Citizenship of China

China is not among the priority immigration routes. However, the country's economic and technological potentials attract students, professionals and investors.

Despite the conservative policy, monoculture, difficulties in obtaining citizenship in the country of the Eurasian continent move due to marriage, ethnicity, and family reunification. After 5-10 years of naturalization, foreigners receive permanent residence and passports.

Obtaining methods

The Republic of China is reluctant to grant legal status to expats. In 2023, only 16,600 new citizens were registered. For comparison, the United States gives out the same amount per week. Migration legislation due to overpopulation limits the possibilities of legalization, and local authorities refuse for various reasons.

It is impossible to get permanent residence without knowledge of culture and language. Orientalist and Relocant students integrated into Chinese society have a much better chance.

The country's policy is based on the Citizenship Act, which came into force in 1980. For 45 years, the authorities have not made any significant amendments. The updated legislative framework is based on attracting investments, business development and science branches. Pursuant to article 7 different categories of the population can apply for permanent residence and a passport.

Shanghai and Beijing have simplified rules for selecting applications, reducing the timeframe from 180 to 90 days.

As you already understood, the terms and packages of documents vary depending on the chosen method of obtaining a Chinese passport. Let's take a closer look at the main ways to obtain Chinese citizenship.

Accelerated Citizenship

The criteria for selecting applicants and the timing of receipt in administrative districts are different. In Hong Kong, for immigrants, it is reduced from 10 to 7 years. Benefits are provided for promising specialists, athletes, prominent artists, researchers.

By birth and origin

Citizenship is automatically granted to newborns by right of blood, if one of the parents is Chinese. The country of birth is irrelevant, but land-law filiation is not provided for.

The law applies to children from unknown parents or found in one of the provinces of China. For couples without citizenship, the authorities also assign the right to status to the child. If one of the Chinese parents lives abroad and the child has received foreign citizenship, he is deprived of the opportunity to apply for a passport by ethnicity.

Family reunification

The Chinese are zealous for family values, and they have opened a separate program for immigrants. To participate, you need to have close relatives – residents of the People's Republic of China over the age of 18.

To enter the territory of a foreign native, you must contact the consulate with the collected file. Visas are opened on the basis of a letter of sponsorship, an invitation indicating the degree of kinship, the purpose of the trip, documentary evidence of kinship. A common reason for moving to the country is to care for elderly relatives or provide assistance. Upon arrival in China, foreigners request a residence permit for naturalization.

Marriage

Registering a relationship with a subject is the easiest method to naturalize. It eliminates the need to visit institutions, reduces the waiting time for a decision.

Foreigners who are officially married to a resident / citizen of the country can apply for the status. Conditions: 5 years of joint household management, residence in mainland China for at least 9 months a year. For registration, you need a legalized certificate signed by a notary, certificates confirming previous divorces, and the conclusion of the medical commission.

Naturalization

They enter the country on a multiple-entry annual visa with the right to stay for 30, 60 or 90 days, then, on different grounds, the resident statute is issued. Persons with in-demand professions, talented people who are able to prove financial solvency, comply with legal conditions and speak the language can apply for a residence permit. The application for naturalization is issued on the website of the Department of Immigration. The law forces people to renew their residence permit annually.

After 3-4 years, immigrants request permanent residence. The card paves the way to citizenship in the future.

The following persons have the right to apply for permanent residence:

• specialists holding managerial positions for 4 years;
• students after naturalization;
• sponsors and businessmen who invest in the local economy for 30 months;
• employed expats.

What is the "Five-Star Card"?

For long-term residence in the country since 2004, a green card is now known as the "five-star card". This is a permanent resident ID. Long-term residence relieves foreigners from the procedure of annual application for a residence permit and replaces the internal passport. The card gives immigrants duties, social rights and equalizes with Chinese people. 

Contributing to the development of the country

The Chinese government controls the flow of immigrants, but invites experts to develop scientific and technical potential. Shanghai has a program for foreign specialists accredited by the national / municipal administration.

Employees with professional experience appointed by the Shanghai Department are invited to permanently reside. The applications of relocators are considered as a priority at the consulate. The law applies to talented and famous people who are ready to invest in technology, culture, and the economy. Sometimes they move at the invitation of the authorities / sponsors. This frees expats from the need to take a linguistic exam, reduces the time of paperwork.

Investments

The path to citizenship is direct investment in the Chinese economy, state / commercial companies, infrastructure, and government bonds. The amount of deposits is determined by the regional authorities.

For industrial sectors from the state register, the minimum amount is $500,000 for 3-5 years. The investor receives the status of "friend of the Chinese people" and the right to quickly obtain permanent residence. Large investors with an authorized capital of 2 million are in a special place. They can immediately apply for a passport.

Recent program changes

At the beginning of 2024, an updated version of the green card with enhanced functionality was released.

The five-star map allows to:

• exit and enter the country;
• participate in various social insurance programs;
• work without a special permit;
• acquire commercial facilities;
• use the housing fund;
• establish companies with foreign investment (FIE);
• use intellectual property / assets for investment;
• make foreign direct investment.

According to the new rules in Shanghai, candidates with a PhD degree receive status immediately. The relaxation touched high-quality specialists planning to stay in the PRC for a long time. For them, the term is reduced to 3 years.

China also expanded the categories of immigrants to 13 and conditionally divided them into 4 groups:

• expats with key positions;
• talents; 
• investors; 
• direct relatives of the Chinese who permanently reside in the territory.

In parallel, in 2023, the wages and tax for the candidates were toughened.

Dual Citizenship

The Citizenship Law of the People's Republic of China prohibits having two passports. The registration of the second is impossible without the rejection of the first. Chinese people who obtain birthright status in another country are automatically deprived of their legal right.

Identification of the fact of the second valid document automatically leads to the revocation of Chinese citizenship, related social privileges.

Exceptions

The rule does not apply to foreigners who have received it for special merits. The law does not apply to civil servants and professional military personnel.

Pros of Chinese citizenship

In the international ranking, the document ranks 51st. Citizens with a passport strength of 94 can freely visit 45 countries without a visa, and in 49 jurisdictions they can obtain a visa upon arrival.

Children of immigrants study at universities with English as the language of instruction, receive grants, and attend free language courses. Free treatment in state medical institutions is also available to citizens. The quality of services in the regions varies, but those who wish can contact provincial capitals with English-speaking staff.

Benefits for entrepreneurs

A comfortable environment for entrepreneurship has been created in the country. The state subsidizes small and medium-sized businesses, and reduces corporate tax rates in remote prefectures. For small enterprises, duties in favor of the economy do not exceed 5-10%. Payments depend on the number of employees at the enterprise, annual capital turnover.

These preferences are available to foreigners with temporary and permanent residence. They are deprived only of suffrage and certain social benefits. The advantage is that, unlike citizenship by naturalization, permanent residence is easier and faster to obtain.

Receiving process

Applicants apply for a passport on general rights after 10 years of naturalization. The process takes place in several stages. The file is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China to the Migration Department. After a monthly check, the applicant is redirected to the Ministry of State Security, where candidates are interviewed. The Ministry of State Security folder is returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a final decision. Outside of China, this is done by diplomatic missions. Deadlines for processing documents are not regulated, and the process takes at least 6 months.

The following documents are required for the file:

• passport and a certified photocopy with a photo;
• paper application form from the public security bureau; 
• medical certificate;
• police clearance certificate from the homeland;
• confirmation of permanent sources of income or a large deposit;
• biometrics; 
• basis for receipt; 
• certificate of permanent residence;
• recommendations of authoritative people;
•  payment of the registration fee.

In case of application by descent, candidates are required to prove family ties. Documents are translated into Chinese and legalized. Strict requirements of migration policy lead to numerous refusals. In case of success, after taking the oath of allegiance to the country, a passport is handed over in a solemn atmosphere.

Cost

The total amount is calculated by adding the costs of the services of the interpreter and a notary, payment of applications, fees.

Permanent residence in China for investment

For wealthy people, the Chinese offer special conditions for obtaining legal status.

It can be claimed by:

1. Investors with an authorized capital of $2 million, provided that the amount is maintained for 3 years.
2. Companies / sponsors with an authorized capital of at least $1 million investing in Central China.
3. Contributors to government programs to combat poverty in western regions and national districts ($500,000).
4. Participants of the foreign "Industry Management Project", encouraged by the state, with an amount of $500,000.
5. Individuals who make direct donations, shareholders who control the company, are ready to contribute the same amount to the development of Shanghai.

Documents for investment citizenship

The files for naturalization and investment processing are different.

In addition to a passport, residence permit, photo and biometrics, you need:

• certificate of exemption of duties from the Shanghai tax bureau for the last 3 years;
• work license;
• annual report for 36 months;
• document of approval for the establishment of a company; 
• audit report on the verification of the authorized capital.

Shareholders attach investment / control certificates. A separate package includes documents for family members: marriage certificate, passports, metrics for children, photos, personal health certificates. When planning to move, immigration experts recommend that foreigners take into account the peculiarities of culture and mentality, long terms of naturalization, bureaucracy, and difficulties in learning the language.