Quite recently, many imagined the Celestial Empire as a backward country, whose hardworking inhabitants toiled day and night on rice paddies. Not to mention public opinion, in China itself a couple of decades ago being rich was considered indecent and even dangerous. But that was yesterday. Last year, China ranked second in the world in the number of dollar billionaires after the United States. Unsurprisingly, many foreigners today are trying to legalize their documents here and obtain legal status allowing them to live and work in China.
A foreigner applying for this preferential status must meet a number of criteria - be an honorary citizen of Shanghai or a holder of the Shanghai honorary or commemorative award 'White Magnolia', be a special adviser working in Shanghai at the invitation of the PRC government or the Shanghai municipal government.
Foreigners who have made a significant contribution to the development of China or Shanghai, and those working under intergovernmental assistance agreements between China and foreign countries, will also be granted this status.
Foreigners working as leading researchers at state or municipal research institutes or as university lecturers may apply for a four-year residence permit. Other categories of foreigners - management personnel of joint ventures, specialists in finance, law, etc. - can obtain a residence permit for periods from two to five years with a multiple-entry visa, with each stay in China not exceeding one year. The adopted provisions also extend to the spouses and children of foreign specialists in Shanghai.