Chinese citizens with foreign family members will be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the Chinese government relaxes residency permits, according to a report by China Daily.
Foreign family members will be able to get a two-year residency permit in Beijing, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau announced on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The new policy extends the current time allowed and is renewable.
Family members eligible for the two-year residency permit include spouses, parents, children, spouse's parents, siblings, spouses of the children, grandparents and grandchildren.
There is no need for foreign family members to go through the Department of Entry and Exit to annually renew their one-year residency permits.
Certain requirements, such as a marriage certificate to prove the relationship with a Chinese citizen, will also be ruled out for foreign family members who are going to renew their residency permits.
There is one catch, however. The two-year residency permit is only based on a family visa and does not affect the time for foreigners currently in Beijing under a work visa.
The new two-year residency permit is just one of a dozen measures meant to streamline procedures for foreigners living in Beijing.
Foreign applicants, who are applying for a residence permit under a work visa, also won't have to submit a copy of the business license of the company where they work.
Applicants are given approximately 30 days to renew their residency in China before the actual expiry date of their permit, said Lin Song, a police officer at the Department of Entry and Exit in Beijing.
Foreigners who are staying somewhere other than hotel are advised to register with the local police within their first 24 hours in Beijing. Their guarantor, or the person in charge of their accommodations, can also help with the registration.
Twenty-five police stations can provide assistance to Chinese nationals traveling outside the mainland. These police stations are authorized to receive applications for passports and issue other certificates needed to enter or exit the country.
The bureau is currently working with major Internet companies to publish entry-and-exit policies for wider dissemination.