The minimum stay in China for foreigners holding work certificates will be shortened to 90 days from 180 days, according to a draft law under discussion during an ongoing legislative session, sparking concern among expats.

The draft law on exit and entry administration was submitted yesterday to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, the country's top legislature, for its third reading and will last until Saturday when the last draft is expected to be worked out.

The draft stipulates that residence certificates would be valid from 180 days to five years.

An insider close to the matter told the Global Times on condition of anonymity that the legislature is still working on some details in regard to the adjustment, and the shortening, if settled, will provide more convenience for foreigners applying for residence permits.

"After staying in China for 90 days, expats will be able to apply for residence permits ranging from 180 days to 5 years, which will enable them to save half the time they needed previously," said the anonymous source, adding that the details might well change since the law has yet to be approved.

In an earlier discussion on the draft during a legislative session in April, it was proposed that a unified system should be established to monitor information on foreigners entering China.

Du Pengfei, a visa application agent in Beijing, told the Global Times that the regulations mentioned in the draft will not affect his customers, who are mostly employees of the world's top 500 enterprises, but will surely influence those who stay in China for a short term, and be a blow to those attempting to work in the country through illegal channels.

Amber Welle-Strand, a Norwegian creative director at a Shanghai-based advertising company who has lived in the city for four years, told the Global Times that she would not like the new laws as she might have to go through the procedures every three months, since the process has already become "complicated and frustrating" enough.

She said that if the application process becomes more complicated and requires more paperwork, she will consider transferring to other offices.

Wang Zhenyu, a professor at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times that it is reasonable for a country to keep abreast of the information on foreigners, which will help to provide better service while safeguarding security.

"But there's no need to shorten the stay since it will increase the costs of population flows globally," said Wang, "Relevant laws should be made clear for foreigners as when they feel it's difficult to apply to work and stay in the country, they will simply just choose not to come, which is bad for globalization and free trade."

Chinese you need:

Foreigner：外国人 (wài guó rén)
Certificate：证件 zhèng jiàn)
Draft：草案 (cǎo àn)
Submit：提交 (tí jiāo)
National People's Congress Standing Committee：全国人大常委 (quán guó rén dà cháng wěi)
Legislature：立法机关 (lì fǎ jī guān)
Stipulate：规定 (guī dìng)
Valid：有效的 (yǒu xiào de)
Convenience：便利 (biàn lì)Residence：居留 (jū liú)
Monitor：监测 (jiān cè)
Visa：签证 (qiān zhèng)
Procedure：流程 (liú chéng)
Frustrating：令人懊恼的 (lìng rén ào nǎo de)
Paperwork：文书工作 (wén shū gōng zuò)