Permanent residency requirements and investment immigration rules will be relaxed in China, according to a document published Thursday by the Chinese government.
The circular issued by general offices of the Central Committee and the State Council called for an enthusiastic investment immigration programme with “flexible investment periods, amounts, and methods” in order to attract more foreign workers and investment.
The qualifications for permanent residency should be “flexible and practical,” with salaries, taxes, and social credit to be considered, according to Xinhua. However, it is yet unclear what concrete changes are set to be made.
Foreigners who apply for Chinese permanent residency can enjoy the same rights as Chinese citizens in purchasing property, obtaining a driver’s license and applying for social insurance benefits.
Priority will be given to foreigners in schemes such as the “Thousand Talents”, a recruitment programme for foreigners hoping to work in key areas such as technology and finance in state-sponsored companies.
The document also called for requirements for foreigners, and students with outstanding achievements, to be reduced.
The programme used to target only a select few. In Shanghai, it was once limited to high-level executives and professors at academic institutions, but requirements have been relaxed in recent months.
