Five foreigners working in Shanghai's Pudong New Area yesterday became the first beneficiaries to enjoy longer-term residency under a pilot program designed to lure international talent to the city.

Germany's Walter Keller, chief financial officer of Celanese (China) Holding Co, shakes hands with an officer of the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration as he receives his new residence permit yesterday. [Shanghai Daily]

Under the program, qualified foreign professionals whose employer is registered in Pudong will be able to receive residence permits of up to five-years, along with their spouses and children under age 18, the Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration said yesterday.

Applicants who meet one of five requirements? can apply for the permits at the administration's Zhangjiang service center.

Natives of Germany, the United States, Japan, the Netherlands and Malaysia received the new permits yesterday.

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"My husband used to renew his residence permit once a year. Now we both have three-year permits, and it saves us a lot of time," said the Netherlands Myrthe Beulens, claiming permits for herself and her husband, who works at Dumex Baby Food Co Ltd. "For business people it brings much convenience."

Pudong Pilot Program Residency Criteria

1. Foreign "highly qualified talents, special talents and renowned people" approved by the Shanghai Foreign Affairs Office can apply for residence permits of between three and five years.

2. Foreign academic leaders employed by national or provincial-level research institutes or universities can apply for residence permits of between three and five years, compared with only four years in the past.

3. Foreign legal representatives, general managers, deputy general managers and finance directors in high-tech companies, foreign-invested companies with advanced technology or export products can apply for permits of between three and five years, compared with the previous one to two years.

4. Foreign legal representatives, senior managers and scientific research personnel in multinational companies' local headquarters or research and development centers or investment companies can apply for residence permits of between three and five years, compared with the previous one to three years.

5. Foreign legal representatives, general managers, deputy general managers, finance directors and senior managers in enterprises with registered capital of more than US$3 million can apply for residence permits of between three and five years, compared with the previous registered capital requirement of more than US$ 30 million yuan.

(Shanghai Daily July 2, 2009)