National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced the decision to promote and replicate immigration and exit-entry facilitation policies advancing and serving the construction of free trade zones across China at a press conference held by the Ministry of Public Security in Beijing on July 17. Chen Bin, NIA spokesperson and director general of the Department of Foreigners Management, and Jia Tongbin, deputy director general of the Department of Foreigners Management, attended the press conference and answered journalists' questions.

According to Chen Bin, a large number of policies and measures serving and facilitating the exit and entry of foreigners as well as foreign talents' stay in China have been implemented successively since 2015 by the Ministry of Public Security and NIA in pilot free trade zones, demonstration zones for comprehensive innovation and reform, national innovation demonstration zones and state-level new areas in 16 provinces and municipalities directly under the central government including Shanghai, Beijing, Fujian and Guangdong. The aforementioned policies and measures have achieved good economic and social effects, and further promoted the development driven by opening-up and innovation as well as the high-quality development. So far, the exit and entry departments of China's public security organ have issued over 133,000 visas and residence permits to eligible foreigners including entrepreneurs, investors and technology executives.

In order to implement the important instructions of general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi Jinping on further deepening reform and opening up as well as the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, NIA has conducted in real earnest a comprehensive assessment and in-depth research of the immigration and exit-entry facilitation policies and measures applicable to key development regions of the country. It has innovated, improved, optimized and integrated policies and measures that are effective, applicable to a wide range of areas and conducive to the economic and social development of various regions and to a new pattern of greater openness. Altogether 12 policies that encourage, support and facilitate foreign talents, outstanding young foreigners and Chinese of foreign nationality to start businesses, innovate, invest, study and work in China will be replicated and promoted nationwide. Effective August 1, 2019, the 12 policies mainly cover the following four aspects:

The first is to expand the scope of foreign talents applying for permanent residence. Greater convenience will be provided for permanent residence application of high-level foreign talents, Chinese of foreign nationality having a doctoral degree or having worked in national key development areas for a long term, foreign talents with significant outstanding contributions or are notably needed by the country, and foreigners who have been working in China for a long time and meet relevant annual income and tax payment standards. Spouses and minor children of foreign nationality of the aforementioned are also eligible to join the application.

The second is to broaden the scope of people for issuance of long-term visas and residence permits. Long-term visas and residence permits will be issued to foreigners coming to China to do business, work or study so as to optimize the business environment. Visas or residence permits valid for 2-5 years will be issued to foreign talents who are invited to China for technical cooperation, economic and trade activities or work by China's prestigious universities, science research institutes and well-known enterprises, as well as to high-level foreign talent teams and their auxiliary personnel.

The third is to expand the scope of foreign talents to be introduced into China. Services are to be provided for outstanding foreign young people engaged in entrepreneurship and innovation in China. Policies and services on facilitating visa and residence permit application will be rolled out for outstanding foreign students graduated from key domestic universities or internationally renowned universities, and for foreign students who are invited for an internship in China by well-known domestic enterprises and public institutions.

The fourth is to improve the management of and services for foreigners. Efforts are to be made to explore the establishment of immigration service centers (stations) in areas where a large population of foreigners live, and services will be provided for resident foreigners to facilitate their work, study and life, such as consultation concerning policies, residence and travel, legal assistance, as well as language and culture services.

Promoting and replicating the 12 immigration and exit-entry facilitation policies expediting and serving the construction of free trade zones across China is an important measure taken by NIA to actively serve the country's opening-up and development strategies, implement the reform requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on "streamlining administration, delegating power, and improving government services", and further optimize the business environment. This is also one of the first releases of the 60 measures formulated by the Ministry of Public Security to serve economic and social development, the public and enterprises. NIA will strengthen guidance and coordination to ensure effective implementation of the policies to create an efficient and high-quality exit-entry environment for foreigners in their innovation, entrepreneurship, cooperation, work and living in China.

Notice: This English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version.