Beijing mulls relaxing residency rules for migrants

Beijing has issued a draft regulation to allow migrants to claim permanent resident permits or "hukou" based on a points system, local authorities said Thursday.

According to the draft, applicants should be under 45 years old, have a Beijing temporary residence permit and have paid social security premiums in Beijing for at least seven consecutive years.

Under the points system, employment, accommodation, educational background, skill level, tax payments, credit records, etc. will be converted into points. Migrants can transform their household registration status to local residence after reaching a specified amount of points.

Beijing will publish the specified number every year based on the population changes of the city.

The draft regulation, which is out for public opinion now, will be reviewed by authorities before it takes into effect.

In July 2014, the State Council, China's cabinet, decided to accelerate reform of the hukou system, which has divided the nation into rural and urban populations since the 1950s.

The circular said megacities with more than five million residents should control the influx of new citizens and adopt a points system. Similar systems are already in place in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin.

Beijing's permanent population exceeded 20 million, about two and half times that of London and New York. The city has been challenged by a string of "urban diseases", such as air pollution and congestion.

People with Beijing "hukou" enjoy better educational opportunities, employment support, care for senior citizens and social welfare. The new system will allow migrants to have the chance to become a real part of the city. Endi