Beijing announced on Thursday that it will be introducing a stringent migration policy in order to control the population of the city.

Like many Chinese cities including Shanghai and Guangzhou, migrants in Beijing will now be graded on the basis of their contribution to the city as well other qualifications such as education and age, according to the South China Morning Post.

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If a migrant does not have enough grades, he/she cannot obtain permanent residency permit and the social benefits that come with it.

It is necessary for a non-Beijing resident to have a proper job and contribute towards local social security funds, which include pension, health care as well as housing, for a duration of seven years in order to be eligible for application.

Moreover, an applicant is also required to have a temporary residence in Beijing, no criminal record and be below the age of retirement.

Permanent residency in Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing facilitates access to better health care, education and pensions but is out of reach of migrant workers and some professionals due to rigid control and tedious paperwork requirements.

According to the new rules, which will go into effect early next year, migrants will be encouraged to find a place in the suburbs with the incentive of more grades. They will receive extra grades if they move from downtown to suburban areas and can double their grades if they relocate their house as well as their place of employment.

These regulations are being introduced in a bid to curb Beijing's population, which is currently exceeded 20 million - more than two times the population of London or New York, according to China.org.

Tagschina, Beijing, population, Beijing population, Migration, migrants, Shanghai, population control