China
Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category)
China's Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category), commonly known as the "Chinese Green Card," allows foreign nationals who have made substantial direct investments in China to obtain permanent residence. Established under the Measures for the Administration of Examination and Approval of Foreigners' Permanent Residence in China (2003, effective 2004), the program targets investors and entrepreneurs who have invested in Chinese enterprises, maintained stable investment for three consecutive years, and demonstrate good tax compliance. China's permanent residence system is one of the most selective in the world, but the number of permits issued has grown in recent years.
- Foreign national who has made direct investment in a Chinese enterprise as a natural person or controlling shareholder
- Investment maintained at or above the qualifying threshold for three consecutive years with no year falling below the minimum
- Good tax compliance record for all three years
- No criminal record (verified in both country of nationality and China)
- Good health (medical certificate required)
- Must abide by Chinese law
Investment thresholds by region:
- General regions: USD 2,000,000
- Central China: USD 1,000,000
- Western China, national poverty-alleviation counties, or state-encouraged industries: USD 500,000
Investment must be in the form of registered capital in a Chinese enterprise. Portfolio investments, real estate purchases, or government bond holdings do not qualify.
- Application form with 2 recent passport-size photos (2-inch, white background)
- Valid passport and current visa or residence permit
- Business license of the invested enterprise
- Capital verification reports for 3 consecutive years (issued by a certified accounting firm)
- Audited financial statements for 3 consecutive years
- Enterprise annual reports or annual inspection certificates for 3 years
- Individual income tax clearance certificate for 3 consecutive years
- Foreign Investment Enterprise Approval Certificate (if applicable)
- Confirmation letter for encouraged-category foreign-invested projects (if applicable)
- Health certificate (issued within the preceding 6 months)
- Criminal record certificate from country of nationality (notarized and authenticated by a Chinese embassy or consulate)
- Domestic (China) criminal record certificate
Permanent residence status carries no time limit on the right to reside and work in China. The physical Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card is valid for 10 years for adults (18+) and 5 years for minors. Card renewal must be applied for at least 30 days before expiry at the local public security bureau exit-entry division. Renewal costs CNY 300; replacement for loss or damage costs CNY 600.
Permanent residence holders must reside in China for a minimum of 3 months per year, or alternatively at least 1 cumulative year within any 5-year period. Failure to meet minimum residence requirements is grounds for revocation.
The qualifying investor's spouse and unmarried children under 18 may apply for permanent residence simultaneously. Each dependant must independently satisfy requirements for lawful conduct, good health, and no criminal record. Spouses must provide notarized and authenticated marriage certificates; children must provide birth certificates. Dependant applications are processed together with the principal applicant's application.
Permanent residents who reside in China for 183 or more days in a tax year are treated as tax residents and are subject to individual income tax on worldwide income at progressive rates of 3%–45%. The "six-year rule" may exempt non-domiciled residents from worldwide taxation if they have not resided in China for six consecutive years of 183+ days each. China has double taxation treaties with many countries.
Applications are submitted in person (or through an authorized representative with notarized power of attorney) at the exit-entry administration division of the municipal-level public security bureau where the primary investment is located or where the applicant maintains long-term residence.
The review process has three stages:
- Local bureau review: Initial document review at municipal level
- Provincial examination: Forwarded to the provincial-level public security department
- Ministry of Public Security approval: Final approval by the National Immigration Administration
The entire process must be completed within 6 months of application acceptance (Shanghai reports approximately 90 working days after all documents are submitted). Application fees: CNY 1,500 processing fee + CNY 300 card issuance fee per person.
Foreign nationals outside China who receive approval are issued a D visa for initial entry, upon which they collect their permanent residence card from the issuing authority. Holders enter and exit China using their passport together with the permanent residence card.
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Other Digital Nomad Visas in Asia
Country↑ | Program↕ | Income↕ | Investment↕ | Funds Required↕ | Capital Required↕ | Duration↕ | Dependants↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Highly Skilled Migrant Programme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | Investor Temporary Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Property Owners | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Golden Residency Visa for Talented Individuals | — | — | — | — | |||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Property Owner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇭 Bahrain | Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Retired Foreigner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Digital Nomad Residence Programme | — | — | — | ||||
🇧🇹 Bhutan | Investor Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇭 Cambodia | Retirement Visa (ER Extension of Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category) | — | — | — | ||||
🇨🇳 China | Private Affairs Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship) | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Investment Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | IT Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Remotely from Georgia | — | — | — | ||||
🇬🇪 Georgia | Short-Term Residence Permit (Property Ownership) | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme | — | — | — | — | |||
🇭🇰 Hong Kong | Top Talent Pass Scheme | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇳 India | Permanent Residency Status for Foreign Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Global Talent) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Remote Worker KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Retirement KITAS | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇩 Indonesia | Silver Hair Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇷 Iran | Special Residence Permit for Non-Iranian Elites | — | — | — | — | |||
🇮🇶 Iraq | Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | B/5 Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇮🇱 Israel | Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Business Manager Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation) | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇵 Japan | Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇯🇵 Japan | Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Annual Residence Permit Based on Bank Deposit | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇯🇴 Jordan | Residency by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | A6 Investor Visa (Golden Visa) | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | C5 Business Immigrant Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Digital Nomad Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Neo Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Permanent Residence Visa for In-Demand Professions | — | — | — | — | |||
🇰🇼 Kuwait | Investor Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Digital Nomad Status | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇦 Laos | Investor Visa (NI-B2) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit) | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇧 Lebanon | Permanent Residence Permit (Financial Independence) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Major Investment Temporary Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇴 Macau | Talent Recruitment Residence Permit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | DE Rantau Nomad Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Premium Visa Programme (PVIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇾 Malaysia | Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇻 Maldives | Corporate Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇲🇳 Mongolia | Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Investors | — | — | — | ||||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Persons of Exceptional Merit | — | — | — | — | |||
🇳🇵 Nepal | Residential Visa for Retirees | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Golden Residency Program | — | — | — | ||||
🇴🇲 Oman | Retiree Residence Card | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Business-Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇰 Pakistan | Long-Term Residency (LTR) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇵🇭 Philippines | Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Mustaqel Visa (Talent) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇶🇦 Qatar | Real Estate Investment Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Entrepreneur Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Gifted Premium Residency | — | — | — | — | |||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Investor Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | Real Estate Owner Residency | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Global Investor Programme (GIP) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇬 Singapore | Tech.Pass | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | D-10 Job Seeker Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Permanent Residence for Overseas Pension Beneficiaries | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Technology Startup Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration | — | — | — | ||||
🇰🇷 South Korea | Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Colombo Port City Investor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Condominium Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Golden Paradise Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Individual Investor Residence Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇸🇾 Syria | Investment Residency Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Digital Nomad Visitor Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Employment Gold Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Entrepreneur Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Investor Resident Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇼 Taiwan | Plum Blossom Card (Investment APRC) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇯 Tajikistan | Investor Visa (Category C) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professionals) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Global Citizens) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | LTR Visa (Wealthy Pensioners) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa (Investment) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay 10 Years) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇭 Thailand | SMART Visa S (Startup) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Business Visa Class II | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste | Investor Residence Authorization | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Citizenship by Investment | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Digital Nomad Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose) | — | — | — | ||||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turkiye TechVisa (Startup) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇷 Turkey | Turquoise Card | — | — | — | — | |||
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | Investor Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Entrepreneur) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Investor) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa (Talented Individuals) | — | — | — | — | |||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Freelancer / Self-Employed) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Green Visa (Investor/Partner) | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Job Exploration Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Retirement Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates | Virtual Work Residence Permit | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Golden Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | Investment Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | IT Visa | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Investor Visa (DT1-DT4) | — | — | — | ||||
🇻🇳 Vietnam | Special Visa Exemption Card | — | — | — | — |