Q: I heard that a residence permit could be valid for up to 5 years. I have worked legally in Shanghai for 8 years, while I still failed to get a 5-year residence permit. In your opinion, what’s reason might lead to this?

A: That’s a good question! Many factors might influence the application for your residence permit. One of the most likely is that you have left a ‘bad record’ by oversight in the Exit-Entry Administration System of the People’s Republic of China. What type of behavior can be defined as a ‘bad record’? Here list four most common mistakes a newly-arrived expat might make:

1. Foreigners who reside or stay in lodgings other than hotels, do not go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence within 24 hours after the foreigners’ check-in.
2. Foreigners who encounter any change in the registered items in their residence permits, do not go through the formalities for altering registration in accordance with the relevant regulations.
3. Foreigners who are engaged in any activity that is not corresponding to the purpose of their residence permits.
4. Foreigners who work illegally in China (for detailed information, please check up FAQ:How to Define ‘Work Legally’ in Shanghai?)

Once you leave any bad record in the system (the data will stay in the system for 3 years), it is very likely that you cannot get the permit with the most extended valid period. In certain circumstances, the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau has the right to even refuse your application for extension, and they are allowed to explain nothing to you. Therefore, it is necessary to know as many regulations as possible in advance. If you want to know more details about those regulations, or have already ‘pushed the buttons’ mentioned above, feel free to contact our experts to get more pieces of advice.

*Six Types of the Residence Permit Issued by People’s Republic of China

工作类居留证件 Residence Permit for Work

• 在职就读 In-service training （A038）
• 加注“人才” marked ‘High qualified person’（A019）
• 加注“实习” ‘Internship’ （A020）
• 加注“兼职” marked ‘Part-time job’（A037）
• 短期工作类居留证件 Short-term work（A021）

团聚类居留证件 Residence Permit for Reunion

• 探亲 Family visit（A024）
• 寄养 Fosterage (A025)

私人事务类居留证件 Residence Permit for Private Affairs

• 探亲、私事Family visits/other personal matters (A026)
• 置房 Property purchase （A028）
• 加注“诊疗”marked ‘Medical Treatment’ （A027）
• 加注“创业” marked ‘Entrepreneurship’ （A029）
• 加注“家政服务”marked ‘Domestic Service’ （A030）

学习类居留证件 Residence Permits for Study（A022）

记者类居留证件 Residence permits for journalist （A023）

永久居留身份证 Permanent Residence

Reference: