Shanghai sees surge in expatriate residence applications

Applications for permanent residence filed by more than 270 expatriates have been accepted by the Shanghai government since the city began to implement measures to attract foreign talent last July.

The number of applications is six times that of the previous year, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.

During the same time period, Shanghai also issued more than 1,700 five-year residence permits to foreigners, nine times more than the year before.

The measures were approved by the Ministry of Public Security in July 2015 to assist Shanghai in transforming itself into a scientific and technological innovation hub.

Other measures included loosening the requirements for domestic talent to process their entry and exit documents in the city and adopting a 144-hour visa-free entry policy that will provide foreigners who arrive in Shanghai, Jiangsu province (Nanjing Lukou airport) and Zhejiang province (Hangzhou Xiaoshan airport) with more flexibility and convenience.