Immigration news update for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
China: Expand the scope of “Single Window for Foreigners’ Work and Residence Affairs” Government Services
To facilitate the one-stop processing of work permits and residence permits for foreign talents, the city of Shanghai has decided to expand the service scope of the “Single Window for Foreigners’ Work and Residence Affairs” from only covering foreign talents holding Class A work permits to also include those holding Class B work permits. This policy pilot will be implemented in four key development areas, including Pudong New Area, Free Trade Zone Lingang New Area, Hongqiao International Central Business District, and the Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Zone.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Government Affairs of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau (available in Chinese)
Chinese Non-Criminal Record Required for Permanent Residence in Shanghai
Shanghai now requires applicants to provide the original and a copy of their Chinese non-criminal record certificate when applying for permanent residence. The certificate must cover all passport numbers used by the applicant during their stay in China. This means that applicants must bring all the original passports they have used when applying for the residence permit.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Government Affairs of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau (available in Chinese)
Guangzhou’s New Permanent Residence Policy
There has been an update on permanent residency policies, particularly for foreign Chinese PhD holders. Guangzhou boasts a distinctive approach, distinct from other Chinese cities, that might just be the key to your long-term plans.
Under the specific criteria of the Chinese PhD category, only foreign Chinese PhD holders who are employed within the Guangdong Free Trade Zone are eligible to apply for permanent residency, which means the company that hires you should be within the Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Ghanzou Municipal Public Security Bureau (available in Chinese)
Launch of Online Pre-acceptance Service for Personal Visa Applications for Foreigners at Ports
To facilitate the individual visa application process for foreigners at ports and optimize the business environment for international activities, Shanghai has introduced an online pre-acceptance service for personal visa applications.
In cases where an inviting organization in Shanghai needs to urgently invite foreign individuals for business purposes, they can submit the application online through the “One-stop Online Service” platform or the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration Bureau’s electronic government platform, without the need for offline submission of paper documents.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Government Affairs of Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Shanghai Public Security Bureau (available in Chinese)
Minimum Salary Requirement for Work Visa Applications in Hangzhou
When applying for a work visa in Hangzhou, the salary specified in the labour contract must not be lower than 9100 RMB. For individuals who wish to convert from an M visa to a work visa, a direct conversion is not allowed. The process must start from the permit notification stage.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from The People’s Government of Zhejiang Province (available in Chinese)
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Beynon (Regional Immigration Manager, APAC).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Bulgaria: Update on ‘Golden Visa’ program
The Bulgarian government has approved new regulations for obtaining Bulgarian residency through the investment program ‘Golden Visa’. In the pre-selection process applicant must meet following measures:
- To have a bank account opened in Bulgaria or in the EU country
- To have a confirmation of the fund’s origin, using a government-approved template
- To disclose their politically exposed person status and submit criminal record certificate
- To provide evidence of the professional and investment activities
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Schengenvisainfo.com
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Operations Director, Immigration) or Sabrina Crespo (Team Lead, EMEA).Â
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