How can foreign family members apply for China's Five-Star Card?

How can foreign family members apply for China's "Five-Star Card"?

Applying for perma nent residence in China for f oreign family members is a legal guarantee that allows family ties to transcend national borders, and it is also a systematic project that requires careful planning.

For Chinese citizens, when their foreign spouses and children return to China to live with them, applying for a Chinese Permanent Residence Identity Card (also known as the "Five-Star Card") for them is undoubtedly an important measure to ensure the stability and convenience of their lives in China.

This "Five-Star Card" issued by the Ministry of Public Security is not only a proof of legal residence status, but also enables foreign holders to enjoy the same treatment as Chinese citizens in many fields such as finance, education, medical care, transportation, and accommodation.

【Eligibility Criteria for Spousal Reunion Category】

Foreign spouses of Chinese citizens applying for permanent residence under the spousal reunion category must meet the following key conditions simultaneously:

The marital relationship has lasted for at least 5 years: From the date of marriage to the date of submitting the application, the marital relationship has been continuously maintained for 5 years.

Having resided in China continuously for 5 years with at least 9 months of residence each year: Having resided in China continuously for 5 years, and having resided in China for no less than 9 months each year during these 5 years.

Stable living security and accommodation: Evidence must be provided to prove a stable source of income and a legal fixed residence.

【Eligibility Criteria for Minor Children】

Minor unmarried children under the age of 18 of Chinese citizens may apply for permanent residence in China by joining their parents. Some regions have requirements regarding the length of residence and the status of the parents. It should be noted that if a child is born abroad and either or both parents have obtained foreign permanent residence rights at the time of the child's birth, and the child acquires foreign nationality at birth, then the child does not have Chinese nationality. There is no issue of nationality conflict when such children apply for permanent residence in China.

【Core Materials for Spousal Reunion Category】

1. "Application Form for Permanent Residence in China" (for spousal reunion applicants): To be obtained at the acceptance window, signed on the spot, and submitted.

2. Health certificate: A health certificate issued by a designated health and quarantine department or a foreign health medical institution certified by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad (valid within 6 months).

3. Certificate of no criminal record: Issued by the national-level judicial authority of the country of nationality and certified by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country (valid within 6 months).

4. Proof of marital relationship: The marriage certificate must go through the notarization and authentication procedures.

5. Spouse's identity certificate: ID card and household registration booklet of the Chinese spouse.

6. Proof of stable living security and residence:

Housing rental certificate or housing property right certificate,

Certificate of certain deposits; if the deposit is in the spouse's name, a guarantee from the spouse regarding their financial source is required.

7. Personal resume: Detailed information including personal basic information, experience, family financial sources, etc.

【Basic Application Materials for Minor Children】

1. Birth certificate or proof of parent-child relationship

2. Proof of parents' marital relationship

3. Identity certificate of the Chinese parent

4. Foreign identity certificate

All certification documents issued by overseas institutions usually need to be authenticated and notarized, and translated into Chinese by a qualified translation company.

【Specific Application Procedures】

1. Preliminary Preparation: Check whether all conditions are met, especially the requirement for residence time, and calculate it clearly in advance.

2. Document Collection: Start collecting, notarizing, and authenticating various documents, and pay attention to the validity period of the supporting documents.

3. Filling out the Application Form: Obtain the application form from the acceptance window and fill it out with a black fountain pen or a signature pen.

4. Window Acceptance: Submit the application to the Exit-Entry Administration Detachment of the local Municipal Public Security Bureau with all materials.

5. Payment of Fees: Pay an application fee of 1,500 yuan per person when submitting the application (non-refundable regardless of approval or not).

6. Waiting for Approval: The approval process usually takes 180 working days (the time for submitting materials is not included).

7. Collection of Certificate: After approval, pay a production fee of 300 yuan per certificate and collect the "Five-Star Card".

【Residence Time Calculation Issues】

Residence time is the most error-prone part of the application. Suggestions:

In advance, check the complete entry and exit records through the entry-exit management department, accurate to the day.

When planning the residence time, set aside a certain buffer period to avoid insufficient time due to short-term departure or other unexpected situations.

【Difficulty in Obtaining a Certificate of No Criminal Record】

For applicants who have been living in China for a long time, it may be relatively difficult to return to their home country to obtain a certificate of no criminal record. You can consider the following:

Find out in advance whether your home country allows handling it by mail or entrusting relatives and friends.

Consult professional service agencies, which usually have experience in assisting with such issues.

【Situation of "Nationality Conflict among Minors"】

Some children have nationality conflicts and need to resolve the nationality conflict first before applying for permanent residence in China.

【Complexity of Material Certification Process】

Overseas materials need to go through multiple steps such as notarization, certification, and translation, which is a cumbersome and time-consuming process. Coping methods:

Plan in advance a nd reserve at least 2-3 months to complete the preparation of all materials.

Ensure that the format and content of all materials meet the requirements to avoid delays due to detailed issues.

After successfully obtaining the "Five-Star Card", the lives of foreign family members in China will be more convenient:

Travel convenience: Holders of the Five-Star Card do not need to apply for a Chinese visa. They can purchase air tickets and train tickets online and offline, and enter stations through self-service verification without using a passport.

Financial convenience: They can open accounts in banks and register to use mobile banking, online banking, etc.

Living convenience: They can use the Five-Star Card alone to check in at hotels; and enjoy the same treatment as Chinese citizens in many scenarios such as medical treatment, participation in insurance, and consumption.

Educational convenience: They can enroll in public schools nearby and take the Chinese college entrance examination.

Work convenience: They are exempt from applying for a foreigner's work permit when working in China, and can take professional and technical qualification examinations in accordance with regulations.

Applying for permanent residence in China for foreign family members is a process that requires patience and careful preparation, but once successful, it will bring long-term convenience to family members' lives in China.

Advance planning, careful checking, and strict implementation are the keys to ensuring the smooth approval of the application. It is recommended to make a final confirmation before formally submitting the application. After all, every successful application represents the beginning of a stable life for a family in China.

If you need guidance, feel free to consult and contact CNVISA!

Source: cnvisa.org.cn