Foreign family members can apply for permanent residency in China through the following main methods:
1、 Cluster of husband and wife groups
Application requirements:
-The spouse is a Chinese citizen or permanent resident foreigner residing in China.
-After marriage, they have lived together with their spouse in China for five years, and their actual residence has accumulated no less than nine months each year.
-Having stable living security and a place to live.
2、 Parent child group clustering
1. Children under the age of 18 who seek refuge with Chinese parents:
-Application requirements:
-Both or one of the parents is a Chinese citizen.
-The child is under 18 years old and unmarried.
2. Having reached the age of 60 and no immediate family members abroad, seeking refuge with Chinese nationals residing within the territory of China:
-Application requirements:
-The applicant is over 60 years old.
-There are no direct relatives overseas to rely on.
-To seek refuge with direct relatives of Chinese nationality residing within the territory of China.
-I have resided continuously in China for five years, and my actual residence has accumulated no less than nine months per year.
-Having stable living security and a place to live.
Application process
1. Preparation of materials: Applicants need to prepare all relevant application materials as required, and ensure the authenticity, completeness, and validity of the materials. The materials may need to be translated into Chinese and undergo notarization and authentication procedures.
2. Submit application: Submit a permanent residence application to the public security organ of the city level people’s government or the public security branch or county bureau of the municipality directly under the central government where you reside. Some regions can also apply online through the government service platform of the National Immigration Administration.
3. Acceptance and initial review: The accepting authority conducts a preliminary review of the application materials, checking whether they are complete, authentic, and meet the requirements. If there are any missing or non compliant materials, the applicant will be notified to supplement or correct them. The accepting authority shall complete the investigation work within 3 months from the date of acceptance and submit eligible applications to the reviewing authority.
4. Provincial review: After receiving the application materials, the review authority (public security department or bureau of each province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the central government) shall complete the review work within 2 months. The reviewing authority conducts a re examination of the comprehensiveness and compliance of the application materials, and conducts in-depth verification based on the application category.
5. Approval by the Ministry of Public Security: The Ministry of Public Security conducts final approval on the submitted application, taking into account all aspects of the applicant’s situation, and makes a decision on whether to approve the application for permanent residency.
6. Preparation and issuance of certificates: If the application is approved, the Ministry of Public Security is responsible for making the Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Identity Card. After the completion of the preparation of the certificate, the public security organ accepting the application shall issue the Alien Permanent Residence Identity Card to the applicant. If the applicant is abroad, the Ministry of Public Security will issue a Confirmation Form of Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Status. The applicant will take this form to the Chinese embassies and consulates abroad to apply for a “D” visa, and within 30 days after entering the country, he or she will obtain a Foreigner’s Permanent Residence Identity Card from the public security organ that accepts his or her application.
