The Tianjin Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs issues the first Work Permit for Foreigners to Dr. Jaiswal Kuldeep from Nankai University on Nov 4. [photo/safea.gov.cn]

The Tianjin Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs issued the first Work Permit for Foreigners to Dr. Jaiswal Kuldeep from Nankai University on November 4, after the launching of the new work permit system in China. Tianjin is one of the ten pilot provinces of the new work permit system for foreigners, and started to accept applications from foreigners working in Tianjin from November 1.

“The new policy makes it much easier for getting the work permit”, said Dr. Kuldeep.

The new policy reduces the application materials for foreigners by about a half, and high-end experts are able to enjoy “green channel” applications which have no limitations on age or work experience. The new application requires 10 fewer working days than before.

The double-track work permits, involving border entrance work permit and foreign experts work permit for overseas employees in China, was streamlined into one system under reforms initiated by the State Council and implemented by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

Trials of the integrated mechanism will be officially launched in Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Anhui, Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on November 1. Based on their experiences, such as how to distribute duties, streamline procedures and systems and improve coordination among different departments, the system is expected to be expanded to other provinces and regions next year.