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Innovation or Start-up Residence - Graduate of Key Chinese University

ChinaStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

This route is for outstanding foreign graduates with at least a bachelor degree from a key Chinese university, engaged in innovation or starting a business in China.

See recorded sources
  • VI(3)(e)
    e. For outstanding foreign students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or above from key universities in China and are engaged in innovation activities or business start-up in China, the applicant may apply for residence permits valid for 2-5 years from the exit and entry departments of relevant public security organs by providing their graduation certificates and supporting materials for innovation or business start-up activities.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

Applicants must provide the graduation certificate and evidence of innovation or startup activities.

See recorded sources
  • VI(3)(e)
    e. For outstanding foreign students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or above from key universities in China and are engaged in innovation activities or business start-up in China, the applicant may apply for residence permits valid for 2-5 years from the exit and entry departments of relevant public security organs by providing their graduation certificates and supporting materials for innovation or business start-up activities.

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

The applicant must provide the graduation certificate and supporting materials for the innovation or start-up activity. The official source does not state an investment, capital, revenue or funding requirement. The Chinese guide lists residence-permit charges of CNY 400 for a permit valid for less than one year, CNY 800 for one valid from one year to less than three years, and CNY 1,000 for one valid from three to five years.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No general startup capital, revenue or maintenance threshold was established.
  • IX(2)(1)
    1、一年以内有效期居留许可：400元；
  • IX(2)(2)
    2、一年（含）至三年以内有效期居留许可：800元；
  • IX(2)(3)
    3、三年（含）至五年（含）有效期居留许可：1000元。
  • VI(3)(e)
    e. For outstanding foreign students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or above from key universities in China and are engaged in innovation activities or business start-up in China, the applicant may apply for residence permits valid for 2-5 years from the exit and entry departments of relevant public security organs by providing their graduation certificates and supporting materials for innovation or business start-up activities.

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

The permission concerns the stated innovation or startup purpose. Employment separately requires work authorisation; this provision does not establish unrestricted freelance work. A spouse, parents, parents-in-law and children under 18 may apply under the separate dependent private-affairs route when the resident sponsorship conditions are met.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Independent-business licensing and employment mobility are not fully specified for this graduate permission.
  • VI(3)(e)
    e. For outstanding foreign students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or above from key universities in China and are engaged in innovation activities or business start-up in China, the applicant may apply for residence permits valid for 2-5 years from the exit and entry departments of relevant public security organs by providing their graduation certificates and supporting materials for innovation or business start-up activities.
  • Article 37
    第三十七条 外国人在中国境内停留居留，不得从事与停留居留事由不相符的活动，并应当在规定的停留居留期限届满前离境。
  • Article 41
    第四十一条 外国人在中国境内工作，应当按照规定取得工作许可和工作类居留证件。任何单位和个人不得聘用未取得工作许可和工作类居留证件的外国人。
  • V(2)(e)
    For foreigners entering China with S1 visa for the purpose of visiting family, the applicant shall submit a letter explaining the kinship (spouse, parents, spouse's parents, minor children below 18) from and the residence permit of the person being visited. A residence permit with a validity period consistent with that of the residence permit of the person being visited in China may be issued.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The announced residence period is two to five years. Applications are made to the local public security exit-entry authority; where the entry visa requires residence formalities, the application is made within 30 days after entry. Renewal is applied for 30 days before expiry with continuing-purpose evidence, and the holder must leave on time if refused. This graduate provision does not promise automatic permanent residence.

See recorded sources
  • VI(3)(e)
    e. For outstanding foreign students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or above from key universities in China and are engaged in innovation activities or business start-up in China, the applicant may apply for residence permits valid for 2-5 years from the exit and entry departments of relevant public security organs by providing their graduation certificates and supporting materials for innovation or business start-up activities.
  • VI(2) entry deadline
    外国人所持签证注明入境后需要办理居留证件的，应当自入境之日起30日内，向拟居留地公安机关出入境管理机构申请办理外国人居留证件。
  • Article 32
    第三十二条 在中国境内居留的外国人申请延长居留期限的，应当在居留证件有效期限届满三十日前向居留地县级以上地方人民政府公安机关出入境管理机构提出申请，按照要求提交申请事由的相关材料。经审查，延期理由合理、充分的，准予延长居留期限；不予延长居留期限的，应当按期离境。

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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