BEIJING: If you are a scientist, entrepreneur or a Nobel Prize laureate,you might have a future as an expatriate in China.

China announced easier visa permits for foreign professionals andhigh-skilled workers Thursday, as part of its effort to bridge the talentgap.

Applicants will be expanded to those who qualify as high-end talents in theCategories of Foreigners Working in China, including scientists,entrepreneurs and leading figures in technology-intensive sectors,according to new rules unveiled by the State Administration of ForeignExperts Affairs.

The expiration date of the visa could be extended to five to 10 years afterissuance, with multiple entries and 180-day-stays for a single entry, theadministration said, adding that the categories could be adjusted based onthe country’s changing demand for talent.

Spouses and minor children of the applicants could gain the same visa, asearly as the day after filing applications. Foreign talent could get theirconfirmation of qualification in five working days.

All the applicants are given a visa fee waiver, even for urgentapplications.

China is in the middle of its biggest ever influx of foreign-educatedprofessionals.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in September 2017 that as the world’slargest developing country, China was at a critical stage of economicrestructuring and upgrading, adding that “we should not only make use ofChinese talent resources and market space, but also adopt a more openpolicy for foreign experts.”