China has launched a major reform of its permanent residence system for foreigners, making it easier to apply for a "China Green Card" and further enhancing its gold content.
中国推出了外籍人士永居制度的重大改革，“中国绿卡”申请更容易，含金量进一步提升。
The Chinese government has issued the "Reform Program for the Facilitation of Permanent Residence Permits for Foreigners", which is a huge breakthrough in this field in recent years.
中国政府印发了《外国人永久居留证件便利化改革方案》，是近年来中国在这个领域内的一次巨大突破。
From the content of this reform, we can see that, firstly, the name has been changed from "residence permit" to "residence identity card", a change that reflects the recognition of foreigners' "identity". "Secondly, in terms of function, it is fully in line with the Chinese "ID card", extending the function of the "green card" to all aspects of daily life.
从这次的改革内容，我们可以看出，首先，更改了名称，从以前的“居留证”改成了“居留身份证”，这一变化，体现对外籍人的“身份”的认同；其次，在功能上，也完全与中国“身份证”接轨，把“绿卡”的功能真正延伸到日常生活的各个方面。
Combined with the reforms in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong since 2015, we can see that the earlier reforms focused on the expansion of the service groups and the scientific recognition, specifically in the following ways: the previous service groups were mainly people within the system, but now the service targets are further extended to all kinds of enterprises and social organizations; from the earlier recognition methods based on positions, titles, etc., they have been expanded to include For example, Zhongguancun in Beijing gives foreign Chinese with doctoral degrees a green card similar to the "ethnic Chinese card", and Guangdong gives foreign Chinese of Cantonese descent a five-year multiple-entry card. For example, Zhongguancun in Beijing offers a green card similar to the "ethnic Chinese card" and Guangdong offers a five-year multiple-entry "small ethnic Chinese card" to foreign Chinese of Guangdong origin.
结合从2015年以来北京、上海和广东等地的改革，我们可以看出，前期的改革侧重于服务群体的扩大、认定的科学化等，具体体现在：以前的服务群体以体制内的人群为主，而现在进一步将服务对象延伸到各类企业、社会组织机构的团体；从前期的以职位、职称等为主的认定方式，扩展到以税收、薪资等市场化特征明显的认定方式；并且为外籍华人归国创新创业提供了突破性的入出境和永久居留便利，如北京中关村对具有博士学历的外籍华人给与类似“华裔卡”的绿卡，广东对广东裔的外籍华人则给与五年多次往返的“小华裔卡”。It can be said that, with the continuous breakthrough of China's "green card" policy, the application of Chinese "green card" will be easier and more convenient, the gold value of "green card" will be enhanced, and the channels for foreign talents to come to China to work and exchange will be more convenient. The channels for foreign talents to work and communicate in China will become more convenient, and China's competitiveness in attracting foreign talents will become stronger and stronger.
可以说，随着中国“绿卡”政策的不断突破，中国“绿卡”的申请将更加简便易行，“绿卡”的含金量将不断提升，外籍人才来华工作、交流的渠道更加便捷，中国吸引外籍人才的竞争力也会越来越强。
What are the new features of the Chinese "Green Card"?
中国“绿卡”待遇现在有什么新功能？
The Chinese government has recently issued the "Reform Program for the Facilitation of Permanent Residence Permits for Foreigners", which includes the following major measures: First, the "Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners" will be renamed as the "Permanent Residence Identity Card for Foreigners", which will further strengthen the function of identity authentication. Secondly, the "Permanent Residence ID Card for Foreigners" will refer to the technical standards of the second generation of Chinese resident ID cards, embed a chip in the card to store information on the issuance and management of the card, and realize the identification and verification of the ID card reading machine, so as to solve the problem of the Chinese "green card". "Third, the information systems of railroads, civil aviation, insurance, hotels, banks and other related information systems will be renovated to further facilitate the work, residence and life of the holders in China while sharing information among departments of permanent resident foreigners. These measures will change the situation that for many years, the Chinese Green Card was basically a long-term entry/exit visa, and the holder could not enjoy the rights, benefits and convenience brought by the Green Card.
中国政府近日印发的《外国人永久居留证件便利化改革方案》，主要措施包括：一是将“外国人永久居留证”更名为“外国人永久居留身份证”，进一步强化身份认证功能，外国人可将其作为在中国境内证明自己身份的合法证件和享受在华永久居留资格的有效凭证；二是“外国人永久居留身份证”将参照中国第二代居民身份证技术标准，在证件中嵌入芯片存储证件签发管理信息，实现身份证阅读机具识别核验，解决中国“绿卡”的可识验问题；三是改造铁路、民航、保险、宾馆、银行等相关信息系统，在实现永久居留外国人信息部门间共享的同时，进一步便利持证人在华工作、居留、生活；这些措施一改过去多年来中国绿卡基本上就是一个长期出入境签证、基本无法享受绿卡带来的各项权益和便利的状况。
This reform and upgrade is to bring convenience to foreigners' working and living in China, and is a response to the problem of low social awareness and the fact that the document does not have machine readable identification function, which makes it difficult to implement some of the "green card" benefits in the process of actual implementation. "The new green card will provide foreigners with the opportunity to come to China for permanent residence.
这次改革升级是以为外国人在华工作生活带来便利为出发点的，是针对早在2012年中国政府出台的《外国人在中国永久居留享有相关待遇的办法》中20条待遇在实际落实过程中由于社会认知度低、以及证件不具备机读识别功能等原因导致“绿卡”部分待遇难以落实这一问题的改革。
What practical convenience will the new green card bring to foreigners coming (living) to China to work and live?
新绿卡将为外国人来（在）华工作居住生活带来哪些实际便利？
After the completion of the reform of the permanent residence permit, foreigners holding the Chinese "Green Card" will enjoy more benefits, i.e., foreigners who have obtained the permanent residence status will enjoy "unlimited residence period in China, and can enter and leave China with a valid passport and "Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners", without having to go through additional procedures such as visa. Their spouses and immediate family members can apply for visas, residence permits or permanent residence permits in accordance with the relevant regulations" and "employment in China without having to apply for an Employment Permit for Foreigners". In addition, they can enjoy the same facilitation treatment as Chinese citizens in purchasing train tickets, air tickets, insurance, hotel registration, etc. This reform will greatly enhance the practical effectiveness of the Chinese Green Card and the sense of access to permanent residence for foreigners.
外国人永久居留证件便利化改革任务完成后，持有中国“绿卡”的外国人将享有更多福利，即获得永久居留资格的外国人，除享有“在中国居留期限不受限制，可凭有效护照和《外国人永久居留证》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《外国人永久居留证》”、“在中国就业，免办《外国人就业证》”等待遇外，还可在购买火车票、机票、保险、宾馆登记等方面享有与中国公民等同的便利化待遇。该项改革将大幅提升中国“绿卡”的实用效能和外国人永久居留的获得感。
What are the application channels for the Chinese Green Card?
中国“绿卡”有哪些申请通道？
Generally speaking, the channels for applying for a Chinese Green Card can be divided into a national universal channel and a pilot channel for key development regions.
总体来讲，中国“绿卡”申请通道可分为全国普适通道和重点发展区域先行试点通道。
*There are four major categories of nationally applicable permanent residence channels:
*全国普适的永久居留通道有4大类：
At present, according to the Administrative Measures for the Approval of Foreigners' Permanent Residence in China, the nationwide permanent residence application channels can be divided into four categories:
目前，中国“绿卡”申请通道根据《外国人在中国永久居留审批管理办法》，在全国范围内普适的永久居留通道可归结为4大类：
--Investment category. Foreign talents who have invested directly in China, have stable investment status for three consecutive years and have good tax records.
——投资类通道。在中国直接投资、连续三年投资情况稳定且纳税记录良好的外籍人才。
--The employment category. Foreign talents who hold the position of deputy general manager, deputy factory manager or above, or have the title of associate professor, associate researcher or above, and enjoy the same treatment, have served for four consecutive years, have resided in China for at least three years in total within four years and have good tax records.
——任职类通道。在中国担任副总经理、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，已连续任职满四年、四年内在中国居留累计不少于三年且纳税记录良好的外籍人才。
--Special Talent Channel. Foreign talents who have made significant and outstanding contributions to China and are in special need of the country.
——特殊人才通道。对中国有重大、突出贡献以及国家特别需要的外籍人才。
--Relative reunion and dependency channel. This includes spouses, minor unmarried children and immediate family members over 60 years old.
——亲属团聚和投靠通道。包括配偶、未成年未婚子女和60岁以上直系亲属。
In addition, the Chinese government also drafted the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Permanent Residence of Foreigners (Draft) last year, which, in addition to the several types of permanent residence channels already opened, also opened a new application channel specifically for foreign Chinese, specifying: "with a doctoral degree; or with a master's degree and more than four years of work experience; or Foreign Chinese who have been residing in China for 6 consecutive years and actually live in China for at least 6 months each year and have stable living security and residence" can apply for permanent residence in China. At present, the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Permanent Residence of Foreigners (Draft) has been consulted and is being actively promoted.
另外，中国政府也于去年起草了《中华人民共和国外国人永久居留管理条例（草案）》，在已经开通的几类永久居留通道的基础上，还专门针对外籍华人开设了新的申请通道，明确：“具有博士研究生学历；或具有硕士研究生学历，且有4年以上工作经验；或在中国境内连续居留6年、每年实际居住不少于6个月，有稳定生活保障和住所的外籍华人”，均可申请在华永久居留。目前《中华人民共和国外国人永久居留管理条例（草案）》已征求各方意见，正在积极推进中。
*The new permanent residency channel will be piloted in key development areas
*重点发展区域先行试点新增的永久居留通道
In order to attract more foreign talents to come to China for innovation and entrepreneurship, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and other key development regions have introduced a series of policy measures with different focuses according to the actual situation of each region, and further broadened the scope of application for Chinese "green cards" on top of the four types of permanent residence application channels already opened nationwide.
为吸引了更多优秀外籍人才来华创新创业，京、沪、粤等重点发展区域根据各地区实际情况，推出了一系列各有侧重的政策措施，在全国已开通的4类永久居留申请通道的基础上，进一步拓宽了中国“绿卡”的申请范围。
