The age and skills of mainlanders wanting to come to Hong Kong will be graded against a one-way permit priority list.
The new points system, announced on Tuesday, is said to be modelled on foreign immigration schemes.
Those who have waited for many years and who have a spouse or parents here can expect high scores and earlier approval for their applications.
The Public Security Ministry's director of exit and entry bureau, Xu Ganlu, said a successful applicant could take one child, aged 14 or below, to Hong Kong.
But he did not give further details of the scheme, which will be formally launched on May 20.
Director of Immigration Regina Ip Lau Shuk-yee is expected to discuss the issue with Mr Xu later this month in Hong Kong.
A Guangdong Public Security Bureau spokesman said he understood Beijing would co-ordinate the scheme.