This year Beijing is working out detailed rules for migrants to claim permanent resident permits based on the points system. Applicants must meet several requirements, including having a temporary residence permit and paying social security premiums in the city for at least seven consecutive years.
Under the points system, employment, accommodation, educational background and tax payments will be converted into points. Migrants can transform their household registration status to local residence after reaching a specified number of points.
Lu Weichao, a 33-year-old computer engineer, once considered leaving Beijing for a smaller, less competitive city, but has now changed his mind as the points system enables him to gain a permanent residency.
"Another reason is that big cities can offer me more job opportunities, and my baby girl can get a better education and broader her horizons," Lu said.
"If migrants cannot get equal welfare like permanent residents, they will leave. Some western cities have already witnessed talent shortages, which have hindered their development," said Shi Ying, a researcher with the Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, China's registered permanent urban residents rose to 41.2 percent of the total population in 2016, after the easing of the household registration policy.
In 2015, only 39.9 percent of the country's population held urban status, and the current urbanization drive is aiming for 45 percent by 2020.
Zhang Baotong, president of the Shaanxi Province Economic and Cultural Research Institute, said that it showed progress.
"The basis of a city's development is talent. Relaxing the residency permits can help attract more talent. On the other hand, young people will have more opportunities entering big cities," Zhang said.
But how do local residents view the household registration reform?
"The growth of the population can increase income for people in the service sector, like me," said Wang Ping, a taxi driver.
However, others were concerned.
"Will the price of real estate rise after more people need houses here?" said Xiang Xiaoli, a college student. "The policy is good, but we should improve our public services such as education and health to meet the demands of a larger population,"
Such concerns were shared also by Zheng Yan.
"Giving non-natives like me an identity is good, but we also hope to live in a city with sustainable development and enough resources," she said.
