China is planning to upgrade its visa system in order to give priority to attracting more top-level expat professionals and limit the numbers of low-grade workers.
At
the present time expats wishing to work in China have two visa options –
the foreign expert work permit available from the State Administration
for Foreign Affairs or an employment license issued by the Ministry of
Human Resources and Social Security. The new rules will see the two
visas merged into a single, unified work permit in order to reduce
unnecessary paperwork, simplify the process overall and attract more
highly-skilled expat professionals. However,
as a part of the adjustment, the Chinese administration is planning to
classify all expat workers using three separate categories. Category A
will include the so-called ‘top talent’ workers, whilst the B grade is
for ‘professional talent’ and the C grade will apply to unskilled
workers and those in the service industry. An
entry channel similar to the USA Green Card will apply to all
A-graders, but visas for the two lower grades will be restricted.
Although no official notice as to individual grading requirements has
been issued, online media are suggesting a points system governed by
salary in China, educational background, Chinese language proficiency,
age, place of work and length of stay in the country. Extra points are
expected to be given to those working in underdeveloped regions of the
vast country. A-graders
are expected to score 85 points or more, giving them easy access to a
visa, with B-graders on 60 points or higher. C-level workers, it seems,
might be better off applying to other Asian countries rather than
waiting for a slot. The scheme is due for a trial run from this year in
the following ten areas: Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai, Anhui,
Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Ningxia, with nationwide coverage
expected to next April. The
upgrade seems to be in parallel to the country’s recent crack-down on
illegal workers and Shanghai’s relaxation of the age limit on expat
professionals for those working as corporate executives. Attracting the
best and the brightest is the aim of all expat-friendly countries, but
China’s political infrastructure and especially its language could well
act as deterrents unless salaries and perks are exceptionally high.This article originally appeared on Expatsblog.com
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