China's Ministry of Public Security announced on Monday that more organizations would be added to a list of bodies whose foreign employees are able to apply for permanent resident status in the country.
Foreigners who work in seven kinds of organizations, including national-certified research and development departments in enterprises; national engineering labs; national science labs and foreign-invested research and development centers can apply to be permanent residents of China if they meet certain conditions, said the ministry.
The conditions include having one of a range of titles that includes associate professor, associate research fellow or above, working in one of the seven kinds of institutions continuously for four years, and having occupied a suitable position for at least four years and lived in China for three of the four years.
Foreigners who have met these conditions can submit their application to the public security bureau in the area they work and apply for permanent residence.
Foreigners who are given permanent resident status can enter and leave China using their passport and permanent resident status certificate only.
Meanwhile, they can work in China without needing another work permit and enjoy the same rights as Chinese citizens in investing, purchasing houses, applying for school places for their children and so on.
The system by which foreigners can apply for permanent residence plays an important role in attracting high-level talents and investors to China to help promote economic and social development, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
