In the process of consultation, many clients confuse the proper terms such as visa, residence permit, permanent residence in China (namely, China green card). In order to let us quickly distinguish their differences, Huandong respectively gives you the following summary.
01 Visa
A visa is a permit granted to a foreign citizen by the competent authority of a sovereign state to allow him or her to enter, leave or transit.
A written note made by the competent authority of a sovereign state on the valid passport (or passport substitute) of a foreign citizen after the competent authority of a sovereign state has made a clear decision on the application for entry, transit, travel, residence, etc., to check whether the foreigner has entered (exited) or stopped (resided) in the country legally.
Simply put, in the case of China, a visa is a document that allows foreigners to enter and leave the country (most types of visas have entry and exit limits) and stay in China for a short period of time (less than 180 days).
Marked with “Visa of the People’s Republic of China”
Contains important information such as visa type, number of entry and exit permits, issuing time, issuing place, and length of stay after entry
Usually pasted on the visa page of the applicant’s passport.
02 Residence permit
Residence permit is a certificate that allows foreigners to stay in China for a long time (more than 1 year). It came into operation in 2005, replacing the previous residence permit. Foreigners are allowed to enter and leave the Chinese mainland any number of times with their valid residence permits.
Marked with the words “Residence Permit of the People’s Republic of China”
Include important information such as reasons for residence and validity period of residence
The duration of residence is usually 1-5 years
Usually pasted on the visa page of the applicant’s passport.
03 Permanent residence
Permanent residence in China means that foreigners can stay in China for unlimited periods of time. Foreign nationals with permanent residence status in China obtain a Foreigner Permanent Residence Permit as their legal identity document for permanent residence in China. Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners is commonly known as the Chinese Green Card.
The back side is marked with the words “Permanent Resident Identity Card of the People’s Republic of China”
Include important information such as the validity period of the certificate
Green cards are usually valid for 5-10 years
It’s an independent card.
