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Permanent Residence - Spouse of Chinese Citizen or Permanent Resident

ChinaFamily

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

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Which family relationships qualify?

A spouse of a Chinese citizen or foreign permanent resident qualifies after at least five years of marriage and five consecutive years of residence in China, including at least nine months each year.

See recorded sources
  • Article 6(5)
    (五)中国公民或者在中国获得永久居留资格的外国人的配偶,婚姻关系存续满5年、已在中国连续居留满5年、每年在中国居留不少于9个月且有稳定生活保障和住所的;

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is a Chinese citizen or a foreign national already holding Chinese permanent residence.

See recorded sources
  • Article 6(5)
    (五)中国公民或者在中国获得永久居留资格的外国人的配偶,婚姻关系存续满5年、已在中国连续居留满5年、每年在中国居留不少于9个月且有稳定生活保障和住所的;
  • Article 14
    第十四条 本办法第六条第一款第五项所指人员申请时还需提交其中国籍配偶的常住户籍证明或者其外国籍配偶的《外国人永久居留证》、婚姻证明、经公证的生活保障证明及房屋租赁或者产权证明。外国有关机构出具的上述证明需经中国驻该国使、领馆认证。

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

Applicants must provide marriage evidence, the Chinese spouse's household-registration proof or the foreign spouse's permanent-residence card, and notarised support and housing evidence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Current cross-border authentication or apostille requirements must be verified for the issuing country.
  • Article 14
    第十四条 本办法第六条第一款第五项所指人员申请时还需提交其中国籍配偶的常住户籍证明或者其外国籍配偶的《外国人永久居留证》、婚姻证明、经公证的生活保障证明及房屋租赁或者产权证明。外国有关机构出具的上述证明需经中国驻该国使、领馆认证。

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The route requires stable means of support and accommodation, proven by the relevant support and rental or ownership documents; no universal cash threshold or insurance amount is stated in these provisions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No universal numeric maintenance or insurance requirement is established in these provisions.
  • Article 6(5)
    (五)中国公民或者在中国获得永久居留资格的外国人的配偶,婚姻关系存续满5年、已在中国连续居留满5年、每年在中国居留不少于9个月且有稳定生活保障和住所的;
  • Article 14
    第十四条 本办法第六条第一款第五项所指人员申请时还需提交其中国籍配偶的常住户籍证明或者其外国籍配偶的《外国人永久居留证》、婚姻证明、经公证的生活保障证明及房屋租赁或者产权证明。外国有关机构出具的上述证明需经中国驻该国使、领馆认证。

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Apply through the competent local public security authority, with the child parent or an entrusted representative able to apply where permitted. The decision period is up to six months. Approval grants permanent residence, with a separate five-year minor card or ten-year adult card. The general physical-presence and card-renewal rules apply; this is not automatic citizenship.

See recorded sources
  • VII(I)
    (I) Application. The applicant shall apply for permanent residence in China at the public security organs under municipal people's governments of cities with subordinate districts, or public security sub-bureaus or county-level public security sub-bureaus of direct-controlled municipalities where the investment is made or where the long-term residence is located. Applications are also allowed to be submitted by entrusted persons. If the applicant is under the age of 18, the application can also be submitted by his/her parent(s) or entrusted person(s). For an application submitted by an entrusted person, a Power of Attorney issued by the applicant and notarized by a notary office is required. If the Power of Attorney is issued by the applicant abroad, it shall be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate of the corresponding country.
  • IX
    Public security organs shall make decisions on approval or disapproval within six months from the date of accepting applications from foreign nationals for permanent residence in China.
  • Article 2
    第二条 外国人在中国永久居留是指外国人在中国居留期限不受限制。
  • Article 21
    被批准在中国永久居留的未满18周岁的外国人,发给有效期为5年的《外国人永久居留证》;被批准在中国永久居留的18周岁以上的外国人,发给有效期为10年的《外国人永久居留证》。
  • Article 20
    第二十条 被批准在中国永久居留的外国人,每年在中国累计居留不得少于3个月。确因实际需要每年不能在中国累计居留满3个月的,需经长期居留地省、自治区、直辖市公安厅、局批准,但5年内在中国累计居留不得少于1年。
  • Article 23
    第二十三条 持有《外国人永久居留证》的外国人应当在证件有效期满前1个月以内申请换发;证件内容变更的,应当在情况变更后1个月以内申请换发;证件损坏或者遗失的,应当及时申请换发或者补发。

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

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