China wants to attract more talent from overseas by expanding areas for permanent residence application, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Monday.

Foreign employees working in seven kinds of company or institution are now able to apply for a Chinese green card.

The new listings include national laboratories, engineering research centers, technology centers of state-accredited high-tech companies and foreign-funded R&D centers.

Applicants must hold professional titles at or above associate professor or associate fellow and have been working in China for more than four years with sound tax records, the MPS said.

Candidates should file applications to the municipal-level public security departments where they work.

Foreigners with permanent residence will enjoy the same rights as Chinese citizens such as investment, housing purchases and schooling, among other rights.

The objective is to attract more top-level overseas talent to live and work in China, reflecting China's new emphasis on knowledge and creativity.