Professional residence permit China service for foreign nationals seeking to legally reside in China for work, family reunion, study, or long-term purposes. After entering China on a Z visa, S1 visa, or X1 visa, you must apply for a work residence permit, family reunion residence permit, or student residence permit within 30 days. We provide end-to-end support: initial application, extension, change of employer, and transfer of residence permit. Avoid overstay penalties, maintain legal status, and navigate China's Exit-Entry Administration with confidence. Expedited processing, document preparation, and interview guidance for all major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and more.
📋 Apply for Residence Permit NowA residence permit (居留许可) is a legal document issued by China's Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to foreign nationals who intend to reside in China for more than 180 days. Unlike a visa, which permits entry, a residence permit allows you to legally stay and, depending on its type, work, study, or reunite with family in China. The residence permit China is a multi-entry document that eliminates the need for repeated visa applications. Common types include:
For foreign professionals converting from Z visa or renewing existing work permit. We coordinate with employer, prepare work permit renewal, and submit residence permit application to Exit-Entry Bureau.Work
For spouses, children, or parents of Chinese citizens or foreign residents with valid residence permits. Includes marriage certificate authentication, relationship proof, and address registration.Family
For international students converting from X1 visa or extending study period. We assist with school enrollment verification, visa extension, and residence permit application.Student
When changing jobs, your work residence permit must be transferred to the new employer. We handle the work permit transfer and residence permit update process.Transfer
Apply for extension before current residence permit expires. We submit application up to 30-90 days before expiry, ensuring no gap in legal status.Extension
For foreign nationals who have resided in China for 4+ consecutive years or meet special contribution criteria. Complex application – we provide full guidance.Green Card
We assess your visa type, purpose of stay, and eligibility to identify the correct residence permit category (work, family, student, or private affairs).
We prepare all required documents: passport, current visa, temporary residence registration form, employment certificate (for work), marriage/birth certificates (for family), admission letter (for student), and any authenticated foreign documents.
For work and certain family residence permits, a medical exam at designated hospitals is required. We assist with appointment scheduling and form submission.
We book appointment at local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau, submit application forms and documents, and handle any requests for additional information.
Fingerprints and photo taken on-site. Some categories require brief interview – we provide coaching.
Processing typically takes 7-15 business days. Residence permit is affixed to passport (or issued as separate card for permanent residence). Valid for 1-5 years depending on type.
Permits entry into China. Limited validity (typically 30-90 days for single entry, up to 10 years for multi-entry). Cannot be used for work or long-term stay.
Permits long-term stay after entry. Multi-entry, valid 1-5 years. Allows work, study, or family living. Required for any stay exceeding 180 days.
2026 China residence permit application guide for permanent residence, work, family, and study permits. Learn eligibility, requirements, and step-by-step process to get your permit.
Complete 2026 China residence permit guide covering work, family, study, and permanent residence permits. Learn application requirements, processing times, and eligibility for each type.
New policy allows job changers to transfer work residence permit directly without leaving China. Processing time 10-15 days.
Describe your situation: current visa type, purpose of stay (work/family/study), current city, and when your current residence permit/visa expires. We will provide eligibility assessment and fixed-price proposal within 24 hours.
Our residence permit specialists have processed thousands of applications across all major Chinese cities. End-to-end support – from document preparation to permit issuance.