Over 100 foreign residents in Lhasa, Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region were granted Chinese permanent residence, the world's hardest-to-get "green card."
According to Luo Jie, head of the division of exit-entry administration of Lhasa public security bureau, 118 foreigners who live in Lhasa obtained the permanent residence permits, the China News Service (CNS) reported on Wednesday.
A majority of foreign residents who live in Lhasa were born and raised here, but inherited their parents' nationality and live as relatives of local residents, Luo said.
These foreign residents face difficulties in entering and exiting China, renewing their papers, enjoying medical care, purchasing property, finding jobs and educating their children, the CNS said. The permanent residence permits will solve their problems.
Dawa, a Nepal national living in Lhasa, said that he was most concerned about medical insurance as he had to pay all the medical expenses himself, but now with the permanent residence permit, 80 percent of the expenses can be reimbursed.
Deng Jun, deputy head of the Lhasa public security bureau, said that a permanent residence permit shows our recognition of their identity, which has enhanced the relationship between China and other countries, said the report.
China's permanent residence permit is famous for being difficult to obtain and rare to have. The card, which has a validity of 10 years, can be used as a form of identification by foreigners in lieu of their passport for purposes such as buying a train ticket or booking a hotel room.
To qualify for a green card, a candidate has to either be a "high-level foreign expert helping with China's economic, scientific and technological development or social progress," make an outstanding contribution to the country, invest over $500,000 in China or have direct relatives who are Chinese nationals.
China began to allow permanent residence in 2004, but from 2008 to 2014, only 7,356 foreigners were granted permanent residence cards, based on recommendations from ministries or provincial governments. However, 1,576 foreigners gained Chinese permanent residence in 2016, an increase of 163 percent from the previous year.
