Beijing center helps woo foreign talent

Policy highlights

1. Foreign talent employed in startups or other enterprises in Zhongguancun can now apply for a work visa valid for five years. There is no age limit.

2. Foreign members of a startup team in Zhongguancun can apply for a residence permit valid for five years if they fail to obtain a work visa.

3. The Zhongguancun National Demonstration Zone will introduce a credit evaluation system for permanent residence for foreign talent. Foreigners who attain the credits required can apply for permanent residence status.

4. Foreign students at higher education institutions in Beijing will be allowed to start their own businesses in Zhongguancun.

What they say

It's awesome. They answer all your questions. You know what you have to do in order to apply for a new visa or to get a green card, and also to open up a business in China. My goal is to do an internship here... so I'm very glad that they've changed the regulations right now.

Till Hain, an international student from Germany who is taking a Chinese-language program at Tsinghua University

I have just come here for some information about the new visa regulations. The staff have told me the procedure for getting a working visa is not complicated. Just come here well prepared with all the documents you need, and they will help you.

Osipova Natalia, a 21-year-old Russian international student at Tsinghua University

We have about 250 colleagues who have to renew their visas every year.... Before, it took a lot of time for our human resources department to go to different visa offices to accomplish this task, but now this new office will help us solve the problem.

Andreas Haufe, general manager at Machining Powertrain Engines at Beijing Benz Automotive

The procedure to apply for permanent residence is really simple and fast, and the service staff members are nice. It took me just two days to prepare the necessary documents. I hope that my wife and my children will also be able to get a green card as soon as possible.

Sanjeev Menon, executive director, desktop product marketing at PC Group, Lenovo