Over 1,000 expats receive updated green cards in Shanghai
Over 1,000 expatriates in Shanghai have received the upgraded version of the Chinese green card — the "foreigner's permanent residence card," police said on Thursday.
The new card, with embedded machine-readable chips, was introduced by the national Ministry of Public Security in June last year.
Gradually, it can be used to access finance, education, hospital, transport, telecommunications, tax, social insurance, property registration and legal services in China with no other personal documents required, the ministry said.
The city's exit-entry administration bureau has reminded expatriates that, starting January 1, those who want to upgrade their green card must apply a month before the expiry of the old one.
If there is any change of data in the card, they should apply for renewal within a month after the change, the bureau said.
In case of damage or loss, card-holders must apply for a new one immediately.