In a prior article, we covered one way of applying for a Chinese Green Card, if you are [ and we will in this article cover how to apply as an investor. We also note that a Chinese Green Card is not appropriate for everyone. Potential applicants shall weigh the advantages and disadvantages of holding this status.

To qualify for a green card as an investor, the foreign applicant would need to register a company in Mainland China and their company needs to meet one of the following categories:

1. Paid capital (e.g. total investment) of more than 2 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years)

2. Investors who invest in Central China and have actually submitted paid capital (e.g. total investment) of more than 1 million U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years)

3. Investors who invest in China’s western regions and key national poverty alleviation and development counties, and have submitted paid capital (e.g. total investment) of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years)

4. Investment in “Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Project” encouraged by the State, and have actually submitted paid capital (e.g. total investment) of more than 500,000 U.S. dollars (shall not be lower than this standard for 3 consecutive years)

5. Investors who submit direct investment in Shanghai consistently as an individual or through the company as a controlling shareholder with individual status for three consecutive years, and whose total amount of investment reaches more than 1 million U.S. dollars (or 500,000 U.S. dollars for the “Foreign Investment Guideline Project” encouraged by the State.

The foreign spouse and their unmarried children under 18 years old of the above applicants can apply for permanent residence together.

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Documents Required for Foreign Investors: 

（1）Complete Application Form for Permanent Residence in China and provide 2 copies of two-inch recent photos and a digital version of these photos.

（2）Valid passport and valid residence permit along with 2 copies of each.

（3）Individual income tax clearance certificate issued by taxation bureau for the past 3 consecutive years before this application, and 1 copy of this (Applicants meeting the above Term 5 shall submit the tax clearance certificate issued by the Shanghai taxation bureau).

（4）The Business License, “Approval Certificate for Foreign-invested Enterprises” or “Return receipt for the establishment of a foreign-invested enterprise” (not required for a domestic enterprise) and annual inspection certificate of the last 3 years, and 2 copies of this.

（5）A capital verification report showing that the company’s registered capital has reached the standard and an audit report showing this for the last 3 consecutive years and provide 2 copies of each. In the “Foreign Investment Guideline Project” issued by The State, investment in encouraged industries requires the confirmation of foreign investment projects that the country encourages to develop or the Certificate of foreign-invested enterprise that the state encourages to develop. As a controlling shareholder of a company, it is also necessary to submit a relevant investment and controlling certificate. If the Certificate is issued abroad, it must be verified by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate General.

（6）A Health check certificate which was issued by a domestic entry-exit inspection and quarantine agency (or by foreign medical institutions verified by Embassy /Consulate General of China) and provide 1 copy of this. The health certificate should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.

（7）A Criminal Record/ Background check which shows no trace or history of any kind must be verified by the Embassy/Consulate General of China, and 1 copy should also be provided. The name on the Record Check must match that on the valid passport. In case the applicant has changed names, the former names should be noted in the Record, In case the applicant has lived in a country/region outside the passport-issuing country for successively two years or longer after he/she is 18 years old, a clear Criminal Record check from that country/region is also required. The Record(s) should be issued within the validity of the last 6 months.

Foreigners who are approved to reside permanently in China shall have a total residence of not less than three months in China each year. If it is impossible to stay in China for three months due to actual needs, it must be approved by the public security department and bureau of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the central government, but it must be no more than one year in China within five years.