Many foreigners have fallen in love with China after working and living in China for many years. However, due to China's strict control over foreigners, it is very troublesome to update your work visa and handle the change of work permit notice every time you change your job. So what can be done to solve these problems? Can foreigners apply for a permanent residence in China? This article will share two situations in which foreigners can apply for permanent residence status in China.
許多外國人在中國工作生活多年後已經深深愛上了這個國家。但是由于中國對于外國人的管控較為嚴格，每次換新工作都需要更新自己的工作簽證以及辦理工作許可通知的變更，非常麻煩。那麼有什麼辦法可以解決這些問題呢？外國人可否在中國申請永居身份呢？這篇文章将會分享兩種可以外國人可以申請中國永居身份的情況。
Personnel with significant and outstanding contributions to China and special needs of the country
對中國有重大、突出貢獻以及國家特别需要的人員
I. Application conditions
（一）申請條件
World top talents, talents with special skills and celebrities who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the country's economic development and social progress or have great value to the country, including world-famous scientific award winners, world-famous scholars, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists and other foreigners, can apply for permanent residence.
對國家經濟發展和社會進步做出過重大、突出貢獻或對國家有重大價值的世界頂尖人才、特殊技能人才及知名人士等，包括世界著名科學獎項獲得者、世界知名學者、企業家、運動員、文藝人士等外國人，可以申請永久居留。
II. Application materials
（二）申請材料
1.Two 2-inch front bareheaded white or light blue background color photos and electronic photos.
1.2張2英寸正面免冠白色或淡藍色背景彩色照片及電子版照片。
2. Copies of the applicant's valid foreign passport and VISA.
2.申請人有效外國護照和簽證影印件。
3. Letters of recommendation issued by competent departments, commissions and bureaus under the State Council.
3.國務院所屬主管部、委、局出具的推薦函。
4. Copies of foreigner work permit, foreigner employment permit or foreign expert certificate.
4.《外國人工作許可證》、《外國人就業證》或《外國專家證》影印件。
5. Relevant rewards and Achievement Certificates. If there is a detailed description in the letter of recommendation, it may not be provided separately.
5.相關獎勵、成果憑證。如推薦函中已有詳細說明，可不另行提供。
6. For Chinese of foreign nationality scientific and technological talents, the Ministry of human resources and social security can issue a letter of recommendation or identity confirmation and an expert certificate to settle in China.
6.外籍華人科技人才可由人社部出具推薦函或身份确認函以及《來華定居專家證》。
7. Applicants who had Chinese nationality are required to provide copies of foreign residence qualification certificate, transcript of naturalization paper or registered residence, and the Chinese passport used to naturalized the country.
7.申請人曾具有中國國籍，需提供曾取得外國定居資格憑證、入籍紙或戶籍謄本、入籍時使用的中國護照影印件。
8. Resume of the applicant (from the age of 18 to now, consecutive years and months are required).
8.申請人個人履歷（18周歲至今，要求年份和月份之間連續）。
Note: 1. The certificates issued by relevant foreign institutions shall be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.
注：1.外國有關機構出具的憑證需經中國駐該國使領館認證。
2. Foreign language materials shall be translated into Chinese and stamped with the official seal of the translation company.
2.外文材料需譯成中文，并在翻譯件上加蓋翻譯公司公章。
3. The original shall be reviewed before submitting the copy, and an A4 copy is required.
3.遞交影印件前均需稽核原件，需一份A4規格影印件。
4. If the applicant needs to print the Chinese name on the alien permanent residence identity card, it shall indicate whether to print the Chinese name in the column of "other matters to be explained" on the application form.
4.申請人如需在《外國人永久居留身份證》上列印中文姓名，應在申請表上“其他需說明的事項”欄目中明示是否列印中文姓名。
5. Persons who have not canceled their Chinese household registration shall apply after canceling their household registration.
5.未登出中國戶籍的人員，應登出戶籍後再提出申請。
Zhongguancun foreign high-level talents
中關村外籍高層次人才
Foreigners who meet the criteria for the identification of foreign high-level talents in Zhongguancun can apply for permanent residence with a letter of recommendation issued by the Zhongguancun Management Committee.
符合中關村外籍高層次人才認定标準的外國人，經由中關村管委會出具推薦函，可以申請辦理外國人永久居留。
2.申請人有效外國護照及簽證影印件。
3. Original letter of recommendation issued by Zhongguancun Management Committee.
3.中關村管委會出具的推薦函原件。
4. Copies of foreigner work permit, foreigner employment permit or foreign expert certificate. The information about the employer, position and personal information shall be consistent with the recommendation letter issued by Zhongguancun Management Committee.
4.《外國人工作許可證》、《外國人就業證》或《外國專家證》影印件。有關任職機關、職務及個人情況等資訊應與中關村管委會出具的推薦函一緻。
5. Applicants who had Chinese nationality are required to provide copies of foreign residence qualification certificate, transcript of naturalization paper or registered residence, and the Chinese passport used to naturalized the country.
5.申請人曾具有中國國籍，需提供曾取得外國定居資格憑證、入籍紙或戶籍謄本、入籍時使用的中國護照影印件。
6. Resume of the applicant (from the age of 18 to now, consecutive years and months are required).
6.申請人個人履歷（18周歲至今，要求年份和月份之間連續）。
3. The original copy shall be reviewed before submitting the copy. The copy shall be in A4 size and in duplicate.
3.遞交影印件前均需稽核原件，影印件需A4規格，一式兩份。
These are the two situations in which foreigners can apply for permanent residence status in China. If you want to know other ways to apply for permanent residence and visa related issues for foreigners working in China, please follow us!
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