13 January, 2013

On September 28, 2012, five departments, including the Central Organization Department of the Communist Party of China, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, jointly released the Notice on Issues Concerning Providing Foreign High-level Talent with Facilities for Visa and Residence in China (the “Notice”). However, the Notice was not published until December 13, 2012.

According to the Notice, visa and residence facilities can be provided to: (1) foreign high-level talent introduced under the introduction plan of overseas high-level talent, and their foreign national spouse and children under 18-years-old, or (2) a foreign national spouse and children under 18-years-of Chinese high-level talent introduced under the introduction plan of overseas high-level talent.

The Notice stipulates measures for providing visa and residence facilities: (1) for multiple temporary exit/entry, qualified applicants can apply for a long-term multiple-entry visa with five years’ validity, which is effective for multiple entries with the longest permitted stay of 180-days; (2) for working or residing in China for a long period, qualified applicants can apply for a work permit or foreigner’s residence permit with two to five years’ validity; (3) applicants who are qualified for permanent residence can apply for permanent residence; and (4) qualified applicants can obtain a Permit for Expert Settling in China or Foreign Expert Permit. The Notice also specifies detailed procedures for providing visa and residence facilities.
 

The full Chinese text of the Notice is available here.