A one-stop service window for expats to apply for work and residence permits started operations on June 29 at the administrative service center in Yantai, East China's Shandong province.
The service window was created by the city's administrative examination and approval service bureau and the city's public security bureau with the aim of improving the quality and efficiency of government services and upgrading the city's business environment.
Officers explained that expats previously had to apply for work permits at the administrative examination and approval service bureau and handle the residence permit applications at the public security bureau.
At the one-stop service window, expats can seek advice on, apply for and acquire both the work and residence permits.
The "one-stop acceptance" model integrates administrative procedures from different departments and reduces the processing time from 25 working days to five.
Officials said that the one-stop service window will benefit more than 2,000 foreigners working in Yantai.