FOREIGN experts and senior managerial staff from multi-national companies in Shanghai may now apply for foreign residence permits valid for two to five years, local police announced on September 24.

　　"Comparing with the previous one-year residence permit system, the new policy is aimed to provide more convenience to business and educational exchanges between Shanghai and other countries," said Ma Zhendong, director of Shanghai Exit-Entry Administration of Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

　　Foreigners may also obtain working visas for the same period as their residence permits.

　　The measure is one of 15 reforms introduced by local police including travel, household registration, traffic management and fire control.

　　Foreigners with the title of Honourary Citizen, and those winning the Shanghai White Magnolia Award, set up by Shanghai Municipality especially to reward foreigners, can also benefit from the policy.

　　Meanwhile, in those companies with US million or more registered capital in Shanghai, their foreign legal representatives, general managers and deputy managers may also apply for residence permits valid for two to five years. Department managers and ordinary foreign staff may obtain three-year and two-year residence permits respectively.

　　Their spouses and children under 18 years old may now also enjoy the same treatment.

　　And from the end of the year, foreigners coming to Shanghai on urgent business may apply for visas after they arrive at Pudong Airport.

　　"However, companies or universities or institutions in Shanghai which invite or hire foreigners under such urgent circumstances must submit an online application to the police first," Ma said.

　　He said police would send a permission via the Internet to the companies when such applications were approved.

　　Also, Shanghai was still planning to offer disembarkation permits to Taiwanese. However, the exact timing of implementation of the measure designed for Taiwan was not settled, because, according to Ma, the plan needs the approval of the Ministry of Public Security and Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

　　"However, the measure will be carried out in the near future," he said.