The Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has rolled out a sweeping new policy aimed at attracting overseas talent by offering streamlined visa application, career opportunities and lifestyle benefits.

The Hainan Free Trade Port Talent Development Promotion Regulation, which came into effect in June, includes an entire chapter dedicated to overseas talent, officials said at a provincial news conference on June 12.

Under the regulation, the province will implement supportive policies to introduce top-tier higher education resources abroad through joint programs or independent campuses. Full-time foreign faculty members will enjoy equal eligibility for professional recognition and various awards, just like their Chinese counterparts.

For entrepreneurs and skilled workers, the regulation offers a range of practical measures. Foreign technical and skilled personnel can apply for employment, entrepreneurship, or permanent residency in Hainan in accordance with existing rules. The foreign spouses and minor children of eligible high-level talent may also apply together. Qualified high-level overseas professionals are permitted to hire foreign domestic workers.

In addition, the regulation supports the creation of a green channel for personal foreign exchange services, allowing the legal income of overseas personnel in Hainan — such as salaries and technology transfer earnings — to be remitted abroad.

In terms of visa facilitation, citizens from 85 countries can currently enter Hainan visa-free. Foreign nationals without a visa may apply for one upon arrival at ports in Haikou or Sanya. The province has also set up 13 visa and permit service windows across eight cities and counties, providing convenient access for foreigners to handle necessary procedures nearby. Foreign professionals working in Hainan can apply for residence permits valid for up to five years, and those who meet the relevant criteria may also apply for permanent residency.

The scientific research sector offers additional opportunities. The regulation allows high-level overseas experts to lead major research projects and provincial science and technology initiatives in Hainan. It also encourages foreign-funded R&D institutions to establish research centers on the island and to explore cross-border funding allocation and management mechanisms.

The regulation further relaxes restrictions on foreign professionals taking vocational qualification exams in Hainan and allows independent recognition of overseas professional credentials without reciprocal agreements. Foreign professionals who have obtained qualifications or certifications from internationally recognized organizations may, upon accreditation, provide specialized services to local entities or individuals within the FTP.

In a broader effort to improve the professional environment, the regulation also permits foreign nationals to serve as legal representatives of statutory bodies, public institutions, and State-owned enterprises in the FTP. It supports the development of third-party international medical insurance settlement platforms to help reduce healthcare costs for international professionals.