Elsa submits her application

Chinese Green Card

(cnhubei.com) Elsa Gade, a Danish lady submitted her application for a Chinese permanent residence or “Green Card” with the Entry and Exit Administration of the Wuhan Police Bureau yesterday in, the first foreigner in capital of Central China’s Hubei Province.

Elsa, a news writer told reporters that she came to Wuhan in 2000 and loved the city very much.

It was the first day that Wuhan accepted “Green Card” applications with 20 forms submitted.

Official permanent residence or “Green Card” in China is a system similar to the US "Green Card" scheme.

State Council promulgated the Regulations on Examination and Approval of Permanent Residence of Aliens in China on August 15, indicating official implementation of the "Green Card" system.

According to the regulations, eligibility for permanent residence mainly applies to four categories of people.

The first group is high-level foreign personnel who hold posts in businesses which promote China's economic, scientific and technological development or social progress.

The second category includes foreign citizens who make relatively large direct investment in China.

The third includes foreigners who have made outstanding contributions or are of special importance to China, and the fourth includes foreigners who come to China to be with their families.

An official of the Entry and Exit Administration of the Wuhan Police Bureau told reporters that 11 people have gained permanent residence in Wuhan.

荆楚网消息（楚天都市报）（记者张泉通讯员杨槐柳肖敏）昨日，武汉开始受理外国人“绿卡”申请，丹麦一位女士成为第一个在汉申请中国“绿卡”的外国人。

爱尔莎·盖德女士是一位新闻作家，丈夫是长飞光纤光缆有限公司的副总。夫妇俩都很热爱武汉这座城市，如果一切顺利，盖德女士半年后可拿到中国“绿卡”。

昨日，武汉共受理了20余名外国人的永久居留申请，前来咨询者达80余人。

武汉市公安局出入境管理处有关负责人介绍，武汉市每年临时来汉外籍人士10万人次，常住者2000余人。

“绿卡”一词源于美国，是外籍人士在该国获得永久居留资格的代名词。持有“绿卡”者可以在该国永久居留工作，并保有他们原来的国籍。

8月15日国务院颁布实施《外国人在中国永久居留审批管理办法》，这标志着中国“绿卡”制度正式实施。