Rights for permanent foreign residents set out (2)

Spouses and immediate family members can apply for visas, residence permits and a green card, under the regulation.

China started to grant permanent residency permits to foreigners in 2004. Since then, nearly 5,000 have received the permits and many of them are high-level experts.

"The green card system has become an important mechanism to attract international expertise," the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, which helped draft the regulation, said in an explanation of the new rules on Tuesday.

The ministry acknowledged that green cards are vital for developed countries such as the United States and European nations to compete for global talent. The US annually grants 140,000 green cards for immigrants with expertise.

China has been working hard to improve rights that green card holders can enjoy so as to get more overseas experts and professionals that are urgently needed, the ministry said.

Rhio Zablam, from the Philippines, works at a media firm in Beijing. He married a Chinese woman in 2011, and his wife is due to give birth in February.

"I've been in China for two years, and since I got married to a Chinese citizen I can apply for my green card in three years," the 34-year-old said. "The new green card policy is great news for me because I will not need to obtain a work permit anymore if I want to change my job.

"A green card will also make me feel that I am not an outsider anymore, and I really want to fully immerse myself in life in China."

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