Temporary residence permits boon for agents

People acting as agents to secure temporary residence permits for others are charging more than 100 yuan for the permit, which is available free from the local government.

"I can help you apply for a temporary residence permit for the annual driving license renewal," said a woman surnamed Liu, who posted an advertisement on the Internet.

Liu said that since 2008 people taking a driving test or the annual driving license check in the city without a Beijing hukou needed to obtain a temporary residence permit. As a result of this many people began to act as agents for people who did not have time to apply for the permit by themselves or did not live in Beijing at that time.