Many foreigners have fallen in love with China after working and living in China for many years. However, due to China’s strict control over foreigners, it is very troublesome to update your work visa and handle the change of work permit notice every time you change your job. So what can be done to solve these problems? Can foreigners apply for a permanent residence in China? This article will share two situations in which foreigners can apply for permanent residence status in China.
许多外国人在中国工作生活多年后已经深深爱上了这个国家。但是由于中国对于外国人的管控较为严格，每次换新工作都需要更新自己的工作签证以及办理工作许可通知的变更，非常麻烦。那么有什么办法可以解决这些问题呢？外国人可否在中国申请永居身份呢？这篇文章将会分享两种可以外国人可以申请中国永居身份的情况。
Personnel with significant and outstanding contributions to China and special needs of the country
对中国有重大、突出贡献以及国家特别需要的人员
I. Application conditions
（一）申请条件
World top talents, talents with special skills and celebrities who have made significant and outstanding contributions to the country’s economic development and social progress or have great value to the country, including world-famous scientific award winners, world-famous scholars, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists and other foreigners, can apply for permanent residence.
对国家经济发展和社会进步做出过重大、突出贡献或对国家有重大价值的世界顶尖人才、特殊技能人才及知名人士等，包括世界著名科学奖项获得者、世界知名学者、企业家、运动员、文艺人士等外国人，可以申请永久居留。
II. Application materials
（二）申请材料
1.Two 2-inch front bareheaded white or light blue background color photos and electronic photos.
1.2张2英寸正面免冠白色或淡蓝色背景彩色照片及电子版照片。
2. Copies of the applicant’s valid foreign passport and VISA.
2.申请人有效外国护照和签证复印件。
3. Letters of recommendation issued by competent departments, commissions and bureaus under the State Council.
3.国务院所属主管部、委、局出具的推荐函。
4. Copies of foreigner work permit, foreigner employment permit or foreign expert certificate.
4.《外国人工作许可证》、《外国人就业证》或《外国专家证》复印件。
5. Relevant rewards and Achievement Certificates. If there is a detailed description in the letter of recommendation, it may not be provided separately.
5.相关奖励、成果凭证。如推荐函中已有详细说明，可不另行提供。
6. For Chinese of foreign nationality scientific and technological talents, the Ministry of human resources and social security can issue a letter of recommendation or identity confirmation and an expert certificate to settle in China.
6.外籍华人科技人才可由人社部出具推荐函或身份确认函以及《来华定居专家证》。
7. Applicants who had Chinese nationality are required to provide copies of foreign residence qualification certificate, transcript of naturalization paper or registered residence, and the Chinese passport used to naturalized the country.
7.申请人曾具有中国国籍，需提供曾取得外国定居资格凭证、入籍纸或户籍誊本、入籍时使用的中国护照复印件。
8. Resume of the applicant (from the age of 18 to now, consecutive years and months are required).
8.申请人个人简历（18周岁至今，要求年份和月份之间连续）。
Note: 1. The certificates issued by relevant foreign institutions shall be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.
注：1.外国有关机构出具的凭证需经中国驻该国使领馆认证。
2. Foreign language materials shall be translated into Chinese and stamped with the official seal of the translation company.
2.外文材料需译成中文，并在翻译件上加盖翻译公司公章。
3. The original shall be reviewed before submitting the copy, and an A4 copy is required.
3.递交复印件前均需审核原件，需一份A4规格复印件。
4. If the applicant needs to print the Chinese name on the alien permanent residence identity card, it shall indicate whether to print the Chinese name in the column of “other matters to be explained” on the application form.
4.申请人如需在《外国人永久居留身份证》上打印中文姓名，应在申请表上“其他需说明的事项”栏目中明示是否打印中文姓名。
5. Persons who have not canceled their Chinese household registration shall apply after canceling their household registration.
5.未注销中国户籍的人员，应注销户籍后再提出申请。
Zhongguancun foreign high-level talents
中关村外籍高层次人才
I. Application conditions
（一）申请条件
Foreigners who meet the criteria for the identification of foreign high-level talents in Zhongguancun can apply for permanent residence with a letter of recommendation issued by the Zhongguancun Management Committee.
符合中关村外籍高层次人才认定标准的外国人，经由中关村管委会出具推荐函，可以申请办理外国人永久居留。
II. Application materials
（二）申请材料
1.Two 2-inch front bareheaded white or light blue background color photos and electronic photos.
1.2张2英寸正面免冠白色或淡蓝色背景彩色照片及电子版照片。
2. Copies of the applicant’s valid foreign passport and VISA.
2.申请人有效外国护照及签证复印件。
3. Original letter of recommendation issued by Zhongguancun Management Committee.
3.中关村管委会出具的推荐函原件。
4. Copies of foreigner work permit, foreigner employment permit or foreign expert certificate. The information about the employer, position and personal information shall be consistent with the recommendation letter issued by Zhongguancun Management Committee.
4.《外国人工作许可证》、《外国人就业证》或《外国专家证》复印件。有关任职单位、职务及个人情况等信息应与中关村管委会出具的推荐函一致。
5. Applicants who had Chinese nationality are required to provide copies of foreign residence qualification certificate, transcript of naturalization paper or registered residence, and the Chinese passport used to naturalized the country.
5.申请人曾具有中国国籍，需提供曾取得外国定居资格凭证、入籍纸或户籍誊本、入籍时使用的中国护照复印件。
6. Resume of the applicant (from the age of 18 to now, consecutive years and months are required).
6.申请人个人简历（18周岁至今，要求年份和月份之间连续）。
Note: 1. The certificates issued by relevant foreign institutions shall be certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.
注：1.外国有关机构出具的凭证需经中国驻该国使领馆认证。
2. Foreign language materials shall be translated into Chinese and stamped with the official seal of the translation company.
2.外文材料需译成中文，并在翻译件上加盖翻译公司公章。
3. The original copy shall be reviewed before submitting the copy. The copy shall be in A4 size and in duplicate.
3.递交复印件前均需审核原件，复印件需A4规格，一式两份。
4. If the applicant needs to print the Chinese name on the alien permanent residence identity card, it shall indicate whether to print the Chinese name in the column of “other matters to be explained” on the application form.
4.申请人如需在《外国人永久居留身份证》上打印中文姓名，应在申请表上“其他需说明的事项”栏目中明示是否打印中文姓名。
5. Persons who have not canceled their Chinese household registration shall apply after canceling their household registration.
5.未注销中国户籍的人员，应注销户籍后再提出申请。
These are the two situations in which foreigners can apply for permanent residence status in China. If you want to know other ways to apply for permanent residence and visa related issues for foreigners working in China, please follow us!
以上就是两种外国人可以在中国申请永居身份的情况。如果您还想知道其它可以申请永居的方式以及外国人在中国工作的签证相关问题，请关注我们！