The holder of a permanent resident permit is still a foreigner, instead of a citizen of the country of residence, and foreigners have no “citizenship” in the country.
Generally speaking, foreigners who have obtained permanent resident permits can enter and exit China with valid passports and permanent residence permits, and they do not need to go through additional visa procedures; Their spouses and immediate family members can apply for corresponding visas, residence permits, or permanent residence ID cards for foreigners according to relevant regulations.
Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence in China do not have the same rights as Chinese citizens, generally being limited to economic, social, and cultural rights.
Categories of persons meeting the application requirements
Compared with short-term stay and long-term residencies, the period of stay of permanent residence is generally unlimited, but application requirements are stricter, and requirements for longer residence time must be met.
【Types of personnel eligible for permanent residence in China】
1. Special personnel
(1)Personnel recommended by government: high-level foreign talent who meet the criteria and recommended by Zhongshan Municipal People's Government.
(2)Personnel with outstanding contribution: foreigners who make major and outstanding contributions or are specially needed by China.
2. Employed personnel
(1)Personnel meeting evaluation standard: foreign members in an innovation and entrepreneurship team or foreign technical personnel recruited by enterprises who have earned certain credit points in accordance with the foreign talent's credit points rating standards implemented in nine cities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area.
(2)Personnel marked as “talent": foreign high-level talent whose work type residence permit are marked with a note of “talent" and have worked for three years in China.
(3)Personnel recognized by the market: foreigners who have worked in Guangdong for four consecutive years and lived in China for no less than six months each year within these four years, have earned an annual wage income (before tax) of over RMB 400,000 for four consecutive years and have paid personal income tax of more than RMB 70,000 each year for four consecutive years; or those whose annual wage income is no less than 6 times of the average wage of urban working employees in the city or town where they are located in the previous year, and the annual individual income tax paid is no less than 10% of the annual wage income.
(4)Personnel with required positions: foreigners holding a position of vice general manager, vice chairman, or above in qualifying organizations, or those holding titles of associate professor, associate researcher, or above, or those receiving the equivalent treatment for at least four years, and having lived in China for no less than three years cumulatively in these four years with good taxation records.
(5)Overseas Chinese holding a doctoral degree: Chinese with a foreign nationality who have a doctoral degree and work in Zhongshan with a work type residence permit.
(6)Overseas Chinese employees: Chinese with a foreign nationality who have worked in an enterprise in Zhongshan with a work-type residence permit for 4 consecutive years and have actually lived in China for at least 6 months each year.
3. Foreign investors
(1)General investment: foreigners who have invested a total of USD 2 million in China as a natural person or more than USD 500,000 in industries encouraged by the Catalogue for Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries promulgated by the state, have made stable investment for three consecutive years and have a good taxation record.
(2)Investment in the Greater Bay Area: foreigners who make direct investment in nine cities of the Greater Bay Area as natural persons or through companies that they themselves are controlling shareholders as natural persons, with stable investment for three consecutive years and a total investment of USD one million (a total investment of more than USD 500,000 in industries encouraged by the Catalogue for Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries promulgated by the state) and a good taxation record.
4. Accompanying family members
(1)Spouses: foreign spouses of personnel recognized by the government, with outstanding contribution, with required positions, or making general investment, Chinese holding a doctoral degree, employed personnel, or personnel recognized by market (whose annual wage income is not less than 6 times the average wage of in-service employees in the cities or towns where they are located in the previous year) can apply for permanent residence in China together with the applicant.
(2)Children: children of personnel recognized by the government, with outstanding contribution, with required positions, or making general investment, Chinese holding a doctoral degree, employed personnel, or personnel recognized by market (whose annual wage income is not less than 6 times the average wage of in-service employees in the cities or towns where they are located in the previous year), who are of foreign nationality, unmarried and aged below 18, can apply for permanent residence in China together with the applicant.
5. Family reunion
(1)Spouses: foreigners with stable life guarantee and domicile married to a Chinese citizen with permanent household registration in Zhongshan or a foreigner who has obtained permanent residence status in China; the marriage relationship has lasted for five years; have stayed in China for five consecutive years and not less than nine months each year.
(2)Children: unmarried foreigners aged under 18, one or both of whose parents are Chinese citizens with permanent household registration in Zhongshan or foreigners who have obtained permanent residence status in China.
(3)Dependent relatives: foreigners aged over 60 with stable life guarantee and domicile who have no immediate family abroad; have resided in China for five consecutive years before the date of application and for not less than nine months every year; and live as a dependent on immediate family within China.
Renewal and reissue of permanent residence permit
1. Application conditions
A foreigner who holds a valid permanent residence permit and has not lost his or her permanent residence status in China, may apply for replacement or reissue of the permit if he or she meets one of the following conditions:
(1) The validity of the permanent residence permit expires;
(2) The information in permanent residence permit changes;
(3) The permanent residence permit is damaged or lost.
2.A pplication documents
(1) Application Form for Foreigners to Renew or Reissue Permanent Residence Permit (in triplicate);
(2) Four recent photos of the applicant, bareheaded, full face and colored with blue background (specification: 48 x 33mm);
(3) A valid passport;
(4) Permanent residence permit of the applicant;
(5) Supporting materials before and after the change of relevant information (applicable for change of information);
(6) A Proof of Loss issued by the local public security authority or the loss statement written and signed by the applicant (applicable for permit loss);
(7) Other certificates as required by the public security authority.
How to become a Chinese citizen
Permanent residents enjoy more rights in living and working than other foreigners in China, but they only enjoy partial treatment as citizens of the country of residence and need to abide by the laws of the country.
Permanent residents who want to become Chinese citizens must apply for naturalization and receive government approval. In addition, the People’s Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.
1. Restore Chinese nationality
Eligible applicants: Foreigners who once held Chinese nationality and abide by China's Constitution and other laws.
2. Acquire Chinese nationality
Eligible applicants: Foreign nationals or stateless persons who are willing to abide by China's Constitution and laws and who meet one of the following conditions may apply for Chinese nationality:
(1) They are near relatives of Chinese nationals;
(2) They have settled in China;
(3) They have other legitimate reasons.
Accommodation registration for foreigners
After arriving in Zhongshan, foreigners shall register for temporary accommodation according to Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China.
1. Where foreigners stay in hotels in China, the hotels shall register their accommodation.
2. For foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels, they or the persons who accommodate them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners' arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence.If the validity of the accommodation registration expires or the visa has changed, the temporary accommodation registration shall be updated promptly.
3. Houses leased to foreigners shall meet the safety requirements and be registered and filed for the purpose of leasing as is required.
永久居留的主体，身份还是外国人，不是居留国公民，所以也不享有居留国“公民权”。
一般来说，获得永久居留资格的外国人可凭有效护照和永久居留证件出入中国国境，无需另外办理签证等手续；其配偶及直系亲属，可按有关规定申请办理相应签证、居留证件或外国人永久居留身份证。
与我国公民相比，取得永久居留资格的外国人所享有的权利是不全面、不充分的，一般只限于经济、社会、文化等方面的权利。
符合申请条件的人员类别
相对于短期停留和长期居留，永久居留期限一般不受限制，但申请条件更加严格，还要满足较长实际居留时间的要求。
【符合在华永久居留申请条件的人员类别】
1
特殊人员
（1）政府推荐类：符合认定标准，经中山市人民政府推荐的外籍高层次人才。
（2）突出贡献类：对中国有重大、突出贡献以及国家特别需要的外国人。
2
任职人员
（1）积分评估类：根据粤港澳大湾区9市外籍人才积分评估标准，达到一定分值的创新创业团队外籍成员和企业选聘外籍技术人才。
（2）加注“人才”类：持工作类居留证件（加注“人才”） 工作满三年的外籍高层次人才。
（3）市场认定类：在广东已连续工作满4年、每年在中国境内实际居住累计不少于6个月，申请时及申请之曰前连续4年工资性年收入（税前）40万元人民币以上，每年缴纳个人所得税7万元人民币以上的外国人或者是工资性年收入不低于上一年度所在地区城镇在岗职工平均工资的6倍，每年缴纳个人所得税不低于工资性年收入的20%。
（4）一般任职类：在符合条件的单位担任副总经理、副厂长等职务以上或者具有副教授、副研究员等副高级职称以上以及享受同等待遇满4年，四年内在中国居留累计不少于3年，且纳税记录良好的外国人。
（5）华人博士类：具有博士研究生以上学历且持工作类居留许可在中山市工作的外籍华人。
（6）华人任职类：在中山市企业连续工作满4年、每年在中国境内实际居住累计不少于6个月的外籍华人。
3
投资人员
（1）一般投资类：以自然人身份在中国投资合计200万美元或在国家颁布的《外商投资产业指导目录》鼓励类产业投资合计50万美元以上的，连续3年投资情况稳定，且纳税记录良好的外国人。
（2）大湾区投资类：以自然人身份或者通过本人以自然人身份作为控股股东的公司企业，在粤港澳大湾区9市内直接投资、连续3年投资情况稳定、投资数额合计100万美元（国家颁布的《外商 投资产业指导目录》鼓励类产业投资合计50万美元）以上且纳税记录良好的外国人。
4
随行家属
（1）配偶类：政府认定类、突出贡献类、一般任职类、一般投资类、华人博士类及任职类、市场认定类（工资性年收入不低于上一年度所在地区城镇在岗职工平均工资的6倍）人员的外籍配偶可随申请人同时申请在华永久居留。
（2）子女类：政府认定类、突出贡献类、一般任职类、一般 投资类、华人博士类及任职类、市场认定类（工资性年收入不低于上一年度所在地区城镇在岗职工平均工资的6倍）人员的未满18周岁的外籍未婚子女可随申请人同时申请在华永久居留。
5
团聚
（1） 夫妻团聚类：配偶为中山市常住户籍的中国公民或者在中国获得永久居留资格的外国人，婚姻关系存续满5年且申请之曰前已在中国连续居留满5年、每年在中国居留不少于9个月且有稳定生活保障和住所的外国人。
（2） 亲子团聚类：父母双方或一方为中山市常住户籍的中国公民或者在中国获得永久居留资格的外国人，未满18周岁且未婚的外国人。
（3）亲属投靠类：在境外无直系亲属，且申请之曰前已在中国连续居留满5年、每年在中国居留不少于9个月，投靠境内直系亲属的，且有稳定生活保障和住所的年满60周岁外国人。
永久居留证件的换发与补发
1.申请条件
外国人持有效永久居留证件，且未丧失在中国永久居留资格规定情形的，有下列条件之一，可以申请换发或者补发永久居留证件：
（1）外国人永久居留证件有效期满；
（2）外国人永久居留证件内容变更；
（3）外国人永久居留证件损坏或遗失。
2.申请材料
1、填写《外国人换发或补发永久居留证件申请表》（一式三份）；
2、提交经检测合格的申请人近期正面免冠蓝底彩色照片 （规格为：48 mmx33 mm）4 张；
3、有效护照；
4、外国人永久居留证件；
5、相关信息变更前后的证明材料（内容变更类提交）；
6、报失地公安机关出具的报失证明或本人书写并签名的遗 失说明（遗失证件类提交）；
7、公安机关认为必须提交的其他证明。
成为中国公民
永久居留者在中国居住、工作、生活享有较其他外国人更多的便利，但只享有部分居留国公民的待遇，并需要遵守居留国法律。
永久居留者想成为中国公民，必须申请入中国籍并得到政府批准。另外，“中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍”。
1.恢复中国国籍
申请对象：曾经具有过中国国籍、并遵守中国宪法和法律的外国人。
2.加入中国国籍
申请对象：外国人或无国籍人，愿意遵守中国宪法和法律，并具有下列条件之一的，可以申请加入中国国籍：
（1）中国人的近亲属；
（2）定居在中国的；
（3）有其他正当理由的。
外国人住宿登记办理
外国人抵中山后，应按照《中华人民共和国出境入境管理法》第三十九条规定办理临时住宿登记手续。
1.住在酒店、宾馆等旅业部门的，由旅业部门为外国人办理住宿登记。
2.在旅馆以外的其他住所居住或者住宿的，应当在入住后24小时内由本人或者留宿人，向居住地的公安机关办理住宿登记。住宿登记有效期满或签证证件发生变更的情况下，应及时更新临时住宿登记。
3.外国人租住的房屋必须符合安全要求并办理齐备我市相关房屋租赁登记备案手续。
参考资料：《外国人在穗指南》
特别鸣谢广州外办提供参考资料
