Expats in Zhuhai are now able to apply for foreigner's work and residence permits in China at a special service area of the Gongshang Building in New Xiangzhou starting from March 1.

The special service area at the building's lobby was jointly set up by the Zhuhai Science & Technology Innovation and Public Security bureaus. Employers hiring overseas personnel can first submit applications for foreigner work permits on the online government affairs service platform of the Ministry of Science & Technology and wait for approval from the municipal Science & Technology Innovation Bureau. The working permits will then be handled by the Public Security Bureau at the special service area. 

Special service area [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

This service is among the preferential measures launched by Zhuhai to attract overseas high-caliber talents and bolster innovation and entrepreneurship in the city. 

Overseas technological talents hired by companies and sci-tech innovative entities managing Zhuhai's major industries can enjoy fewer limitations regarding age, degree, and working experience requirements. Foreign sci-tech talents adhering to Zhuhai's industrial development will be able to get a working permit that is valid for at least two years.

Foreign citizens included in national or provincial talent projects and provincial or municipal innovation and entrepreneurship groups can apply for the high-level talent visa (R Visa) with a validity period of up to 10 years. 

Foreign sci-tech talents with legal working permits in Zhuhai don't need to re-register or apply for a change if they need to take a part-time job in science technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship.

Legal persons and small investors specialized in investment, innovation, or starting-up businesses in Zhuhai are subjected to relaxed age, degree, and working experience requirements when applying for a foreigner's work permit for the first time after the enterprises' establishment, while the validity period permitted will be more than six months. 

Statistics show that Zhuhai handled foreigner work permits for 1,406 expats last year, including 496 high-caliber talents and 906 professionals. The ratio of expats working in Zhuhai to the permanent resident population stood at 0.06 percent as of May 2021, which was above the average of large and medium cities in China.