jūliú xǔkě: 居留许可 - Residence Permit

• Keywords: Residence Permit China, China visa, juliu xuke, jūliú xǔkě, 居留许可, China residence permit application, foreign resident in China, work permit China, student visa China, expat in China, how to live in China legally.
• Summary: The 居留许可 (jūliú xǔkě) is the official Residence Permit for foreigners living long-term in China. It is not a visa for entry, but rather the crucial document you apply for *after* arriving, which allows you to legally reside, work, or study in the country for an extended period. For any expat, understanding the China residence permit application process and its importance is the key to legally living and working in Mainland China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jūliú xǔkě
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (This is a specialized legal term, but essential for anyone planning to live in China.)
• Concise Definition: An official residence permit that allows a foreign national to live in China for a specified period (typically one year or more).
• In a Nutshell: Think of the 居留许可 (jūliú xǔkě) as the most important document for any foreigner living in China. It's a sticker that the Public Security Bureau places inside your passport, replacing the initial entry visa you got in your home country. This permit is what grants you the right to live in China for your specific purpose (e.g., work, study) and allows for multiple entries and exits. It functions as your primary form of identification for many day-to-day activities.

• 居 (jū): To reside, to live, or to dwell. It depicts a person (尸) under a roof, indicating a place of residence.
• 留 (liú): To stay, to remain, or to keep. This character signifies the act of not leaving.
• 许 (xǔ): To permit or to allow. It's composed of the “speech” radical (言), suggesting a verbal or written approval.
• 可 (kě): Can, may, or able to. A very common character indicating possibility or permission.

The characters combine logically: 居留 (jūliú) means “to reside and stay,” and 许可 (xǔkě) means “permission.” Therefore, 居留许可 (jūliú xǔkě) literally translates to “permission to reside and stay”—a perfect description of its function.

The 居留许可 (jūliú xǔkě) is a cornerstone of China's modern administrative system for managing foreign nationals. Its existence reflects a cultural and governmental emphasis on formal registration, documentation, and state oversight. For Chinese citizens, the 户口 (hùkǒu), or household registration system, dictates where they can access social services like education and healthcare. The 居留许可 serves a parallel function for foreigners. It is the official document that legitimizes a foreigner's presence in a specific city and for a specific purpose. This contrasts with the Western concept of a “visa,” which is often seen as just an entry document. In the U.S., for example, once you are in the country on a work visa, your status is managed through various forms and online systems, but there isn't one single, all-important passport sticker that you use for daily identification. In China, the 居留许可 is tangible proof of your legal status that you must present frequently. It signifies that you are not just a visitor, but a registered, temporary member of the local community, under the clear authority of the local Public Security Bureau (公安局).

The 居留许可 is far more than a legal formality; it's a tool for daily life.

• Your De Facto ID: For almost any situation where a Chinese citizen would use their national ID card (身份证, shēnfènzhèng), a foreigner will use their passport opened to the 居留许可 page. This includes:
  • Buying train or plane tickets.
  • Checking into hotels.
  • Opening a bank account.
  • Signing a lease for an apartment.
  • Registering for a gym membership or a local library.
• Types and Application: The type of residence permit you get is tied to your reason for being in China. The most common types are for Work (工作), Study (学习), and Family Reunion (团聚). The application process typically involves:

1. Obtaining a specific entry visa (like a Z-Visa for work or X1-Visa for study) outside China.

  2.  Entering China and completing a police registration within 24 hours.
  3.  Undergoing a mandatory health check.
  4.  Submitting a large packet of documents to the local Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (出入境管理局).
* **Formality:** The term is formal and official. You'll see it on government websites and application forms. In conversation, you use it when specifically discussing your legal right to live in China.

• Example 1:
  • 我需要尽快去办理我的居留许可。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào jǐnkuài qù bànlǐ wǒ de jūliú xǔkě.
  • English: I need to go apply for my residence permit as soon as possible.
  • Analysis: 办理 (bànlǐ) is a key verb used for handling official procedures like this. This is a common sentence for a newly arrived foreigner.
• Example 2:
  • 你的居留许可什么时候到期？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de jūliú xǔkě shénme shíhòu dàoqī?
  • English: When does your residence permit expire?
  • Analysis: 到期 (dàoqī) means “to expire.” This is a crucial question among expats, as letting it expire has serious consequences.
• Example 3:
  • 恭喜！你的工作居留许可已经批准了。
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ! Nǐ de gōngzuò jūliú xǔkě yǐjīng pīzhǔn le.
  • English: Congratulations! Your work residence permit has been approved.
  • Analysis: This sentence specifies the type of permit: 工作 (gōngzuò) for work. 批准 (pīzhǔn) means “to approve” or “ratify,” a formal verb used in official contexts.
• Example 4:
  • 如果没有有效的居留许可，你在中国就是非法居留。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ méiyǒu yǒuxiào de jūliú xǔkě, nǐ zài Zhōngguó jiùshì fēifǎ jūliú.
  • English: If you don't have a valid residence permit, you are residing in China illegally.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the legal gravity of the document. 非法 (fēifǎ) means “illegal.”
• Example 5:
  • 买火车票的时候，我需要出示护照和居留许可。
  • Pinyin: Mǎi huǒchē piào de shíhòu, wǒ xūyào chūshì hùzhào hé jūliú xǔkě.
  • English: When buying train tickets, I need to show my passport and residence permit.
  • Analysis: 出示 (chūshì) means “to show” or “to present.” This is a perfect example of its practical use as an ID.
• Example 6:
  • 我的居留许可是学习类型的，所以不能在中国合法工作。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de jūliú xǔkě shì xuéxí lèixíng de, suǒyǐ bùnéng zài Zhōngguó héfǎ gōngzuò.
  • English: My residence permit is a study type, so I cannot legally work in China.
  • Analysis: This shows how the permit defines your legal rights and limitations. 类型 (lèixíng) means “type” or “category.”
• Example 7:
  • 为了续签居留许可，我准备了很多材料。
  • Pinyin: Wèile xùqiān jūliú xǔkě, wǒ zhǔnbèi le hěn duō cáiliào.
  • English: In order to renew my residence permit, I prepared a lot of materials.
  • Analysis: 续签 (xùqiān) means “to renew a visa/permit,” a crucial verb for long-term expats. 材料 (cáiliào) refers to the required documents.
• Example 8:
  • 这家银行要求外国人提供有效期至少为六个月的居留许可才能开户。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā yínháng yāoqiú wàiguórén tígōng yǒuxiàoqī zhìshǎo wèi liù gè yuè de jūliú xǔkě cáinéng kāihù.
  • English: This bank requires foreigners to provide a residence permit with at least six months of validity to be able to open an account.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common institutional requirement. 有效期 (yǒuxiàoqī) is the “period of validity.”
• Example 9:
  • 居留许可和签证不一样，前者是长期居住的凭证。
  • Pinyin: Jūliú xǔkě hé qiānzhèng bù yīyàng, qiánzhě shì chángqī jūzhù de píngzhèng.
  • English: A residence permit and a visa are not the same; the former is the credential for long-term residence.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly addresses the common confusion between the two terms. 凭证 (píngzhèng) means “proof” or “credential.”
• Example 10:
  • 每次去出入境管理局更新我的居留许可都要排很长的队。
  • Pinyin: Měi cì qù chū rù jìng guǎnlǐ jú gēngxīn wǒ de jūliú xǔkě dōu yào pái hěn cháng de duì.
  • English: Every time I go to the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau to renew my residence permit, I have to wait in a very long line.
  • Analysis: A relatable complaint for many expats, showing the term in a natural, conversational context about the bureaucratic process.

• Mistake: Confusing it with a Visa (签证, qiānzhèng).
  • This is the single biggest mistake. A 签证 (qiānzhèng) is what you get from a Chinese embassy abroad to enter China. A 居留许可 (jūliú xǔkě) is what you get from the Public Security Bureau *inside* China to live there long-term.
  • Incorrect: 我需要一个新的签证才能继续在这里工作。(I need a new visa to continue working here.)
  • Correct: 我的居留许可快到期了，需要去续签。(My residence permit is about to expire, I need to go renew it.)
  • Analysis: While you might say “visa” in English to refer to the permit, in Chinese, the terms are distinct. Using 签证 (qiānzhèng) implies you need to leave the country and re-apply for entry.
• Mistake: Assuming it's permanent.
  • A 居留许可 is temporary. It usually has a validity of one year and must be renewed annually. It is not the equivalent of a U.S. “Green Card.” A separate, much harder to obtain document called a 外国人永久居留身份证 (wàiguórén yǒngjiǔ jūliú shēnfènzhèng) is the “China Green Card.”
• Mistake: Not understanding its purpose.
  • Your 居留许可 is tied to a specific purpose (事由, shìyóu) listed on it, such as “work” or “study.” You cannot legally work on a study permit, and you must be employed by the company listed on your work permit. Changing jobs requires updating the permit.

• 签证 (qiānzhèng) - Visa. The document used to enter China. The 居留许可 replaces it for long-term stays.
• 护照 (hùzhào) - Passport. The official travel document issued by your home country where both the visa and residence permit are placed.
• 出入境管理局 (chū rù jìng guǎnlǐ jú) - Exit-Entry Administration Bureau. The specific government office, part of the PSB, that handles all foreigner visa and residence permit matters.
• 工作许可 (gōngzuò xǔkě) - Work Permit. A separate card/document issued by the Foreign Experts Bureau. You must get this *before* you can apply for a work-type 居留许可.
• 续签 (xùqiān) - To renew a visa or permit. A critical verb for anyone staying in China long-term.
• 有效期 (yǒuxiàoqī) - Validity Period. The date range, from start to expiration, printed on your permit.
• 公安局 (gōng'ān jú) - Public Security Bureau (PSB). The general police and state security authority in China, of which the Exit-Entry Bureau is a department.
• 外国人 (wàiguórén) - Foreigner. The official term for a non-Chinese national.
• 身份证 (shēnfènzhèng) - National ID Card. The primary identification for Chinese citizens, which serves a similar daily function as a foreigner's passport with their 居留许可.