I. Background Overview
In order to thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on deepening innovation-driven development strategy, and that Zhongguancun should pace up the building of a science & technology innovation center with global influence, as well as those of Premier Li Keqiang on encouraging the introduction of overseas high-caliber talents, and promoting the new policy pilot program in Zhongguancun, on the basis of the active investigation and survey by Beijing Municipal Government, the Ministry of Public Security issued 20 exit and entry policies to support Beijing`s innovation and development. And the first 10 policies among them were piloted in Zhongguancun.
Zhongguancun`s 10 policies mainly target the following four types of groups——Foreign High-caliber Talents、 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Foreign Chinese、 Entrepreneurial Teams` Foreign Members Enterprises` Foreign Technical Talents、 Foreign Youth Students, providing them with convenience services covering visa, exit and entry, and residence.
II. Policy Interpretation
(I) Application for Permanent Residence in China
5 of the 20 exit & entry policies relate to permanent residence, among which 3 channels for permanent residence have been piloted in Zhongguancun.
1. Express channel for Zhongguancun-based high-caliber foreign talents` application for permanent residence in China
Policy 1
Referred by the Zhongguancun Management Committee, any high-caliber foreign talent who meets the recognition criteria as well as his/her spouse and minor children may directly apply for permanent residence in China. The application for permanent residence in China submitted by any high-caliber foreign talent in Zhongguancun shall be settled within 50 working days from the date of accepting the application.
Criteria:
——Whether the employer is located within the Zhongguancun area;
——Whether the applicant meets the high-caliber talent criteria set by Zhongguancun (Zhongguancun`s high-caliber foreign talents mainly include such four categories of talents as well-known award winners or the people selected in high-caliber talent programs, famous foreign experts and scholars, innovation & entrepreneurship-oriented high-caliber foreign talents in enterprises, as well as high-caliber foreign talents in technology service organizations in Zhongguancun.)
2. Merit-based permanent residence assessment channel for Zhongguancun-based entrepreneurial teams` foreign members and enterprises` foreign technical talents
Policy 6
Any foreign member of an entrepreneurial team in Zhongguancun, or any foreign technical talent employed by an enterprise settled in Zhongguancun, who has reached a certain score according to Zhongguancun`s merit-based foreign talent assessment criteria, may apply for permanent residence in China.
Criteria:
——Whether the employer is located within Zhongguancun;
——Whether the applicant meets the recognition criteria for Zhongguancun-based entrepreneurial teams` foreign members and enterprises` foreign technical talents;
——Whether the applicant has achieved at least 70, which is rated by the merit assessment committee members according to the Merit-based Assessment Criteria for Zhongguancun-based Entrepreneurial Teams` Foreign Members Applying for Permanent Residence in China, or the Merit-based Assessment Criteria for Zhongguancun-based Enterprises` Foreign Technical Talents Applying for Permanent Residence in China.
3. Permanent residence channel for Zhongguancun-based foreign Chinese
Policy 8
Any foreign Chinese who have a doctoral degree, or have worked in Zhongguancun for 4 years and have lived in China for at least 6 months each year may directly apply for permanent residence in China.
Criteria:
——Whether the applicant can provide any certificate of his/her Chinese origin, including the identifiable materials such as his/her previous household register, passport, and ID card issued by the People’s Republic of China; for those who do not have the above-mentioned identification materials, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal People’s Government will take the lead in verifying, with the help of relevant departments, their identities;
——Whether the applicant has a doctoral degree, or has been working in a Zhongguancun-based enterprise for 4 consecutive years, and has lived in China for at least 6 months each year;
——Whether the applicant`s employer is included as a high-tech enterprise by Zhongguancun, and can provide a valid certificate.
4. Permanent residence channel for foreign talents whose wage incomes in Beijing meet the prescribed standards foreign Chinese involved in Zhongguancun-based innovation and entrepreneurship
5. Transition channel for high-caliber foreign talents in Beijing to change from employment residence status to permanent residence status
II）Application for Visa Residence Permit
The 20 exit & entry policies facilitate the following five categories of groups` exit and entry related to visa and residence permit.
1. Application of Zhongguancun-based entrepreneurial teams` foreign members and enterprises` foreign technical talents for port visa & 5-year residence permit
Policies 4 & 5
For any foreign member of a Zhongguancun-based entrepreneurial team and any foreign technical talent of a Zhongguancun-based enterprise (not restricted to the age limit of 60):
——who has obtained the work permit, may apply for a work visa at the arrival port;
——who does not have time to apply for a work permit, may apply for a talent visa at the arrival port with the invitation letter issued by the entrepreneurial team leader or the enterprise;
——who has entered the country, may apply for a 5-year residence permit for work with the work permit and employer’s guarantee letter;
——If the foreign member of the entrepreneurial team fails to apply for a work permit, he/she apply for a 5-year residence permit for private affairs (marked with "entrepreneurship") with the guarantee letter from the team leader.
Criteria:
——Whether the employer is located within Zhongguancun;
——Whether the applicant meets the recognition criteria for Zhongguancun-based entrepreneurial teams` foreign members and enterprises` foreign technical talents ;
——When applying for a port visa, a work permit or an invitation letter issued by the enterprise (or the leader of the entrepreneurial team) is required;
——When applying for 5-year residence permit, a work permit or an invitation letter issued by the employer
(or the leader of the entrepreneurial team) is required;
2. The channel for Zhongguancun-based innovation & entrepreneurship-targeted foreign Chinese to apply for 5-year residence permit
Policy 7
Any foreign Chinese who start a business in Zhongguancun (not restricted to the age limit of 60) may directly apply for a five-year residence permit for work with the work permit and the employer`s guarantee letter, or directly apply for a five-year residence permit for private affairs (marked with "entrepreneurship") with an entrepreneurial plan.
Criteria:
——Whether the applicant can provide any certificate of his/her Chinese origin. For any foreign Chinese who can provide identifiable materials such as his/her previous household register, passport, and ID card issued by the People`s Republic of China, Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau will verify his/her Chinese origin; for those who do not have the above-mentioned identification materials, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal People`s Government will take the lead in verifying, with the help of relevant departments, their identities.
——Whether the employer is located within Zhongguancun;
——Whether the applicant has a work permit and a guarantee letter issued by the employer, or an entrepreneurial plan and has joined a Zhongguancun-based innovation and entrepreneurship service institution.
3. The channel for foreign youth students to apply for port visa and residence permit
3-1. The Channel for Foreign Students in Beijing-based Institutions Who Have Started a Part-time Business in Zhongguancun to Apply for a Residence Permit
Policy 9
Any foreign student in a Beijing-based institution may, with the approval and a reference letter of the institution, apply for a study residence permit marked with "entrepreneurship", and then start a part-time business in Zhongguancun.
Criteria:
——Whether the applicant is enrolled in a Beijing-based higher education institution, which is recognized and announced by the Ministry of Education;
——Whether the institution has permitted the student to start a part-time business;
——Whether the applicant has started a business in the Zhongguancun demonstration zone, and the innovation and entrepreneurship service institution in the zone can prove the authenticity of the business.
3-2. The Channel for Foreign Students from Overseas Institutions to Apply for a Port Visa and Residence Permit for Internship in Zhongguancun
Policy 10
Any overseas student from any foreign institution, who has been invited by a Zhongguancun-based enterprise and registered by the Exit and Entry Administration under the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, may apply for a short-term visa for private purposes (marked with "internship") for internship at the port`s visa-granting office; for any foreign student who has entered the country with any other visa, he/she may apply for a short-term private affair visa (marked with "internship") for internship activities.
Criteria:
——Whether the foreign student studies at a foreign institution listed by the Ministry of Education`s supervision information network related to foreign institutions or the education involving foreign students (http://www.jsj.edu.cn), or at a higher learning institution in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan announced by the Ministry of Education;
——Whether the enterprise that invites the foreign student to internship is a Zhongguancun-based high-tech enterprise.
3-3 The Channel for Foreign Graduates after Studying in China Willing to Do Innovative and Entrepreneurial Activities in Beijing to Apply for a Port Visa and Residence Permit
Policy 14
Any foreign student who is willing to do innovative and entrepreneurial activities in Beijing may, with the graduation certificate issued by the Chinese institution, apply for a 2-5 years private affair residence permit (marked with "entrepreneurship") for graduation internships as well as innovative and entrepreneurial activities. Any foreign graduate who has been employed during the internship may apply for residence permit for work according to related provisions.
Criteria:
——Whether the applicant has graduated from an institution announced by the Ministry of Education and has obtained a graduation certificate;
——Whether the applicant has an entrepreneurial plan, and there is a testimonial from the innovation and entrepreneurship service institution in the Zhongguancun area.
——Whether there is any relevant government authority willing to issue any testimonial on his/her innovative and entrepreneurial activities.
III．20 New Exit & Entry Policies Related to International Talents
In February 2018, the five ministries and commissions, including the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, jointly issued the Several Measures to Deepen the Reform of Talent Management in Zhongguancun to Build a Talent Introduction and Exploitation Mechanism with International Competitiveness, putting forward 20 policies to support the internationalization strategy of Zhongguancun talents. The policies mainly cover four aspects: facilitating the exit and entry of international talents, opening up the introduction and exploitation of international talents, supporting the start-ups of international talents, and gearing up service and support for international talents.
(I) Application for Permanent Residence
1. The Channel for the Foreign Spouse and Minor Children of a High-caliber Talent with Chinese Nationality to Apply for Permanent Residence in China
Policy 1
The foreign spouse and minor children of any high-caliber talent with Chinese nationality in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone can enjoy the treatment enjoyed by a high-caliber foreign talent`s spouse and minor children. They can apply for permanent residence through the "express channel" procedures.
Criteria:
——Whether the applicant`s employer is located in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone;
——Whether the applicant is a high-caliber talent with Chinese nationality.
（II）Application for Visa
2. The Channel for Famous Foreign Experts and Scholars Invited by Higher Education Institution or Research Institutes in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone to Apply for Visit Visa
Policy 2
Any famous foreign expert or scholar invited by any higher learning institution or research institute in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone may, with a testimonial letter issued by the inviter and other material, apply for a multiple-entry F-type visa with a validity of no more than 5 years and a stay period of no more than 180 days.
Criteria:
——Whether the applicant meets the criteria for famous foreign experts and scholars (equivalent to associate professor, associate researcher and above titles);
——Whether the higher education institution or research institute that invites the applicant to China is located in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone.
3. The Channel for Foreign Employees of Zhongguancun-based Enterprises` Overseas Branches to Apply for Visit Visa
Policy 3
Any foreign employee of an overseas branch of a Zhongguancun-based enterprise, who will come to Beijing for business visits, may, with a testimonial letter issued by the inviter and other material, apply for a multiple-entry F-type visa with a validity of no more than 5 years and a stay period of no more than 180 days.
Criteria:
——Whether the inviter is a Zhongguancun-based enterprise with overseas branches ("Zhongguancun-based enterprise" refers to any non-public enterprise that is registered in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone and is included in the statistical scope of technology enterprises or high-tech enterprises in the Demonstration Zone);
——Whether the foreign employee is employed by an overseas branch of a Zhongguancun-based enterprise.
（III）Miscellaneous
Policy 4
Any research assistant of a high-caliber foreign talent in the Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone may, with the work permit and the high-caliber foreign talent`s guarantee letter, apply for a work-type residence permit with a stay period consistent with the validity of the work permit.
Policy 5
To facilitate the exit and entry of the children of foreign talents in Beijing for study in China, they are allowed to apply for a study (X1) visa to the Beijing Port`s visa authority with an admission letter and other testimonials. After entering the country, they can apply for a residence permit for study according to related provisions.
Policy 6
Any foreign Chinese who will come to Beijing to visit relatives, negotiate business, conduct scientific, educational, cultural or health exchanges and handle private affairs may be granted with a visa for multiple entries and exits within 5 years; any foreign Chinese who needs long-term residence due to working, studying, or visiting relatives and engaging in private affairs in Beijing may be granted with a residence permit with a validity of 5 years according to related provisions.
IV．Procedure
The Procedure varies for two different situations:
Situation A:
Foreign Chinese working in Zhongguancun-based high-tech enterprises may apply for permanent residence directly at the Exit and Entry Administration of Beijing.
Address: A 22, Shuangyushu North Alley, Haidian District, Beijing
Tel.: 0086-10-84020101
Website: www.bjgaj.gov.cn
Situation B:
Other exit & entry policies require the Zhongguancun Management Committee to issue a reference letter.
Step I: To apply for a reference letter at the Zhongguancun Management Committee
Address: Yuhui Building, No. 73, Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Tel.: 0086-10-88828909
Website: zgcgw.beijing.gov.cn
Guidance —Service for Talents
Step II: To apply for permanent residence in China at the Exit and Entry Administration of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Address: A 22, Shuangyushu North Alley, Haidian District, Beijing
Tel.: 0086-10-84020101
Website: www.bjgaj.gov.cn
Contact us | Copyright:Renmin university of china international students office
