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People's Republic of China · residence general · Leads to settlement

Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card)

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Source check: all 11 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

For you if you want to settle in China long term: the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card - nicknamed the Five-Star Card - is China's actual permanent residence document, issued by the National Immigration Administration once your permanent-residence application is approved.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residencyPermanent residence status; the physical card is issued with a validity period and is renewed while you maintain eligibility.
Processing time
NIA publishes a six-month decision period from acceptance of a permanent-residence application. It is not an observed average or a clock starting with document preparation. Local service-stage clocks can differ; confirm what your accepting authority measures.
Government fees
First application: CNY 1,500 application fee plus CNY 300 card production (CNY 1,800 combined). Expiry renewal: CNY 300. Reissue after loss or damage: CNY 600. Document preparation costs are separate.
Typical duration
Permanent residence status; the physical card is issued with a validity period and is renewed while you maintain eligibility.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed National Immigration Administration (China) ↗

In short

For you if you want to settle in China long term: the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card - nicknamed the Five-Star Card - is China's actual permanent residence document, issued by the National Immigration Administration once your permanent-residence application is approved. Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/china/five-star-card-permanent-residence#answer

What is the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card) in People's Republic of China?

Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card) is a sponsor-led China route. Indicative government fees are First application: CNY 1,500 application fee plus CNY 300 card production (CNY 1,800 combined). Expiry renewal: CNY 300. Reissue after loss or damage: CNY 600. Document preparation costs are separate; indicative processing time is NIA publishes a six-month decision period from acceptance of a permanent-residence application. It is not an observed average or a clock starting with document preparation. Local service-stage clocks can differ; confirm what your accepting authority measures; typical duration is Permanent residence status; the physical card is issued with a validity period and is renewed while you maintain eligibility. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with National Immigration Administration (China) on 10 September 2026.

Overview

The Five-Star Card is evidence of approved permanent residence, not a separate visa that any long-term visitor can buy. Its current design launched on 1 December 2023. Start by identifying your permanent-residence category: qualifying investment or employment, exceptional contribution, or a qualifying family relationship. The NIA publishes national eligibility guidance in English; cities may also have specific application channels and talent policies. Submit through the responsible local public-security authority, which handles the file for national approval. If you already hold permanent residence, card renewal or replacement is a different procedure from a first application. The card supports everyday identity checks in China; it does not make its holder a Chinese citizen.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Identify which permanent-residence category you fit and confirm you meet its conditions.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Assemble the category-specific evidence (talent, work, investment or family) and supporting documents.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    File with the responsible local public-security authority where your investment or long-term residence is located. Local investigation and review precede national approval; do not send an ordinary first application directly to NIA headquarters.

  4. After approval

    After approval, collect your Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card and use it as your identity document in China.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Agree the lawful start date and onboarding with the employer or sponsor. Check whether the permission names an employer, role or activity before changing the arrangement.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to China

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant + sponsor
    Use official Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (Five-Star Card).

    National Immigration Administration (China) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Five-Star Card?+

It is the nickname for the current Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of China, activated on 1 December 2023, which features the five stars of the national flag. It is the document proving you hold permanent residence, and it doubles as an identity card you can use for accommodation registration and booking train, ship or air tickets without showing your passport.

Does marrying a Chinese citizen automatically give permanent residence?+

No. The national spouse category has separate marriage, residence, annual physical-presence, income and accommodation conditions. Use the NIA eligibility page and the accepting local authority’s checklist before applying.

Is renewing the card the same as applying for permanent residence again?+

No. NIA lists separate first-application, card-production, expiry-renewal and loss/damage charges. Identify whether you need an initial residence decision or an existing card service before choosing the application.

Do local processing figures replace the national decision period?+

Not necessarily. For example, Huangpu publishes local committed and legal service limits, while NIA states a six-month decision period from acceptance. These should not be combined into an average or treated as a nationwide 20-working-day promise. Ask the accepting office which stage its clock covers.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: National Immigration Administration (China)

Last checked: 10 September 2026

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