Application for permanent residence of foreigners in China currently can be divided into four categories, that is, family reunion, work and employment, investment, and special contributions. Different areas or cities may have different rules for foreigners to apply for permanent residence in China. Applicants should consult with their local public security departments for the specific application conditions and requirements.

Currently, foreigners who meet the following conditions may apply for permanent residence in Guangdong Province:

1. High-level foreign talents who meet identification criteria and being recommended by the Guangdong Free Trade Zone Office or the local municipal governments.
2. Foreigners who make outstanding contributions or are of great value to China and specifically needed by the country.
3. Foreign members of innovation and entrepreneurship team and foreign technical talents selected and employed by enterprises with a score of 70 according to the score evaluation standard of foreign talents in Guangdong Free Trade Zone or 9 cities of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
4. High-level talents with a work-type residence permit (marked with “talent”) who have worked in Guangdong Province for 3 years and being recommended by the present employer.
5. Foreigners who have worked in Guangdong Province for 4 consecutive years and have actually lived in China for no less than 6 months each year within the 4 years, with an annual salary (before tax) exceeding RMB400,000 for 4 consecutive years, have paid individual income tax of more than RMB70,000 each year for 4 consecutive years; or annual income is no less than six times the average wage of urban employees in the region where they are located in the previous year and annual individual income tax is no less than 20% of the annual wage income.
6. Foreigners holding a position of deputy general manager and above or have titles of associate professor, associate researcher and above, have served the same entity for 4 consecutive years and have stayed in China for no less than 3 years cumulatively, have good tax records.
7. Foreign Chinese holding a Ph.D. degree or above have work in an enterprise in Guangdong Province with a work-type residence permit.
8. Foreign Chinese have worked in an enterprise in Guangdong Province with a work-type residence permit for 4 consecutive years and have actually lived in China for at least 6 months each year.
9. Foreign investors making direct investments as a natural person in China with a total investment amount of no less than USD2 million or have invested USD500,000 or above in the industries encouraging foreign investment, have a stable investment situation for 3 consecutive years and have good tax records.
10. Foreign investors making direct investments as a natural person or through an enterprise in which they are a natural person controlling shareholder in 9 cities of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, have made stable investments for 3 consecutive years with a total investment amount of USD1 million (total investment amount of USD500,000 in the industries encouraging foreign investment) and have good tax records.
11. Foreign spouses married to a Chinese citizen with permanent household registration in Guangdong Province or a foreigner who has obtained permanent residency in China, the marriage relationship has lasted for 5 years, have stayed in China continuously for 5 years and not less than 9 months each year.
12. Foreigners under 18 years old and unmarried, one or both of the parents are Chinese citizens or foreigners with permanent residence status in China.
13. Foreigners who have no immediate family members abroad and seek refuge with immediate family members in China, have reached the age of 60, have stayed in China continuously for 5 years, and not less than 9 months each year.

KAIZEN Group is equipped with experienced and highly qualified professional consultants and is therefore well positioned to provide professional advices and services in respect of the formation and registration of company, application for various business licences and permits, company compliance, tax planning, audit and accounting in China. Please call and talk to our professional consultants for details.