Beijing has issued a draft regulation allowing migrants to claim permanent resident permits or "hukou" under a points system.

According to the draft, those who are under 45 years old, have a Beijing temporary residence permit and have paid social security in Beijing for at least seven consecutive years are qualified for application.

Migrants' employment, accommodation, educational background, skill level, tax payment, credit records will be converted into points.

Those who accumulate a specific amount of points will be able to get a Beijing "hukou."

Zhang Yi with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says the move aims to support the industrial upgrading of the city:

" Beijing is trying to control the influx of new citizens, with a maximum of 23 million. Yet migrant workers will be a big challenge, so the city has to increase its standards to control the population. Also, Beijing is trying to upgrade its industrial sectors, so the new points system will provide a support for its industrial transformation."

The draft regulation, which is out for public opinion, will be reviewed by authorities before it goes into effect.

China accelerated reform of its "hukou" system in 2014 and megacities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin have already adopted a points system to control the influx of new citizens.