China Offers 10-year Visas to 'High-End Talent'

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By Faith MagbanuaJanuary 5th, 2018

China plans to issue long-term visas to attract highly skilled people from abroad to work in the country.

Just recently, China has been issuing multi-entry visas that will be valid for between five and 10 years, according to state media.

However, not everyone can avail the 10-year privilege, but it is a good news to a few chosen individuals like technology leaders, entrepreneurs and scientists from in-demand sectors, for they are one of the people who are among those that are eligible to apply. To add to that, all Nobel prize winners are also welcome to the opportunity.

China has set out goals for its economic and social development, and sees recruiting experts from abroad as key to achieving that.

What inspired the 10-year-rule?

When plans for the scheme were first considered, China stated that at least 50,000 foreigners would benefit from it with new jobs to be offered in the country.

Applications for the visas can be made online free of charge and will be processed quickly, the Chinese government said.

Visa holders will be allowed to remain in the country for up to 180 days at a time, and they will be eligible to bring their partners and children.

In 2016, China introduced a ranking system for expatriates, aimed at identifying the skills it wanted to attract while reducing the number of lower-skilled foreigners coming into the country, and according to a document from the Chinese government, those classed as "high-end foreign talent" included Nobel Prize winners, successful Olympic athletes and directors of "world famous colleges of music fine arts and arts".

Top scientists, heads of major financial institutions and professors of "overseas high-level universities" also fit the bill.

The first Certificate for Foreign High-end Talent was issued on Tuesday in Beijing, said Xinhua, without identifying the recipient. The certificate is necessary to apply for one of the new five- or 10-year multiple entry visas.

 

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