China Marriage Immigration

As China’s opening-up accelerates, marriages between foreigners and Chinese citizens are increasing, providing opportunities for foreign spouses to integrate into Chinese society. The Chinese government has gradually introduced more relaxed and flexible immigration policies, especially for foreigners married to Chinese citizens, allowing foreign spouses who meet certain conditions to apply for permanent residence in China. This policy not only promotes the exchange and integration of Chinese and foreign cultures, but also makes it easier for foreign spouses to live and work in China. Through this policy, foreign spouses can enjoy similar treatment as Chinese citizens, and obtain better social security and living benefits, which provides more protection and support for international marriages.

According to China’s immigration policy, foreign spouses can apply for permanent residence in China if they meet certain conditions after marrying Chinese citizens.

Specific requirements include:

Marriage and residence requirements: Foreign spouses must be married to Chinese citizens, and the marriage relationship should have lasted for 5 years. During this period, foreign spouses must have lived in China for 5 consecutive years, and their annual residence time in China must not be less than 9 months. This requirement is intended to ensure that foreign spouses have a stable residence record, indicating their long-term living intention in China.

Stable living and housing conditions: In addition to the marriage relationship and residence requirements, foreign spouses must also prove that they have a stable and safe living situation in China. This includes having a legal source of income, a stable occupation or income, and a legal residence. Usually, applicants need to provide materials such as a house rental contract or house ownership certificate to prove that they have a stable living environment.

Necessary application materials: During the application process, foreign spouses need to provide a number of supporting materials. Including household registration certificates for Chinese spouses or permanent residence permits for foreign spouses, marriage certificates, and relevant documents proving their ability to support their lives. These materials must be notarized, and if they are documents issued by foreign institutions, they must also be authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country or region.

Through these regulations, foreign spouses can more easily settle in China and enjoy similar housing and social treatment as Chinese citizens. This not only strengthens the connection between Chinese and foreign families, but also further promotes the diversified development of Chinese society, while providing better living security for foreign spouses.

Permanent residence application for foreign spouse

Applicants must abide by Chinese laws, be in good health, have no criminal record, fill out the application form for permanent residence in China for foreigners, and submit the following materials:
1. A valid foreign passport or a document that can replace a passport;
2. A health certificate issued by a health inspection and quarantine agency designated by the Chinese government or a foreign health and medical institution recognized by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad;
3. A certificate of no criminal record abroad recognized by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad;
4. Four sets of the latest 2-inch front-facing barehead color photos;
5. Other relevant materials.

Note:

1. The applicant’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18, if they are spouses, should provide a marriage certificate when applying; if they are unmarried children under the age of 18, they should provide their birth certificate or parent-child relationship certificate; if they are adopted, they should provide an adoption certificate. The certificate or proof issued by the relevant foreign institutions shall be recognized by our embassy or consulate in the country or region

2. Foreigners applying for permanent residence in China shall apply to the public security organ of the municipal people’s government or the public security sub-bureau of the municipality directly under the Central Government or the county-level bureau of the main investment place or long-term residence place by the applicant or the applicant’s parents who are unmarried and under the age of 18 or the person who accepts the application on behalf of the applicant.

3. If the application is entrusted to another person, a power of attorney issued by the applicant shall be provided. The power of attorney applied for abroad shall be authenticated by our embassy or consulate in the country or region.

4. The public security organ shall make a decision on whether to approve the application for permanent residence in China submitted by a foreigner within six months from the date of receipt of the application.

5. Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence in China shall be issued a foreigner permanent residence permit by the Ministry of Public Security. If the applicant is abroad, the Ministry of Public Security shall issue a foreigner permanent residence confirmation form. The applicant shall apply for a D visa at the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad with the foreigner permanent residence confirmation form, and obtain the foreigner permanent residence permit from the public security organ that accepted the application within 30 days after entry.

6. Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence in China shall stay in China for more than three months each year; if they cannot meet the cumulative residence requirements in China each year due to actual needs, they must obtain approval from the public security organs of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government where they have permanent residence, but the cumulative number of residences in China within five years shall not be less than one year.

7. The validity period of a foreigner’s permanent residence permit is five years or ten years. Foreigners under the age of 18 who are approved for permanent residence in China shall be issued a foreigner’s permanent residence permit with a validity period of five years. Foreigners over the age of 18 who are approved for permanent residence in China shall be issued a foreigner’s permanent residence permit with a validity period of ten years.

8. If the validity period of a foreigner’s permanent residence permit expires, the matters of the foreigner’s permanent residence permit change, or the foreigner’s permanent residence permit is lost or damaged, the holder shall apply to the public security organ of the municipal people’s government where the permanent residence is located, or the municipal public security sub-bureau or county-level bureau for replacement or reissue of the certificate. If the public security organ believes that the holder has not lost the qualification for permanent residence in China, the certificate shall be replaced or reissued within one month.

9. Foreigners holding permanent residence permits for foreigners shall apply for a replacement of their permits one month before the expiration of the permit. If the contents of the permit change, the applicant shall apply for a change or replacement within one month from the date of the change. If the permit is damaged or lost, the applicant shall apply for a replacement or change in a timely manner.

10. Foreigners who have permanently resided in China shall have their permanent residence in China revoked or their permanent residence permits declared invalid by the Ministry of Public Security if they meet any of the following circumstances:

1. Those who may cause harm to national security and interests;

2. Those who have been sentenced to deportation by the People’s Court;

3. Those who have obtained permanent residence in China by illegal means such as providing false materials;

4. Those who have resided in China for less than 3 months in a year or less than 1 year in a year without permission.