China is considering relaxing its green card policy by lowering the application and approval threshold, in a move to attract more foreign professionals.
Authorities are debating revisions to regulations on permanent residence for foreigners, considering more flexible and pragmatic application standards, the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China revealed on June 2.
In China as a whole, around 5,000 foreigners from 91 countries and regions have been granted green cards since the scheme was launched in 2004.
The highest numbers of green card applicants have come from the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and Germany.
The benefits of holding a green card include that cardholders can enter and leave China without requiring a visa. They can purchase homes and have the same rights as Chinese nationals when dealing with financial services such as banking, insurance, securities and futures. Their children can attend local schools as well. |