The Haikou Foreign Experts Bureau announced on September 12 that Haikou has become the first city in Hainan to issue foreigners’ work and residence permits on the same day. Once both permits have been processed, applicants (or their employers or agents) will be notified by text message. They can then go to the Haikou Foreigners Comprehensive Service Window with the originals of their application materials and passports to get both permits. The pick-up address is A21-23, first floor, Haikou Residents and Visitors Service Center, No.1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (海口市龙华区滨海公园路1号海口市民游客中心一楼A21-23).
The Foreigners Comprehensive Service Window was established in 2020, which saw the co-location of the Haikou Foreign Experts Bureau and the Exit and Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau of Haikou within the Government Service Center to further facilitate applications for foreigners’ work and residence permits. As a result, the processing time was reduced from 28 to just 7 working days, making the process much quicker and more convenient for foreign workers.
Although combining these two bodies under one window saved some time, applicants still had to apply for the permits separately - obtaining a foreign work permit first before applying for a residence permit, which took a further 7 working days and another round trip. Under the new policy, the applicant need only visit the Foreigners Comprehensive Service Window once to hand in their paperwork and collect their foreigners’ work and residence permits.
In recent years, the Haikou Foreign Experts Bureau and the Exit and Entry Administration of the Public Security Bureau of Haikou have formulated a series of policies to streamline the process of applying for work and residence permits. A foreign talents service network was established, centered around the Haikou Foreigners Comprehensive Service Window, with 7 centers in Fullsing Town, Jiangdong New Area, Longhua District, Xiuying District, the Haikou National High-Tech Zone, the Haikou Integrated Free-Trade Zone, and Meilan District to assist foreign nationals. Haikou International Talents Community also provides support for foreign work and residence permits, helping companies to hire foreign workers and promoting the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
An easier application process is conducive to introducing more foreign talents. In the first half of 2023, 109 companies in Haikou began hiring foreign workers from 59 foreign countries and regions, including Russia, the USA, and Canada. Altogether, 432 work permits were issued, a year-on-year increase of 21.69%