A unified work authorization application policy will be piloted in Anhui, Beijing, Guangdong, Hebei, Shandong, Shanghai, Sichuan and Tianjin Provinces and the Ning Xia Hui autonomous region starting October 2016, and will be applied nationwide after April 2017. The new system should streamline and simplify the work permit application process.

Currently, there are two separate application systems: the Foreign Expert Certificate application, handled by the Foreign Expert Bureau, and the Alien Work Permit application, handled by the Labor Bureau.