China Permanent Residence: Application
Use this procedure to select the correct category, prepare the required evidence, submit to the deciding authority, and manage renewal if approved.
No published figure yet. The authority does not publish this cost in a form we could verify and quote, so this guide covers the procedure only: what to bring, in what order, and where it goes wrong. We will add the figures the moment there is a source for them.
In order
- Identify the matching category — Choose the specific permanent residence category that fits your situation, because each category has different evidence requirements.
- Collect the required evidence — Gather the documents and information requested for that selected category.
- Lodge the application — Submit the completed application and supporting evidence through the prescribed channel.
- Respond to verification requests — Provide any additional evidence or attend any interview requested during the authority's review.
- Await the authority's decision — The National Immigration Administration, not the local police, decides whether the application is approved.
- Check the granted permit — If approved, note the permit's validity period rather than treating it as permanent in duration.
- Renew before expiry — Submit a renewal application before the permit expires, using the renewal procedure and evidence required at that time.
You apply for China permanent residence under a specific category, and categories carry different evidence requirements. The National Immigration Administration decides the application, not the local police. Meeting a category is necessary but not sufficient, and a granted permit has a validity period and must be renewed.
Select your category
Permanent residence applications are made under a named category, not as a general request. Compare the categories and choose the category that matches your actual situation. Do not switch categories during preparation unless your situation matches the new category and its evidence requirements.
Prepare category-specific evidence
Each category has different evidence requirements, so prepare the documents stated for your selected category. If a document does not support that category, do not treat it as a substitute.
Submit and follow the review
Lodge the application through the prescribed channel and provide any further evidence or verification requested. The local police do not decide the application; the National Immigration Administration does.
Receive the decision and maintain the permit
Even if you meet the category, approval is not guaranteed because the authority makes the decision. If permanent residence is granted, the permit has a validity period, and you must apply for renewal before it expires.
Confirm before you act
Fees and processing times change. This page was checked on 2026-10-24; confirm the current rule with the authority named in each source above before you rely on a deadline.
Last checked 2026-10-24, next review 2027-04-22. Every figure above names its source and the date it was read. This page is a guide, not legal, tax or immigration advice — confirm with the authority before acting on a deadline.