The amendment to the Act on the Residence of Foreigners brings the following main changes in current practice with the current scope of the residence agenda at the Consulate General:

1) Applicants who are not citizens of the People's Republic of China may apply for a long-term visa and residence only if they have resided in the territory of the PRC legally and continuously for at least 2 years.

2) The applicant is also required to submit an extract from the criminal record if he/she has lived in a country other than the PRC for more than 6 months in total in the previous three years (not only continuously as before).

3) Blue card applicants can submit a new employment contract concluded for 6 months or a contract for a future contract.