Foreigners applying for residence permits for private affairs

Applicants Who Can Apply

Relatives of foreigners residing in Hangzhou for work, study or other reasons who come for long-term visits, or foreigners who need to reside in Hangzhou for other personal affairs. Relatives include spouses, parents, children under the age of 18, and parents of the spouse.

Those paying long-term visits to their relatives who are foreigners residing in Hangzhou for work and studies, or foreigners who need to reside in Hangzhou for other personal matters.Relatives refer to spouses,parents,children under the age of 18 and parents-in-law.

Application Materials

(1) A valid passport or other international travel documents.

(2) Temporary Residence Registration Form issued by the police station of the residence area in Hangzhou or the hotel industry, or completed via personal accommodation declaration through the socialized collection system (the latter two shall transmit relevant information to the public security organ).

(3) Fill in the "Visa and Residence Permit Application Form for Foreigners" with a black ink pen, and affix one recent 2-inch front-facing bareheaded color photo with a white background.

(4) For relatives visiting for family reunion who enter China with an S1 visa, they shall submit a letter stating the kinship issued by the visitee and the residence permit. Other applicants shall submit supporting documents related to the handling of personal affairs.

(5) For those applying for residence permits without entering China with an S1 visa: 1. Applicants visiting relatives shall submit the letter issued by the visitee, residence permit and kinship certificate (documents issued overseas shall be authenticated by Chinese embassies or consulates abroad). 2. Applicants with humanitarian reasons shall submit relevant supporting materials: (1) Foreign nationals of Chinese origin aged 60 or above who have purchased real estate in Hangzhou shall submit the real estate certificate under their own name, or notarized housing sales contract, and proof of financial sources. (2) Foreigners receiving medical assistance and services in Hangzhou shall submit a hospitalization certificate or medical service reception certificate of more than 6 months issued by a medical institution at or above the county level, or of Grade 2 Class A or higher. The accompanying caregiver shall be a family member of the applicant, who shall submit the kinship certificate and the caregiver certificate issued by the above-mentioned medical institution.

(6) Foreigners applying for a residence permit valid for more than one year shall submit a health certificate issued by Zhejiang Entry-Exit Health and Quarantine Department (Address: No. 228 Zhonghe Middle Road, Hangzhou, Tel: 87852407, 87852408) or a hospital at or above the county level, which proves that the applicant does not suffer from severe mental disorders, infectious tuberculosis or other infectious diseases that may cause major harm to public health. (7) Other application materials that the entry-exit administrative authority deems necessary to submit.

（1)A valid passport or other international travel documents.

（2)The Registration Form of Temporary Residence issued by the police station or hotel in the district of Hangzhou in which the applicant resides or the socialized collection system for personal declaration of residence (the latter two need information transmitted to the public security organ).

（3)Use a black ink pen to fill in the Visa and Residence Permit Application Form for Foreigners and paste a recent color photo ( 2-inch, bareheaded, front view, white background) onto the application form.

（4) Those who hold an Sl visa for entry to visit their relatives should submit a letter describing the family relationship and a residence permit issued by the person to be visited. Other people should submit supporting materials related to the handling of personal matters.

（5)Those who do not hold an S1 visa for entry apply for residence permits: 1.Those who visit relatives should be confirmed by the letter,residence permit and kinship certificate issued by the person to be visited (certificates issued abroad must be authenticated by the embassy or consulate abroad). 2. Those with humanitarian reasons should submit relevant supporting materials: （1)Foreign Chinese of 60 years old that have purchased real estate in Hangzhou should submit a real estate certificate in their own name or a notarized housing sales contract or proof of financial support. （2)Foreigners who receive medical assistance and services in Hangzhou should submit certificates of hospitalization or receiving medical service for more than 6 months issued by medical institutions at or above the county level or the secondary level.The attendants should be family members of the applicants,and submit the kinship certificate and the attendant certificate issued by the above-mentioned medical institutions.

（6)Foreigners who apply for a residence permit valid for more than one year should submit a health certificate issued by Hangzhou Entry-Exit Health and Quarantine Department (Address:228 Zhonghe Middle Road,Hangzhou City,Tel:87852407,87852408) or a hospital at or above the county level (to prove not to suffer from severe mental disorders,infectious tuberculosis or other infectious diseases that may cause damage to public health).

（7) Other application materials that the entry-exit administration considers it necessary to submit.

Application Period

(1) Applicants visiting relatives may apply for a residence permit whose validity period is consistent with the duration of the visitee's residence in China, with a minimum validity of no less than 180 days. (2) Other applicants may apply for a residence permit valid for no more than 1 year.

（1)People who visit relatives can apply for a residence permit with its validity consistent with the duration of stay of the person to be visited in China,and the duration of stay should not be less than 180 days.

（2)Other people can apply for a residence permit valid for no more than 1 year.

Notes

(1) All applicants are required to attend an in-person interview. Applicants under the age of 16, aged 60 or above, with mobility difficulties due to illness or other reasons, or applying for residence permit extension, may entrust the visitee or staff of the medical institution (who shall submit their work permit or introduction letter, as well as identity documents) to submit the application on their behalf. However, if the entry-exit administrative authority notifies the applicant for an interview, the applicant must attend the interview in person.

(2) Reception entities such as medical institutions shall complete the filing and registration procedures at the entry-exit administrative authority as required.

(3) The original copies of all application materials shall be submitted for verification, and photocopies (on A4 paper) shall be kept.

(4) Application materials in foreign languages shall be translated into Chinese by a qualified translation company before submission.

(5) Persons confirmed as foreign nationals through nationality verification who have not cancelled their Chinese household registration shall cancel the household registration before submitting the application, and shall submit the household registration cancellation certificate issued by the relevant police station when necessary.

(6) Processing time for application: 15 working days.

（1)Applicants will be required to accept a face-to-face interview.For applicants who are under 16 or reaching 60,or have mobility problems due to illness or other reasons,or extend their residence permits, the person to be visited or medical institution staff can file an application on the applicant's behalf (work permits or introduction letters,and identity documents should be submitted). However, if the entry-exit administration informs an applicant of an interview,the applicant must accept the interview in person.

（2) Reception units such as medical institutions should go through the registration formalities at the entry-exit administration as required.

（3) The original application materials should be submitted for verification and the photocopies (A4 paper)should be kept.

（4)Application materials in foreign languages should be translated into Chinese by a qualified translation company and then submitted.

（5)Persons who have been verified as foreign nationals but have not cancelled their Chinese household registration should complete cancellation before submitting their application,and the certificate of household registration cancellation issued by the relevant police station should be submitted if necessary.

（6) Processing time:15 working days.

Source: National Laws and Regulations Database