China to Relax Immigration Rules

In an effort to better attract skilled workers from outside the country, China made adjustments to its immigration rules that went into effect in August 2019. These changes make it easier for workers to qualify for long-term visas or apply for permanent residence.

According to the new rules, if a person has worked for four consecutive years and lived in the country for six months or more in each of those years, while earning an income six times the average for their city of residence, they qualify to apply for permanent residency. These changes mark a more immigration-friendly stance in an area where attaining permanent residence has been challenging in the past.

Takeaway: At a global level, the rule changes indicate how acute the demand for skills workers has become across the region. While the permanent residency changes may not influence staffing and recruiting efforts immediately, the need to secure talent across boundaries will likely result in more talent-friendly regulations throughout the region in the future.

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APAC

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