depth interview. The residence permit can then be processed, which takes between two and six weeks. It is advisable not to leave China before the residence permit is issued, as a new entry visa needs to be issued to return to the country. Colour copies of passports and visa documents are enough to travel within the country and for hotel stays, while the residence permit is being processed.

It is illegal to work in China without a valid work visa or permit. If offered a job after arriving in the country on a tourist or student visa, foreigners should switch visas through their local PSB office, with the help of the employer, before they begin work.

In order to receive a residence permit, you will have to provide the following documentation:

• Your passport with the respective visa matching the residence permit you are applying for
• A passport photo
• Your Residence Registration
• The respective application form
• If applicable, your job contract and work permit