China's top legislature has endorsed a tighter immigration regulation aimed primarily at foreign illegal workers.
The regulation ratified by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shortens the minimum duration of residential certificates for foreigners carrying a work visa to 90 days - half of the current period.
The rule also bans any organisation or individual from employing expatriates without either a work visa or a residential certificate for foreigners working in China, Xinhua reported.
Public and state security bodies have been authorised to restrict expatriates from living or working in certain areas when it is deemed necessary for public security reasons.
The regulation is said to target foreigners who have entered China illegally, have overstayed or are working illegally.
The number of immigration prosecutions involving foreigners doubled from 10,000 in 1995 to 20,000 last year, official statistics show.
Employers of foreigners or foreign students must now report relevant details to public security bodies, the report said.