Policy Information

1、 Shanghai Foreign High level Talents Green Card

>Holders of residence permits with additional annotations

Foreign high-level talents recognized by relevant competent departments of the Chinese government or talent management departments in Shanghai, as well as industry senior professional talents hired and guaranteed by units under the list of science and technology innovation professions formulated by the Shanghai science and technology innovation management department.

Those who have worked continuously in Shanghai for at least 3 years with a work type residence permit annotated with "talent" before the application date, and have complied with Chinese laws, are in good health, and have no criminal record, can apply for permanent residency for foreigners recommended by their current employer.

>Foreigners who meet one of the following conditions as high-level talents in Shanghai, comply with Chinese laws, are in good health, and have no criminal record, may apply for permanent residence in China:

1. Foreigners recommended by the competent departments, commissions, offices under the State Council or the Shanghai Municipal People's Government who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the country's economic development and social progress or have significant value to the country;

2. Foreign high-level talents recommended by the management departments of national key development areas (such as Shanghai Zhangjiang National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang New Area, etc.), foreigners with significant outstanding contributions, and those in special need of the country;

3. Introduced into the financial sector in Shanghai and recommended by the Shanghai financial regulatory authorities.

Foreign spouses and unmarried children under the age of 18 of the above-mentioned individuals who comply with Chinese laws, are in good health, and have no criminal record may apply for permanent residency as foreigners.

2、 Shanghai Foreign Chinese Employment Green Card

Unlike the Greater Bay Area, the Chinese policy in Shanghai must work in national key development areas and "double innovation" zones.

In national key development areas (such as Shanghai Zhangjiang National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang New Area, etc.) or "mass entrepreneurship and innovation" demonstration bases (referred to as "double innovation") approved by the State Council, there are no requirements or restrictions on salary income and personal income tax payment for units that have worked continuously for at least 4 years. It should be noted that according to current regulations, the registered place of the company must also be within the prescribed scope. If the registered place is in another region, it is not counted.

Foreign Chinese who have resided in China for a cumulative period of no less than 6 months each year, comply with Chinese laws, are in good health, and have no criminal record, may apply for permanent residency for foreigners without being restricted by salary income and personal income tax payment requirements.

*Currently, only Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and the Greater Bay Area (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen) have convenient policies for Chinese permanent residency applications.

3、 Foreign PhDs and Pure Foreigners Employment Green Cards

1.Foreign doctoral permanent residency must meet the following requirements:

Foreigners working in Shanghai who hold a doctoral degree, comply with Chinese laws, are in good health, and have no criminal record can apply for permanent residency as foreigners.

2.For employment of pure foreign nationals, they must meet the following requirements: foreigners working in Shanghai must have worked continuously for at least 4 years and have actually resided for no less than 6 months per year;

Annual salary income (pre tax) of 880000 yuan for four consecutive years, with an annual personal income tax payment of no less than 20% of the salary annual income standard;

Recommended by their current employer, they can apply for a permanent residence permit for foreigners, and their foreign spouses and minor children can apply together.

4、 Conventional application channels (applicable to Shanghai policies nationwide)

Except for special channels, Shanghai will simultaneously implement the national unified application standards, but in specific implementation, it will be combined with local conditions:

>Investment applications:

Direct investment in Shanghai for three consecutive years, with stable investment and good tax payment. The specific investment amount must meet the following requirements:

-High value comprehensive investment type: Investors who invest in China and have actually delivered a total registered capital of over 2 million US dollars, and must not lower than this standard for three consecutive years;

-Central Key Investment Type: Investing in the central region of China, with a total registered capital of over 1 million US dollars actually delivered, and not lower than this standard for three consecutive years

-Encouraged industry oriented: In the encouraged industries listed in the "Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries" issued by the state, the actual registered capital delivered must be at least 500000 US dollars and must not be lower than this standard for three consecutive years.

>Job application:

-Hold the position of Deputy General Manager/Deputy Factory Manager or above;  

-Or hold the title of associate professor/associate researcher or above;  

-Having served continuously for at least 4 years and having accumulated at least 3 years of residency in Guangzhou within 4 years;  

-Good personal income tax payment records;

The employing unit shall meet one of the following conditions:

1. Institutions under various departments of the State Council or provincial people's governments

2. Key higher education institutions ("211 Project" schools and the first batch of admitted universities);

3. Enterprises and institutions that carry out national key engineering projects or major scientific research projects;

4. High tech enterprises, encouraged foreign-invested enterprises, foreign-invested advanced technology enterprises, or foreign-invested product export enterprises.

>Family group clustering:

-Spouse reunion: Spouses who are Chinese citizens or permanent residents, have been in a marriage for at least 5 years, have resided continuously in Shanghai for at least 5 years, and have actually resided in Shanghai for at least 9 months per year;

-Children Reunion: Unmarried children under 18 years old seek refuge with Chinese parents