Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    NEW legislation may make it easier for foreigners looking to settle down in China, with an official saying that the Ministry of Public Security is currently modifying the requirements for permanent residency, said a government official during a meeting of expats and government officials held by the Futian District in CocoPark on Tuesday.

    Official statistics are difficult to come by, but the Chinese Government currently issues very few permanent residency permits, also known as green cards.

    “The updated legislation to get a green card will be issued in a short period — maybe a few months,” said the official who asked not to be identified during a phone interview with Shenzhen Daily.

    The official, who works with the exit-entry division of Shenzhen’s public security bureau, acknowledged that requirements for permanent residency in China are much stricter than in other countries, noting that the rules haven’t been updated since 2004.

    He is not certain when the new regulation will be released, but said foreigners should pay close attention to the official websites of local and national exit-entry administrations.

    Current requirements for permanent residency mean that very few foreigners nationwide have been issued green cards. Requirements include “making extraordinary contributions to China,” being a manager at a large-scale company and being married to a Chinese passport holder for over five years.

    The official said that only a small number of foreigners were granted green cards in Shenzhen over the past 11 years because very few people met the requirements. “There will be a transitional period when foreigners are getting familiar with the new regulation,” said the official, adding that he didn’t expect a large increase in the number of applications.

    The requirements for Chinese citizenship will not be changed in the short term, meaning that China will still not accept dual citizenship.

    Foreigners living in Shenzhen are encouraged to follow the instructions for visa applications on the English page of the exit-entry administration’s website at sz3e.com.