In 2016, China issued 1,576 permanent residency cards. This was more than double what it had issued the previous year, but still roughly 750 times lower than the United States’ 1.2 million at the time. By 2017, the number of foreigners holding Chinese Permanent Residence passed the 10,000 mark. More recent concrete numbers are not easily available; however, since 2019, China has also been revamping the process for foreigners to apply for the "
Chinese Green Card". In 2023, China launched the
Five-Star Card, the new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the PRC.
Application Requirements According to the Management Measures for the Permanent Residence Approval of Foreigners in China approved by the
State Council of China, foreigners applying for permanent residence in China shall abide by Chinese laws, be in good health, have no criminal record, and meet one of the following conditions: • Have made direct investments in China, with a stable investment situation for three consecutive years and a good tax record. • Hold positions such as vice general manager, deputy factory director, or higher, or possess the title of associate professor, associate researcher, or higher, enjoying equivalent benefits. Have served continuously for at least four years, resided in China for a cumulative period of no less than three years within the past four years, and maintained a good tax record. • Have made significant and outstanding contributions to China or are urgently needed by the country. • Spouses and unmarried children under 18 of the individuals referred to in the first, second, and third items. • Spouses of Chinese citizens or foreigners who have obtained permanent residence qualifications in China, with a marriage lasting for five years, continuous residence in China for five years, residing in China for no less than nine months each year, and having stable living conditions and a residence. • Unmarried children under 18 who are dependent on their parents. • Have no direct relatives abroad, depend on immediate relatives in China, and are over 60 years old, have continuously resided in China for five years, reside in China for no less than nine months each year, and have stable living conditions and a residence. The time limits referred to in this article all refer to the continuous period before the application date.
Facilitate Employment and Entrepreneurship for Foreign University Students Foreign students who have obtained a master's or higher degree from Chinese universities can apply for a residency permit of up to 2 years for innovation and entrepreneurship in Hainan with the recommendation of their affiliated universities. Foreign students studying at overseas universities are allowed to engage in regular internships at Hainan's star-rated hotels, hospitals, international schools, and other entities. With the required invitation letter from the relevant entity and proof of enrollment at a foreign university, they can apply for the necessary visas for their internships. Many of these refugees were settled in state farms on
Hainan Island. ==Illegal immigration==