China debuts fast-track 10-year visas for “high-end” foreign talent

Nobel Prize winners welcome!

China’s State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs announced this week that it is rolling out a free and expedited visa application process for top-tier talent from abroad. In particular, they hope to draw entrepreneurs, scientists in high-demand sectors, technology leaders, specialists, and other highly-skilled personnel.

Qualified applicants will have the opportunity to apply entirely online, for free, and can receive same-day 5- to 10-year multi-entry visas with up to 180-day entry periods for themselves and their families.

The new policy is aimed at attracting talent that can help China meet its economic and social development goals, and comes at a time when international tech workers and researchers may be shopping around. But even the easy visas and cushy pay packages may not be enough to convince these professional A-listers to put up with the challenges that come along with living in China.

China implemented a new ranking system for foreign workers in 2016. The A-level “high-end foreign talents” category includes Nobel Prize winners, senior research fellows, highly-published scientists, managers of financial institutions, and famous actors and athletes.

Last year, China also made it easier for foreigners with a master’s degree to work in China, and for professionals already working here to get longer-duration work permits and permanent resident cards. But while China rolls out the red carpet for its A- and B-Category professionals, things continue to slowly clamp down on the other end of the spectrum.