Identity cards program for China’s foreign residents
Print Edition
CHINA has begun a series of changes to the rules regarding permanent residence for foreigners, according to a plan issued by the Ministry of Public Security.
The “foreigner’s permanent residence card” will be renamed the “foreigner’s permanent residence identity card.”
Similar to identity cards used by Chinese citizens, foreigners’ details will be embedded in chips on the machine-readable cards, to be shared by railways, airlines, insurance agencies, hotels and banks.
The old version cannot be recognized by machines, and foreigners often face difficulties in identity authentication, said a ministry official.
Jonathan, who only gave his first name, is an American who has been in China for more than 20 years and received his Chinese “green card” three years ago. “The card makes everything easier,” he said.
“What’s inconvenient is that so few foreigners have them, and people don’t know how to deal with it,” he said. “I hope that staff at both government departments and service sectors will be more familiar with its functions.”
Foreigners can apply for the new version of permanent residence identity card at the original registration authority, while people can still use the old version until the expiration date.
Approved by the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, the plan serves the nation’s talent development strategy, which is to attract more innovative and entrepreneurial talent, and responds to social concerns, said the ministry official.
The reform will also provide foreigners with easier access to public services.
The related technical work is expected to be finished by June, and then foreigners can apply for new cards.
In 2016, 1,576 foreigners became permanent residents in China, a 163 percent increase on the previous year, according to the ministry.
China has been easing its residence and entry policies for foreigners since September 2015, helping to attract more talent from overseas and boosting international exchanges.
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