How to get residency in China in 2026: every route
Work, study, family and investment: which residence permit each route gives, what it costs and whether permanent residence is within reach
| Key facts | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Types of residence permit | for work, study, family reunion and private affairs |
| Work | a category A, B or C work permit and a work visa |
| Permit term | 90 days to 5 years for work, 180 days to 5 years for other routes |
| Permit fee | $60 up to a year, $120 up to 3 years, $150 up to 5 years |
| Permanent residence | investment from $500,000, spouses of citizens after 5 years of marriage and residence |
| Visa-free entry | 30 days for citizens of Russia until 31 December 2027, Belarus, Kazakhstan and many European countries |
| Citizenship | almost never granted to foreigners, dual citizenship not allowed |
Data checked: 07.10.2026
A residence permit in China is a stay permit pasted into your passport. It is issued by the police exit-entry service where you live for a specific purpose: work, study, family reunion, private affairs or journalism. The term runs from 90 days to 5 years, and it is renewed while the basis remains.
You almost always start with a visa for the purpose of the trip from a Chinese consulate: work, student or family. After entering you have 30 days to apply for the residence permit. Visa-free entry, even under the new 30-day rules, does not give residence and does not allow work.
China has no programmes for retirees, digital nomads or people living on passive income, and buying a flat gives no status. Below are all the routes in one table with amounts in dollars at the Central Bank of Russia rate on 7 October 2026, then each route in turn, fees, common refusals and the path to permanent residence.
We will work out online the investment or income your family needs and what the permit costs for each member.
Every way to get residency in China: comparison
| Route | Main condition | From | Processing time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work, category B | bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience, age up to 60 | permit fee from $60 | work permit, visa, then up to 15 days for the permit | our guide |
| Work, category A | top-level talent, 85 points or more | permit fee from $60 | fast track, permit and talent visa | - |
| Own company | a company in China and a manager's work permit | capital per the business plan | company registration, then as for work | our guide |
| Study | university invitation, programme longer than 180 days | permit fee from $60 | visa, then up to 15 days for the permit | - |
| Family of a Chinese citizen | spouse, parents, children and other close relatives | permit fee from $60 | visa, then up to 15 days for the permit | - |
| Family of a foreigner in China | spouse, children under 18 and parents of a worker or student | permit fee from $60 | visa, then up to 15 days for the permit | - |
| Permanent residence through investment | direct investment operating for 3 consecutive years | from $500,000 | decision by the Ministry of Public Security | - |
"From" is the residence permit fee per applicant or the minimum investment. Processing time is for the decision in China; the consular visa and work permit come before it.
Work: a work permit and a work residence permit
Work is the main route to China. The employer in China applies for a work permit, the consulate then issues a work visa, and once in China you have 30 days to apply for a work residence permit valid from 90 days to 5 years. You cannot work in China on any visa without a work permit.
Permits fall into three categories. Category A is for top-level talent - scientists, senior executives, entrepreneurs - scoring 85 points or more, with no limits on age, education or experience, and they have a dedicated talent visa. Category B is for professionals: a bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of relevant experience, or a salary of four times the local average, or 60-84 points; the age limit is usually 60. Category C covers other workers the labour market needs and is issued under quotas.
Foreign language teachers need a bachelor's degree, and native speakers also need a teaching certificate or teaching experience. A foreigner can register their own company in China and work in it as a manager under the same work permit: there is no separate residence permit for entrepreneurs.
- passport and photo
- diploma with legalisation or apostille
- criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship or residence, legalised or apostilled
- proof of work experience
- medical certificate, and in China a medical check at a designated centre
- employment contract and employer documents
Study and internships
For study longer than 180 days the consulate issues a student visa on a university invitation, and in China you have 30 days to obtain a study residence permit for the length of the programme. Short courses of up to 180 days use a short-term student visa without a residence permit.
Students may work part-time or do internships only with the university's consent and an endorsement from the exit-entry service on the permit. Working without it is a violation punished with fines and possible deportation.
Family: spouse, children, parents
Spouses, parents, children, siblings and grandparents of Chinese citizens and of foreigners with permanent residence get a family visa and then a family reunion residence permit of up to 5 years. A marriage registered abroad must be legalised, and kinship is proven with birth certificates.
The family of a foreigner working or studying in China - spouse, children under 18, parents and parents-in-law - gets a visa and a private affairs residence permit. You cannot work on it: the spouse needs their own work permit.
Investment: permanent residence through investment
There is no temporary residence permit for investors in China: an investor lives on a work permit as the manager of their own company. Investment can, however, lead straight to permanent residence. The threshold is direct investment of $500,000 or $2 million depending on the region and sector; the investment must operate for at least three consecutive years and the company must have a clean tax record.
The investor's spouse and unmarried children under 18 apply for permanent residence together with them. It is a rare route: the Ministry of Public Security decides, and few applications are filed.
Without a job or investment: what China does not offer
China has no retirement visa, no residence permit for people living on passive income and no digital nomad visa. Remote work for a foreign employer on a tourist visa or visa-free entry is formally prohibited.
A foreigner who has worked or studied in China for a year can buy one flat for their own use, but buying a home does not give residence. For a long stay without local work, the options are study or family.
Health insurance for a residence permit
Foreigners working in China under an employment contract must join state social insurance, including health insurance, with contributions from both employer and employee. This has applied since 2011, and agreements with some countries exempt workers from part of the contributions.
Universities usually arrange mandatory insurance for international students for the study year. Families living on a private affairs or family reunion permit would do well to buy a private policy covering international clinics in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou.
Fees and timelines: what residency in China costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residence permit up to a year | $60 |
| Residence permit for 1 to 3 years | $120 |
| Residence permit for 3 to 5 years | $150 |
| Permanent residence application | $230 |
| Permanent resident ID card | $45 |
| Investment for permanent residence | from $500,000 |
Fees are per person, at the Central Bank of Russia rate on 7 October 2026. The consular visa fee, legalisation, translations and medical check come on top. Our consultant will work out the total for your family in the chat.
Support up to your Chinese residence permit
In China much depends on preparation before the trip: the work permit category, legalising the diploma and criminal record certificate, the right visa and filing for the residence permit within the first 30 days. We pick the route, prepare and legalise documents, help register a company and handle the application until the permit is issued.
Our consultant will quote the cost of support in the chat.
Common reasons for refusal
- the diploma or criminal record certificate is not legalised or the certificate has expired
- less than 2 years of experience, or experience that does not match the position, for category B
- age over 60 for category B without special justification
- the residence permit application was not filed within 30 days of entry
- a student works or interns without university consent and an endorsement on the permit
- past violations: overstays or work outside the terms of the permit
Overstaying a residence permit in China brings a fine for each day and possible detention and deportation. Renew your status in advance, before it expires.
Restrictions for certain nationalities
Since 15 September 2025 citizens of Russia have entered China visa-free for 30 days for tourism, business, family visits and transit, and the regime has been extended to 31 December 2027. Citizens of Belarus and Kazakhstan also enter visa-free for 30 days under agreements with China, as do citizens of many European countries. For work, study longer than 180 days and family, a visa from a consulate is still required.
There are no nationality-based restrictions on residence: all routes are open on general terms.
Path to permanent residence and citizenship in China
Permanent residence in China goes to a narrow group: investors with $500,000 or more, people with special contributions and top-level talent, staff of key state projects and doctoral degree holders, and families. The spouse of a Chinese citizen needs at least 5 years of marriage and 5 consecutive years living in China for at least 9 months a year, plus housing and a stable income. Children under 18 and elderly relatives over 60 who depend on Chinese citizens can also apply.
The permanent resident card is issued for 5 or 10 years and renewed. China grants citizenship to foreigners extremely rarely, and the law does not allow dual citizenship: on naturalisation the previous passport must be surrendered. More in our guide to Chinese citizenship.
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More on this country:
- China work visa: categories and steps
- China: all programmes
- Chinese citizenship
- Taxes in China
- Beijing: districts and prices
- Shanghai: districts and prices
- Company registration in China
- Personal bank account in China
- Buying a flat in China
All countries and routes - compare residence permits.
FAQ
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