China Green Card

Intro

The China Green Card (外国人永久居留证), officially the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, is the permanent residence document for foreigners in China. Also called the Chinese green card after the analogous US document, it grants foreign nationals the right to live and work in China indefinitely, without a separate work permit or periodic renewal. The card is valid for 10 years for adults. The application requires physical print photos (33 mm wide × 48 mm tall, white background), and a compliant photo prevents unnecessary delays in what is typically a multi-month process.

Photo requirements at a glance

Several measurements below are drawn from Shanghai PSB's published guidance; Beijing and other cities publish their own local standards.

Specification	Requirement	Scope
National standard size	2-inch, front-facing, bareheaded, color	National (NIA)
Print dimensions	33 mm wide × 48 mm tall	Shanghai PSB process
Background color	White	Shanghai PSB; national Photography Guide
Background color	White or light blue	Beijing PSB process
Face width	At least 18 mm (±1 mm tolerance)	Shanghai PSB process
Hairline from top edge	1.5 mm to 2.5 mm	Shanghai PSB process
Lower crop	Full shirt collar tips or collarbone visible	Shanghai PSB process
Submission method	Physical print only, not suitable for online submission	National

Background color note. Shanghai's official PSB pages specify a white background. Beijing's guide states white or light blue. China's national Exit-Entry Certificate Photography Guide (出入境证件相片照相指引) specifies blue or white.

Why these specs matter

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) requires applicants to submit recent front-facing bareheaded color photos in a standard 2-inch format. The photos are used for biometric verification and card production; deviation from the spec prompts rejection of the full application package.

Shanghai PSB's published guidance gives the more granular dimensions: 33 mm wide × 48 mm tall (stated as 48 mm × 33 mm height × width), with face width no less than 18 mm (±1 mm) and hairline 1.5–2.5 mm from the upper edge of the photo. For the lower framing, the image should ideally show the full shirt collar tips or the collarbone. The background must be white per Shanghai PSB and the national Exit-Entry Certificate Photography Guide (出入境证件相片照相指引).

Photos that do not comply with those Photography Guide standards will cause the application to be rejected or delayed. The China Green Card photo is submitted as a physical print. The online digital photo size limits used in China's visa system apply to a different document type and should not be applied here.

How to take the photo with iShotAPhoto

iShotAPhoto's compliance check validates your photo against China Green Card photo requirements before you print or submit.

1. Open iShotAPhoto and select China Green Card as the document type.
2. Take or upload a photo. The AI compliance check validates the image against the official requirements.
3. Review the free preview to confirm framing, background, and face placement.
4. Download the compliant photo file at no cost.
5. If you need a physical print for your in-person PSB appointment, order optional print delivery.

How to take it yourself with a phone

1. Use indirect natural daylight. Position yourself near a window with light falling on your face from the front or side. Avoid placing your back to the window, which creates dark shadows across the face and background.
2. Set up a plain white background. Hang a white sheet or stand against a white wall with no texture, patterns, or shadows. Any color cast or texture will appear in the final print.
3. Have someone else hold the phone at eye level. Tilt and angle distortions affect how the face width and hairline position appear in the final crop. Eye level is the correct height.
4. Frame so your head fills the upper portion of the shot. Leave visible space above the hairline, consistent with the small hairline-to-top-edge gap required in the final printed photo.
5. Hold a neutral expression with eyes open and directed at the camera. Avoid tilting your head or smiling with an open mouth.
6. Check framing before you crop. Confirm the collar or upper chest is visible, clothing does not blend into the white background, and no shadows fall across the face or background. Glasses with heavy frames or strong lens reflections will likely cause rejection; remove them before taking the shot.

Common rejection reasons

Non-compliant photo format. Photos that do not meet the standards of China's Exit-Entry Certificate Photography Guide (出入境证件相片照相指引) are rejected. The guide governs background color, framing, and expression requirements for all exit-entry document photos, including the permanent residence permit.

Incorrect face framing or dimensions. Shanghai PSB specifies the face width must be no less than 18 mm (±1 mm) and the hairline must sit 1.5–2.5 mm from the upper edge. Photos cropped too tightly or too loosely fail this check.

Wrong background color. Shanghai requires white. Beijing accepts white or light blue. A photo with a gray, patterned, or colored background will be rejected regardless of the other dimensions.

Digital photo taken privately in Shanghai. For applications in Shanghai, digital photos must be obtained at a designated social service station within the Exit-Entry Administration service site. Privately taken digital photos are not accepted for that city's digital submission.

Criminal record or health disqualification. Applicants must abide by Chinese laws, have no criminal record, and be in good health. A health certificate from a designated institution and an authenticated no-criminal-record certificate from the home country are required for all tracks.

Incomplete or unverifiable documents. The authorities may conduct interviews, inquiries, or investigations to verify submitted materials. Documents that are incomplete, internally inconsistent, or cannot be authenticated cause the application to be denied.

Expired health certificate. The health certificate must come from a designated institution within 6 months of the application date. A certificate from a non-designated facility or one older than 6 months is rejected.

Failure to meet track-specific financial or residence thresholds. Each eligibility track has quantitative requirements. Applications that do not document compliance with the applicable track are denied.

How iShotAPhoto compares to other options

Getting your China Green Card photo compliant before your PSB appointment eliminates a round trip to resubmit. Here is how the main options compare.

Option	Cost	Time	Approval likelihood	Convenience
iShotAPhoto	Low	Quick	High when AI check passes	Take it anywhere, any time
Pharmacy / print shop	Low to moderate	Moderate	Varies (staff may not know the exact green card spec)	Requires a trip; quality varies by operator
Professional photo studio	Premium	Moderate to longer	Highest when the studio knows the permanent residence spec	Appointment often needed
Self-service photo booth	Low to moderate	Quick	Varies (booths may not offer the correct sizing)	Available in select cities

Costs and times vary by region.

Country-specific notes

National requirements. All China permanent residence applications are submitted to the municipal-level Public Security Bureau (PSB) in the city where the applicant lives or invests. The national regulation requires public security organs to decide within six months of accepting the application. Permanent residence holders must reside in China for at least 3 cumulative months each year; failure to meet this requirement risks revocation of permanent residence status.

Shanghai employment track. The salary threshold requires earning at least 6 times Shanghai's average urban employee salary for each of the 4 qualifying years, with individual income tax at a rate of at least 20% of annual salary. The application is reported to the Ministry of Public Security within 90 working days after all documents are submitted (investigation period excluded). Applications go to the Immigration Service Center, Exit-Entry Administration Corps, NO.8-9, Lane 36, Xuelin Road, Pudong New District, open Monday–Friday 9:00–11:30 AM and 1:30–5:00 PM (excluding holidays).

Shanghai Lin-Gang Special Area. This track applies different thresholds: continuous employment in the Lin-Gang Special Area for at least 3 years (not 4) and annual salary of at least 4 times the regional average urban employee salary.

Beijing employment track. Beijing requires work in Beijing for at least 4 consecutive years, residence in China for at least 6 months annually, and annual salary income of CNY 1,500,000 or above for 4 consecutive years with a current employer recommendation. Beijing also requires an electronic photo submitted on CD in addition to two physical 2-inch prints.

Fujian. The Fujian PSB requires 2 two-inch front bareheaded color photos that comply with the 出入境证件相片照相指引 standards for permanent residence applications.

Photo count discrepancy across cities. The NIA national regulation specifies 4 photos; Fujian and Shanghai specify 2 physical photos (plus digital requirements); Beijing specifies 2 physical prints plus one electronic photo. The exact count varies by city.

Special cases

Children (minors under 18). The card is valid for 5 years for holders under 18; upon turning 18, it is renewed for a 10-year period. For the Shanghai Lin-Gang process, minors require both parents to appear in person, or the sole guardian if divorced.

Elderly applicants (age 60 or older). The elderly family reunion track requires the applicant to be age 60 or older, have no direct relatives abroad, and have lived in China for at least 5 consecutive years with at least 9 months per year.

Bareheaded requirement. The national regulation and the NIA's official application guidance both specify that photos must be front-facing and bareheaded (正面免冠).

Frequently asked questions

What is the China Green Card processing time?

The national regulation requires public security organs to decide within 6 months of accepting the application. Shanghai's employment track specifies 90 working days (approximately 4.5 months) for reporting to the Ministry of Public Security, not counting any investigation period. Actual timelines vary by city and track.

How long is a China Green Card valid?

The card is valid for 10 years for applicants aged 18 and above, and 5 years for those under 18. When a minor turns 18, the card is renewed for a 10-year period.

What does a China Green Card cost?

The application fee is CNY 1,500 per person. Card issuance and renewal each cost CNY 300. Replacement for a lost or damaged card costs CNY 600.

What are the China Green Card photo requirements?

Photos must be full-face, bareheaded, color images with a white background, measuring 33 mm wide × 48 mm tall (per Shanghai PSB guidance). The face width must be at least 18 mm (±1 mm), and hairline must sit 1.5–2.5 mm from the upper edge. All photos must comply with China's national Exit-Entry Certificate Photography Guide (出入境证件相片照相指引). The photo is submitted as a physical print and is not suitable for online submission.

What is the China Green Card photo size?

Shanghai PSB specifies 33 mm wide × 48 mm tall (published as 48 mm × 33 mm height × width). The NIA national regulation uses the term "2-inch" (2寸), the standard Chinese exit-entry document photo size.

Do I need to live in China a minimum number of days to keep my Green Card?

Yes. Permanent residence holders must reside in China for a minimum of 3 cumulative months each year. Failure to meet this requirement can result in revocation of permanent residence status.

Can family members of a Green Card holder get permanent residence?

Yes. Spouses married to a Chinese citizen or existing permanent resident may qualify independently after 5 years of marriage and 5 consecutive years of residence in China, with at least 9 months per year. Spouses and unmarried children under 18 of an approved principal applicant may also apply together with the principal.

What is the difference between a China residence permit and a China Green Card?

A residence permit is a temporary document, valid for a specific purpose such as work or study, requiring periodic renewal. The China permanent residence permit does not require annual renewal, allows the holder to work without a separate work permit, and is valid for 10 years. The two documents are issued by the same authority but serve different residency purposes.

Is the China Green Card actually green?

No. The card is colloquially called the Green Card by analogy with the US permanent residence card. Officially it is the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (外国人永久居留身份证), also known as the "Five-Star Card" since 2020. The 2023 version features UV-reactive security designs visible under ultraviolet light on both front and back.

How do I apply for a China Green Card, and what are the China Green Card eligibility requirements?

Applications are submitted to the municipal-level PSB in the applicant's city of residence or investment. China Green Card eligibility depends on the track. The employment track requires an employment certificate, work permit, employer registration, and tax payment proof. The investment track requires a business license, annual report disclosure, capital verification report, and foreign investment confirmation, with direct and stable investments for 3 consecutive years with good tax records. The spousal track requires 5 years of marriage and 5 consecutive years of residence with at least 9 months per year. All tracks require a valid passport, health certificate from a designated institution (within 6 months), and an authenticated no-criminal-record certificate from the home country.

Related documents

• China Driving License
• China Passport online old format
• China Resident ID Card
• China Visa online

Official sources

• National Immigration Administration — Permanent Residence for Foreigners (Chinese)
• National Immigration Administration — Application for Permanent Residence Permit (English)
• NIA — Exit-Entry Certificate Photography Guide / 出入境证件相片照相指引 (English portal)
• Shanghai PSB — Permanent Residence Working Staff Track (English)
• Shanghai PSB — Lin-Gang Special Area Track (English)
• Beijing Municipal Government — Permanent Residence Permit (English)
• Fujian Public Security Department — Permanent Residence Application (Chinese)
• Wikipedia — Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card