Foreigners can apply for permanent residence after their investment in China reaches a certain amount.
According to the Administrative Measures for the Examination and Approval of Foreigners’ Permanent Residence in China, foreigners applying for permanent residence in China should abide by Chinese laws, be healthy, have no criminal record, and meet one of the following conditions:
-Direct investment in China, stable investment situation for three consecutive years, and good tax record.
The registered capital actually paid for its investment in China shall meet one of the following conditions:
-In the “Catalogue of Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment” issued by the state, the total investment in encouraged industries is more than 500000 US dollars;
-Investing a total of over 500000 US dollars in western China and key counties for national poverty alleviation and development work;
-Investing a total of over 1 million US dollars in the central region of China;
-Investing a total of over 2 million US dollars in China.
Different regions may have specific implementation rules and requirements. For example, in Dongguan, foreigners who meet one of the following conditions can apply for permanent residence in China (their foreign spouses and minor children can apply with them):
-Investors who invest in China and have actually delivered a total registered capital of over 2 million US dollars (not less than this standard for three consecutive years);
-Investors who invest in central China and have actually delivered a total registered capital of over 1 million US dollars (not less than this standard for three consecutive years);
-Investors who invest in western China and key counties for poverty alleviation and development, and have actually delivered a total registered capital of over 500000 US dollars (not less than this standard for four consecutive years);
-Investors who are encouraged to invest in industries under the “Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Project” issued by the state and have actually delivered a total registered capital of 500000 US dollars or more (not lower than this standard for three consecutive years).
The materials generally required for application include:
Copy of the business license of the enterprise legal representative
Certificate of Public Disclosure of Enterprise Annual Report
Confirmation of Foreign Investment Projects
Copy of capital verification report
Encouraged foreign-invested enterprises also need to provide a confirmation letter of foreign investment projects encouraged by the state or a copy of the certificate issued by the provincial competent department stating that the enterprise is a foreign-invested enterprise encouraged by the state, as well as a copy of the personal tax payment certificate.
Specific requirements may vary by region, subject to the policies and regulations of the investment location.
The public security organ will decide whether to approve or disapprove the application for permanent residence in China within six months from the date it accepts the application. Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence in China can enter and leave China with valid passports and Alien Permanent Residence Certificates.
