Foreigners who want to stay in China for a long time will need to apply for a residence permit or permanent residence. There will be some friends can not distinguish between the visa and the residence permit, here to give you a clear concept, the residence permit is not a visa, the visa is used for entry and short-term stay, and the residence permit is used to stay in China and long-term residence.

外籍人士如果想要长期居留在中国，需要办理居留许可或者永久居留。会有一些朋友分不清签证和居留许可，这里中创侨智小编给大家明确一个概念，居留许可不是签证，签证是用于入境和短期停留的，而居留许可则是用于留在境内和长期居留的。

In China, there are six common forms of residence, namely: work residence, reunion residence, private affairs residence, study residence, journalist residence and permanent residence in China.

在中国，常见的居留形式有6种，分别是：工作居留、团聚居留、私人事务居留、学习居留、记者居留和中国永久居留。

Besides this difference, do you know what more residence permits do? Residence permit: not only a piece of paper, but also a "ID card" for foreigners in China:

1. The residence permit is usually 1-5 years, and it can enter and leave multiple times without repeated round-trip application.

1.居留许可有效期一般为1-5年，可多次出境入境，无需往返重复申请。

2. The residence permit is a certificate of foreigners' legal residence in China, which is regulated by the relevant regulations on the entry, exit and entry of foreigners, and is guaranteed by some policies.

2.居留许可是外国人在中国合法居留的证明，受外国人出入境相关条例的管理和规范，同时受到部分政策保障。

3. With the residence permit, foreigners can enjoy a lot of convenience in China, such as bank account opening, medical services, and transportation.

3.有了居留许可，外籍人士在中国的生活可享有很多便利，如银行开户，医疗服务，交通出行。

4. If the foreigner is working and resident, foreigners can enjoy the purchase of China's social security and housing accumulation fund in accordance with the law, and have tax obligations, which is also a strong proof to ensure the extension of the residence of foreigners.

4.如果外籍人士持有的是工作居留，外国人可依法享有中国社保和住房公积金的购买，并拥有纳税义务，这也是保证外国人居留延期的有力证明。

5. If foreign parents hold a residence permit, foreign children can study in domestic schools.

5.如外籍父母持有居留许可，外籍孩子可在国内学校读书入学。

6. Foreigners to apply for permanent residence in China, need to deal with residence permit, residence permit, first as long-term residence in China, again according to the relevant permanent residence conditions, such as: foreigners and Chinese marriage for five years, has been in China for five years and residence not less than 9 months a year, have a stable life security and residence can apply for couples China permanent residence, or foreigners working in China for 4 years, has been in China for four years and residence not less than 6 months a year, wages and taxes meet the conditions, can apply for work of permanent residence in China.

6.外国人申请中国永久居留，需要先办理居留许可，持有居留许可，才视为在中国长期居留，再根据相关永久居留条件申请，如：外国人与中国人婚姻关系存续满5年，已在中国连续居留满5年且每年居留不少于9个月，有稳定生活保障和住所可申请夫妻团聚的中国永久居留，或外国人在中国工作存续满4年，已在中国连续居留满4年且每年居留不少于6个月，工资和纳税满足条件的，可申请工作类的中国永久居留。

7. Foreigners holding Chinese permanent residence permits may have general rights enjoyed by Chinese citizens except those they have no political rights.

7.持有中国永久居留证的外籍人士，除没有政治权利以外，其他中国公民所享有的一般权利，均可以拥有。