Global Times:

We have noticed that at recent State Council executive meetings, strengthening service guarantees in facilitating the flow of innovative elements and reinforcing confidence of foreign investment in China have been emphasized. As such, what additional measures are the National Immigration Administration taking to facilitate the entry of foreign individuals into China to engage in work, study, investment and entrepreneurship. Thank you.

Jia Tongbin:

Thank you for your question. We welcome more foreign friends to come to China to travel, work, study, invest and start businesses. The National Immigration Administration actively provides efficient and convenient immigration management services in terms of policies, mechanisms and procedures. We are collaborating closely with human resources and social security departments to strengthen information sharing, optimize procedures, and integrate application materials, on the basis of law-based and standardized management. We have comprehensively promoted the implementation of a one-stop approval mechanism for work permits and work-related residence permits for foreign nationals, which involves unified acceptance, parallel approval and simultaneous issuance. In order to facilitate efficient processing, the exit-entry administrations of public security authorities can issue residence permits with a validity period of up to five years for foreign nationals who are employed in China and have applied for work-related residence permits for a consecutive period of one or more years. Foreign management and professional technical personnel, as well as members of scientific research and innovation teams, working in well-known enterprises and research institutions, are also eligible for this policy. And for those who meet relevant conditions, permanent residency in China may be granted. Moreover, foreign management and professional technical personnel working in China are allowed to adjust their work positions across regions within the enterprises or institutions they work for or pursue degrees and continue education at domestic universities without needing to reapply for residence permits.  

The NIA has upgraded its services for the convenience of foreigners. For example, after on-site verification by the exit and entry administration departments of the public security organs, foreign nationals who apply for residence permits for the purpose of either investing, starting a business, working or studying in China no longer have to submit their passports during the processing time. If approved, they can receive a residence permit at an agreed time with their passport, thus allowing them to handle relevant affairs that require a passport during the meantime. When foreign nationals apply for visas, they no longer have to submit paper proof of accommodation within China and business licenses of the inviting or employing enterprises, if the relevant information can be verified online through the NIA's trans-departmental information sharing system. In addition, the NIA accelerated its application of information technology to facilitate foreign nationals' access to immigration management services. For example, the NIA launched both a web-based and a mobile edition of its service platform, through which foreign nationals can make online appointments, trace application progress and check personal visa information.

Next, working with relevant departments, the NIA will focus on helping attract talent and investment to foster a world-class business environment in China. We will formulate more active, open and effective entry and exit polices and measures to better serve the country's high-level opening-up, and help attract and utilize more foreign investment. Thank you.