Promotion of a streamlined process for getting R visas for top overseas talent began nationwide on Thursday.
Under new regulations governing R visas - which China issues to foreign experts whose skills are in urgent demand - holders would be allowed to stay in China for up to 180 days at a time, with multiple border entries valid from five to 10 years.
For top talent, applications for work permits can now be submitted online, without paperwork. And the process is free.
Supporting policies will also cover an expatriate's spouse and children, giving them quick access to the visa.
Under the direction of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, pilot programs were launched on Jan 1 in Beijing, Shanghai and dozens of other cities and provinces.