Guidelines on R visas issued to attract top talent

Foreign experts recognized as top talent will be issued multiple entry visa valid for 5 or 10 years.

Three central departments have recently released a series of guidelines on issuing R visas to foreign experts whose skills are in urgent demand, which insiders believe will attract more top overseas talent to the country.

Top scientists, international enterprises and other talents with specific high-level skills that are in need in the development of the economy and society of China are all qualified to apply for such visas, according to the guidelines, which were issued jointly by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security.

Once being recognized as a top talent in need, foreign experts would obtain visas with multiple entries and a period of validity for five or 10 years. Such visas would allow them to stay in China for 180 days maximum each time, and these policies would also apply to the expat's spouse and children.

In addition, the application for such visas has also been streamlined, as all applications can be filled online without any paperwork and free of charge. It would take five working days – instead of 10 days previously – for the departments to complete the procedures.