12 new immigration rules to take effect in Zhejiang next month

A foreign job seeker talks with a company representative at a job fair in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Nov 17, 2018. An increasing number of foreigners, especially international students from Chinese universities, are choosing to work in China. [Photo/IC]

East China's Zhejiang province will implement 12 new regulations affecting immigration and entry and exit procedures on Aug 1 to facilitate the introduction of foreign professionals and make it easier for foreigners to study, work and live in Zhejiang.

The regulations have already been in effect in Zhoushan and Hangzhou since 2017 and, after several modifications and improvements, will be extended to the entire province, according to the province's public security bureau.

The new regulations make it easier to obtain permanent residence permits for foreigners, especially high-caliber talents and their family members.

Twenty-five new units (in addition to the five already existing ones), most of which are national development zones, now have the ability to recommend people within their administration to apply for permanent residence permits.

Foreigners who have been working in China for over four consecutive years and have a stable living condition and good social credit, as well as overseas Chinese who have doctorates or have been working for China's national key zones for four consecutive years, are eligible to apply for permanent residence permits, according to the new regulations.