China’s planning authority has unveiled a new policy to scale down the country’s household registration system, also known as the “hukou” system.
On 12 July the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) announced the release of the “Notice on the Issuance of the 14th Five Year Plan New Model Urbanisation Implementation Plan” (国家发展改革委关于印发“十四五”新型城镇化实施方案的通知).
The Notice calls for “deepening reform of the household registration system,” and the “opening up and loosening of household restrictions with the exception of super-large cities.”
Trial reforms outlined by the Notice include the complete cancellation of urban household restrictions for cities with permanent urban resident populations of less than 3 million, and ensuring that rural migrants receive equal treatment when it comes to permanent settlement.
NDRC will also “comprehensively loosen” urban household settlement conditions for large-scale cities with populations of between 3 to 5 million, as well as make further refinements to the household points policy for “super-large cities” whose permanent resident populations are in excess of 5 million.
