The Pilot Accreditation for Highly-skilled, Sophisticated, Cutting-edge and Urgently-needed Foreign Talent in Shanghai has been launched. It includes 14 facilitation measures for highly-skilled, sophisticated, cutting-edge and urgently-needed foreign talent (Category A) and 7 facilitation measures for foreign talent whose skills are urgently needed (Category B).

14 facilitation measures for highly-skilled, sophisticated, cutting-edge and urgently-needed foreign talent (Category A)

7 facilitation measures concerning foreigner's work permit in China

Foreign talent may:

1. Be exempt from limits on age, educational background or work history;

2. Be required to provide a personal commitment to having no criminal record;

3. Directly apply for the Foreigner's Work Permit in China without the Notification of Foreigner's Work Permit;

4. Be issued the Foreigner's Work Permit (except for the purpose of salary) with a validity of up to five years according to the contract;

5. Be recognized as an accredited foreign talent (except for the purpose of salary) across the city and enjoy convenient whole-process online handling when changing jobs in Shanghai;

6. Handle all procedures online without submitting printed materials for verification if listed in domestic programs for talent introduction or conforming to the internationally recognized standard for professional achievements;

7. Be granted facilitations in key regions, such as whole-process online handling, acceptance notwithstanding temporary lack of some documents, and shortening of approval time;

3 facilitation measures concerning R visa, short stay, and accreditation of high-level foreign talent in Shanghai

Foreign talent may:

1. Be directly issued the Confirmation Letter for High-end Foreign Talent when conditions are met, apply for an R visa with a validity of up to ten years;

2. For the need of a short stay, directly apply for the Invitation Letter for Foreign Experts to China and a visit visa of no more than 90 days when conditions are met;

3. Directly apply for Accreditation of High-level Foreign Talent in Shanghai, which entitles the talent to preferential policies in terms of stay, temporary residence, and permanent residence;

4 other facilitation measures

Foreign talent may:

1. With the Foreigner's Work Permit, participate in social insurance for employees and enjoy corresponding treatment according to relevant regulations;

2. Apply for the "FAST PASS" remuneration system;

3. Enjoy the preferential treatment of personal income tax when conditions are met;

4. Apply for the Talent Card, talent apartment and other related treatment in each district when conditions are met.

Facilitation measures for foreign talent whose skills are urgently needed (Category B)

3 facilitation measures concerning foreigner's work permit in China

Foreign talent may:

1. Be subject to relaxed limits on age, educational background and work history as appropriate;

2. Be required to provide a personal commitment to having no criminal record;

3. Be issued the Foreigner's Work Permit with a validity of up to two years according to the contract;

4 other facilitation measures

Foreign talent may:

1. With the Foreigner's Work Permit, participate in social insurance and enjoy relevant treatment in Shanghai;

2. Apply for the "FAST PASS" system;

3. Enjoy the preferential treatment of personal income tax when conditions are met;

4. As urgently-needed foreign talent, enjoy relevant treatment provided by each district as appropriate.

Supervisor: Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs)

Designer: Shanghai Service Center for Foreigners Working in China

(In case of any discrepancy between the foreign languages and Chinese, the Chinese version shall prevail.)