Shanghai relaxes household registration policies to draw talent

Shanghai will relax its household registration permit regulation by granting them the permit, or hukou, to non-local students who graduate from the world's top 50 universities if they work in the city starting from July to June next year.

The move is aimed at expanding the talent pool to aid the resumption of business operations in the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the policy issued by the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau on June 1, the shortlisted candidates, unlike regular candidates, will not be required to earn points based on social security payment like before to obtain the hukou and can settle in Shanghai with hukou immediately.

In addition, fresh graduates from the world's top 100 universities can qualify for a hukou if they pay social insurance in the city for six months and have full-time jobs in the city.

Authorities will take reference from the world university rankings of Times Higher Education, US News & World Report, Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings, and Shanghai Ranking's Academic Ranking of World Universities, according to the policy.

The city will also offer rental reductions or exemptions, subsidy and loans, and other preferential policies for graduates from international universities who start their own business in Shanghai.

The bureau said that it will hold innovation and entrepreneurship competitions for those studying overseas this year to promote exchanges and business collaborations.