D Visa - Permanent Residence Visa
Embassy required
- Processing time
- 4 business days (permanent residence application itself takes 6+ months)
- Fee
- $30 USD (varies by nationality; US: $185; additional fees for Permanent Residence Permit after arrival)
- Validity
- Single entry; convert to Permanent Residence Permit within 30 days (valid 5 years for under-18, 10 years for adults)
- Entry
- Single entry
Eligibility
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Nationality
Available to nationals of all countries who have been approved for permanent residence by China's Ministry of Public Security
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Financial
Employment track: annual salary >886,104 RMB with >177,221 RMB annual income tax; Investment track: USD 500K in western regions, USD 1M in central, USD 2M in other areas in encouraged industries
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Criminal record
Must have no criminal record and good credit history
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Health
Must be in good health as confirmed by medical examination
Documents you need
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Passport
Blank pages required: 2; Validity months: 12
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Photo
Count: 1; Specifications: Color photo, 33mm x 48mm, white background, bare-head, full face, taken within past 6 months
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Proof of funds
Accepted forms: Tax records, investment certificates, employment contracts, salary records; Minimum amount: Varies by track: Employment track requires salary >886,104 RMB/year; Investment track requires USD 500K-2M
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Application form
Use the official application form for this route and complete all required fields.
Form name: Chinese Online Visa Application (COVA); Form url: https://cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn
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Health exam
Panel physician required: Designated hospital in China; Validity months: 6
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Criminal record certificate
Provide a police or criminal record certificate from the country or countries requested by the destination authority.
Issuing authority: Issuing authority; Validity months: 6
How to apply
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Document gathering
Submit permanent residence application to local Public Security Bureau in China (or through Chinese Embassy if abroad). This is the main application stage requiring extensive documentation. Processing can take 6+ months.
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Online application
After receiving the Foreigner Permanent Residence Confirmation Form from the Ministry of Public Security, apply for D Visa through COVA.
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Document submission
Submit passport, COVA form, and Permanent Residence Confirmation Form at Embassy/Consulate.
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Processing wait
Standard: 4 business days.
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Visa collection
Enter China on D Visa and collect the Foreigner's Permanent Residence ID Card from the local Public Security Bureau within 30 days.