A foreigner with a visa “D”, “Z”, “X”, or “J-1” shall apply for the Residence Permit or Temporary Residence Permit for Foreigners with the local municipal or county public security bureau at the place of their residence within 30 days of entry into China. The valid period of the above certificates is the period to permit the holder to stay in China
I. Foreigners that need to apply for residence permits
The residence permit for a foreigner will be issued to a foreigner who lives in China for more than one year. The temporary residence permit for a foreigner will be issued to a foreigner who lives in China for less than one year. It can be divided into the following situations according to the types of persons:
1. Foreigners employed by a foreign-funded enterprise within China
Foreign employees who come to China to take up posts or employment of a foreign-funded enterprise and their accompanying family members (spouse, minor children) shall hold “Z” (work) visas when entering into China, and apply for the residence permit to the Exit & Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau within 30 days from their entry into China. Generally speaking, the valid period of their residence permit will not exceed two years nor the period of validity of the passport.
2. Foreigners employed by domestic enterprises
A foreign national who come to China to take up posts or employment of a domestic enterprise and their accompanying family members (spouse, minor children) shall hold a “Z” (work) visa to enter China and within 30 days of entry to China, apply for the residence permit to the Exit & Entry Administration of the local Public Security Bureau. Generally speaking, the validity period of the residence permit will be less than two years, and shall not exceed the period of validity of the passport.
II. Situations when residence permits are not required
Foreigners holding “F”, “L”, “G”, “C” visas may stay in China within the period indicated on the visas without applying for residence permits. But they shall apply for extension of their visas according to the situations of their stay in China.
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