On the morning of April 18, a special press conference on “Measures to Facilitate the Work and Life of Foreign Nationals in Hainan" was held in Haikou. At the press conference, Hainan announced 16 measures to facilitate the work and life of foreign nationals in Hainan, covering a range of aspects, including entry and exit clearance, stay and residence, telecommunications, payment, medical treatment, legal services, taxes, social insurance, vocational qualifications, investment, and business development.

A press conference on "Measures to Facilitate the Work and Life of Foreign Nationals in Hainan" held in Haikou on April 18. (Photo: Chen Weidong)

1. Visa applications can be submitted at the nearest Entry-Exit Administration service center. Foreign nationals in Hainan Province can apply for visas at any entry-exit administration service center in Hainan authorized to process such applications.

2. Online accommodation registration. Foreign nationals or their hosts can complete accommodation registration online via the "Haiyiban" app.

3. Expedited visa processing. Foreign nationals who need to apply for a visa quickly due to urgent reasons such as attending meetings, signing contracts, treating serious illnesses, visiting critically ill patients, etc., can call the 12367 National Immigration Administration service hotline to arrange for the nearest authorized entry-exit administration service center in their locale to provide expedited visa processing.

4. One-stop application and simultaneous issuance of work permits and work-type residence permits. Foreign nationals can apply for and receive work permits and work-type residence permits concurrently at the same window. The validity periods of the two documents will be harmonized.

5. Convenient immigration inspection and clearance. Special immigration inspection channels will be opened for foreign nationals coming to Hainan to attend important meetings, major events, exhibitions, and other major events.

6. Hainan TrustPay. Hainan TrustPay, which is currently being piloted in taxis in the Sanya area, enables foreign nationals to use their NFC-equipped smartphones with Hainan TrustPay installed to pay with their overseas bank cards.

7. Facilitating broader acceptance of overseas bank cards and improving cash services. Banks and payment institutions have been instructed to deploy POS terminals that can accept overseas cards in key locations such as important business districts, tourist attractions, resorts, cultural and museum venues, entertainment venues, transportation hubs, hotels, and hospitals. Furthermore, banks are expected to ensure adequate cash supplies at their branch locations and proactively offer CNY "change wallet" products to overseas visitors to ensure that they can pay for goods and services while in Hainan.

8. Providing short-term SIM cards for overseas visitors. Foreign nationals can apply for SIM cards valid for 7 days, 15 days, or 30 days at designated telecom service centers. Such SIM cards will automatically become invalid upon expiration.

9. Providing online tax services for foreign nationals. Foreign nationals can log into the official website of the Hainan Provincial Tax Service to look up and download their individual income tax payment records.

10. Facilitating online social insurance services for foreign-owned business entities. Foreign-owned business entities can log into the "Hainan Social and Medical Insurance Public Service Platform" (using their CA digital certificate, SMS verification, or their business e-license) to handle social insurance affairs for foreign employees.

11. Setting up international clinics to facilitate the medical treatment of foreign nationals. Foreign nationals can seek non-emergency medical treatment at 31 international clinics at hospitals in 18 cities and counties across Hainan Province. Appointments can be made by phone, online, or in person at the clinics.

12. Recognizing overseas vocational qualifications to facilitate the employment and entrepreneurship of foreign nationals. Foreigners who hold professional vocational qualifications listed in the "Catalog of Overseas Professional Qualifications Recognized by Hainan Free Trade Port" and have been verified (registered) by the competent industrial bodies in Hainan Province may provide professional services to enterprises and residents of the Hainan Free Trade Port within the prescribed scope and validity of their qualifications.

13. Establishing a talent pool of lawyers providing foreign-related legal services in Hainan Province. Foreign nationals living and working in Hainan who require legal consultation or services can log into the official website of the Department of Justice of Hainan Province to view a list of lawyers in Hainan Province able to provide foreign-related legal services.

14. Establishing an English-language international services portal in the Haiyiban app. The "Hainan International Services" portal in the Haiyiban app brings together various foreign-related services, providing government services guidance and appointment services, Hainan FTP policy enquiry services,  and "how-to" guides to facilitate foreign nationals' and foreign-owned enterprises' access to services in Hainan.

15. Releasing "A Guide to Hainan for Expats." "A Guide to Hainan for Expats" is a comprehensive guide providing information and practical tips on life, travel, work, and business in Hainan. Foreign nationals can access "A Guide to Hainan for Expats" online via the Hainan Foreign Affairs and hiHainan WeChat public accounts, the HICN website (www.hicn.cn), and the Facebook, X, and other overseas social media accounts of Hainan International Media Center. They can also pick up a paper copy at Entry-Exit Administration service centers, airports, ferry terminals, hotels, and other places frequented by foreign nationals.

16. Establishing the "Invest in Hainan Free Trade Port One-stop Service Platform." The platform provides information and consultation about Hainan FTP policies and its key industrial parks and dedicated facilities and how to access legal, taxation, and financial services, facilitating foreign nationals looking to invest and start businesses in Hainan. It is currently available in Chinese and English, and foreign language service officers are available by phone or email to answer queries in English, Russian, German, French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and other languages.

The press conference emphasized that as the construction of the Hainan FTP advances, it will continue to open up even further. Looking ahead, the Hainan Provincial Public Security Bureau will work with other departments to provide even more convenience to foreign nationals working and living in Hainan, promote the construction of a leading, rules-based, international, and convenient FTP business environment, and better serve and promote Hainan's high-level opening up and high-quality development.