Quick answer
What photo does the China Permanent Resident ID Card need?
NIA's service guide does not publish a separate photo size for the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, so follow its exit-entry photo standard: 33 × 48 mm, in colour, recent and on a plain light background. Some cities ask for a photo receipt, so check locally. The application costs 1,500 yuan plus 300 yuan for the card.
NIA's service guide for permanent residence does not set a separate photo size for the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card. Applications go to public security exit-entry offices, which use NIA's exit-entry standard: a 33 × 48 mm colour photo taken within 6 months on a white, light grey or light blue background. NIA lists fees of 1,500 yuan for the application and 300 yuan for the card.
Because the national guide is silent on photos, the exact number of photos and whether you need a studio photo receipt (回执) are set locally. This page sets out what NIA does publish, what we could not confirm, and how to prepare a photo that fits the national standard.
Photo: what to bring
| National rule | Not stated in NIA's permanent residence service guide |
|---|---|
| Safest size | 33 × 48 mm, NIA's exit-entry standard |
| Head | 30–34 mm high, face 16–24 mm wide |
| Background | White, light grey or light blue; white is the safest choice |
| Photo age | Taken within the last 6 months |
| Clothing | Dark clothes with a collar; no uniforms |
| Digital file | JPEG, 24-bit colour, 20–80 KB, if a file is asked for |
Photo rules are set locally
Search results for a 2024 Chongqing public security Q&A say that swapping to the new card needs three recent 2-inch, front-facing, bareheaded photos and a photo collection receipt (照片采集回执). We could not open that page to confirm it, and "2-inch" photo sizes vary between studios. Ask the exit-entry office handling your application how many photos it wants, in what size, and whether it needs a receipt from an approved studio.
The 2023 card design
NIA began issuing a new version of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card on 1 December 2023, widely called the "five-star card" (五星卡). NIA's announcement says:
- cards issued earlier stay valid until they expire
- holders of older cards may apply to swap them for the new design
- the new card can be used on its own as proof of identity, such as at hotels or when buying tickets, without a passport
Reports also say the card number changed from 15 to 18 digits, starting with 9. NIA's own specimen of the new card, shown above, does have an 18-digit number starting with 9.
Applying for permanent residence
NIA's service guide for approving foreigners' permanent residence lists these basic materials, plus the documents for the category you apply under:
- a valid foreign passport
- a health certificate
- a certificate of no criminal record from abroad
You apply at the city-level public security exit-entry office for the place where you mainly invest or live long-term, and a decision is made within 6 months.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permanent residence application | 1,500 yuan |
| Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card | 300 yuan |
| Replacing a lost or damaged card | 600 yuan |
| Renewing a card on expiry | 300 yuan |
Bring a spare set of photos
Because photo requests differ between cities, bring a few identical prints on a white background along with the digital file. White meets every version of the rules we have seen.
How to prepare a permanent resident card photo
- Ask your local office first. Ask the exit-entry office handling your application how many photos it wants, what size and whether it needs a studio receipt (回执).
- Take a recent photo on white. Use a colour photo from the last 6 months on a plain white background, wearing dark clothes with a collar and no hat or tinted glasses.
- Use the exit-entry layout. Unless your office says otherwise, print it at 33 × 48 mm with your head 30–34 mm high and your face 16–24 mm wide.
- Bring prints and the file. Bring identical prints on photo paper, and keep a JPEG of 20–80 KB in case the office wants a digital copy. If the file is not a JPG, such as a HEIC photo from an iPhone, convert it with the free 123PhotoTool JPEG converter.
Permanent resident card FAQ
NIA's service guide for permanent residence does not state one. The exit-entry offices that handle applications use NIA's exit-entry photo standard, 33 × 48 mm, for the documents they issue, so that is the safest size to bring unless your office says otherwise.
NIA lists 1,500 yuan for the permanent residence application and 300 yuan for the card. Replacing a lost or damaged card costs 600 yuan, and renewing a card when it expires costs 300 yuan.
NIA says a decision on permanent residence is made within 6 months.
No. NIA says cards issued before 1 December 2023 stay valid until they expire, and holders may apply to swap them for the new design.
NIA says the new card can be used on its own as proof of identity, for example at hotels or when buying tickets, without your passport.
At the city-level public security exit-entry office for the place where you mainly invest or live long-term.
Official sources
- National Immigration Administration: 外国人永久居留资格审批服务指南 (permanent residence service guide)
- National Immigration Administration: 新版外国人永久居留身份证 (new Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, 2023)
- National Immigration Administration: 出入境证件相片照相指引 (exit-entry photo guide)
Last checked . Requirements and fees can change, so always confirm with the issuing agency before you apply. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency.