For many foreigners who have lived and worked in China for a long time,  obtaining the People's Republic of China Foreigner's Permanent Residence  Identity Card (commonly known as the Chinese "Green Card") is an important goal.  This article will systematically clarify common misunderstandings and provide  authoritative interpretations on key issues such as the legal nature of the  "green card", application difficulty, entry and exit rights, validity period  management, and strategies after rejection, offering you a clear guide.

1.Is a "Chinese Green Card" equivalent to Chinese nationality?

This statement clearly lacks factual basis. Holding a Chinese "green card"  merely grants the qualification for permanent residence in China and does not  equate to obtaining Chinese nationality. Having a "green card" allows one to  live, work and study in China for a long time and enjoy some rights similar to  those of Chinese citizens. However, there are still differences in political  rights and other aspects, such as no right to vote or stand for election.

2.Is it difficult to apply for a "green card"?

The application conditions for a "green card" in China are rather strict.  For instance, making direct investments in China, maintaining a stable  investment situation for three consecutive years and having a good tax payment  record; Those who have held positions such as deputy general manager, deputy  factory director or above in China, or have associate professor, associate  researcher or other associate senior professional titles and enjoy the same  treatment, have continuously served for at least 4 years, have resided in China  for no less than 3 years within 4 years and have a good tax payment record, etc.  Moreover, the application process is complex and requires the submission of  numerous materials, such as valid passports, health certificates, and criminal  record clearance certificates, each of which must meet the requirements.

3.Can one freely enter and exit the territory of China with a  "green card"?

Wrong. Although the certificate holder can freely enter and exit the  country with the "green card", they still need to abide by relevant laws and  regulations when conducting activities in China. For instance, if one is engaged  in a specific industry, they may need to apply for administrative permission  separately. In addition, if the certificate holder engages in criminal  activities or other circumstances that do not meet the requirements for  permanent residence, the National Immigration Administration will lawfully  cancel their permanent residence status.

4.Is a Chinese "green card" permanently valid?

The "Green Card" has an expiration date, and the holder must apply for a  renewal in a timely manner before its expiration. According to the regulations,  the validity period of the permanent residence permit for different types of  applicants varies: the validity period for adult holders is usually 10 years,  while that for minor holders is generally 5 years. Therefore, certificate  holders must pay close attention to the validity period of their documents and  prepare the renewal procedures in advance to avoid any impact on their residence  and living convenience in China due to the expiration of their documents.

5.If a "green card" application is rejected, can one reapply?

If the application is rejected, as long as it is not due to serious  violations of laws or regulations or other irreparable reasons, one can still  reapply after meeting the conditions and resolving the problems existing in the  previous application. When reapplying, be sure to carefully analyze the reasons  for your rejection last time and increase your success rate by improving your  application materials and your own conditions.