人才签证(réncái qiānzhèng): Visas for talent

The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security have jointly issued a document on the foreign talent visa system recently, in order to more actively, openly and effectively attract foreign experts.

The easier visa permits for foreign professionals and highly skilled workers are part of China's efforts to bridge the talent gap. Applicants will be expanded to include those who qualify as high-end talents in the categories of foreigners working in China, including scientists, entrepreneurs and leading figures in technology-intensive sectors, according to the new rules.

The validity of the visas are to be further extended. Qualified foreign talents will be issued with visas for 5 or 10 years after being approved by provincial or city level foreign expert affairs bureaus.

Foreign talents will get confirmation of their qualification in five working days. And all the applicants will be given a visa fee waiver, even for urgent applications. Spouses and any children of the applicants under the age of 18 will be able to gain the same visa, as early as the day after filing applications.

China is in the middle of its biggest ever influx of foreign-educated professionals.