Myanmar authorities have granted permanent residency status to 591 foreigners so far since 2015, according to the Information Ministry on Tuesday.

From Jan. 29, 2015 to present, a total of 648 persons applied for the permanent residency, the ministry said.

The Central Committee for Implementation of Permanent Residency interviewed 18 shortlisted applicants to grant permanent residency status on Monday.

The shortlisted ones included one investor, 13 former Myanmar nationals and their four related foreigners.

Myanmar's permanent residency system started in January 2015 during the previous U Thein Sein's government under four categories -- foreign professionals, investors, former Myanmar nationals and foreigners who are related to Myanmar nationals.

The system enables eligible foreign applicants to stay in Myanmar for an initial period of five years with a possibility of further extension.

According to the existing 1982 Citizenship Law of Myanmar, dual citizenship is not allowed.

The government also authorized its embassies stationed abroad to accept foreigners' application to apply for permanent residency in Myanmar rather than submitting in Yangon to facilitate the process in May 2017.