Abstract: The Civil Code of the People's Republic of China provides for the first time the system of residency rights, but there is considerable controversy in the theory and practice of this new system. To discuss the effective requirements for establishing residency rights through a will, it is necessary to distinguish between testamentary inheritance and bequest. Firstly, the establishment of residency rights based on testamentary inheritance can be divided into two stages. The first stage occurs between the deceased and the inheritor, and the effect of property right transfer occurs from the beginning of inheritance. The second stage occurs between the joint heirs, where the effective requirements of the right of abode are related to the effectiveness of the estate division. According to the perspective of transfer doctrine, if the parties use designated or agreed means of division, the right of abode is established at the time of registration. If the parties deal with estate division by the right of residency is established at the time of the legal document's effectiveness. The effective requirements for establishing residency rights based on bequests shall be established at the time of registration in accordance with Article 368 of The Civil Code of the People's Republic of China.

Key words: right of residency, testamentary inheritance, bequest, will, transfer of property