On 1 October 2016, the State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs launched a pilot program to simplify foreigners’ application for Employment Permit in the PRC.  Local administrative measures have been rolled out in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanghai, Anhui, Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan, Ningxia and Hebei. According to the guidelines of the pilot program, the former Alien Employment Permit and Foreign Expert Certificate which were issued by two different government authorities will now be consolidated into one single permit. Shanghai, as one of the first cities in the nation to pilot the program, officially kick started on 1 November 2016 to establish the new mechanism for administration of work visa applications. This move will improve the administration of foreign talents in the PRC and balancing the quantity and quality of foreign talents required in the Chinese labour market.