i. Talents selected for China's talent introduction programs

Shortlisted candidates of talent introduction programs identified by human resources departments at or above the sub-provincial level approved or recorded by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

ii. Talents meeting internationally recognized criteria for recognition of professional achievements

1. Nobel laureates (physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, economics).

2. Winners of the following awards: the National Medal of Science (US), the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (US), the Gold Medal of the National Centre for Scientific Research (France), the Royal Gold Medal (Britain), the Copley Medal, the Turing Award, the Fields Medal, the Wolf Prize in Mathematics, the Abel Prize, the Lasker Award, the Crafoord Prize, the Japan Prize, the Kyoto Prize, the Shaw Prize, as well as other major awards for architecture or industrial design.

3. Academicians of national academies of sciences and academies of engineering in various countries.

4. Former members or directors of world-renowned academic institutions and international organizations in science and education, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

5. Leaders or senior research fellows of national research institutes or national laboratories in various countries.

6. Principals, chief scientists, or main contributors to achievements made in national scientific and technological planning projects in various countries.

7. Former editors-in-chief, associate editors-in-chief, or senior members of world-class journals of science and technology (JCR Categories I and II).

8. Those who have published three papers as first author or corresponding author (including authors with equivalent contributions) in world-class journals of science and technology [Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Categories I and II in the fields of endeavor].

9. Those who once served in middle-level management positions or above in esteemed overseas universities, or who were appointed as professors or associate professors.

10. Those who once held senior management positions or were key technology R&D members in the headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies. Those who once held management positions above deputy general manager in secondary companies or regional headquarters, or heads of technology R&D.

11. Those who once held executive positions in internationally renowned financial institutions and accounting firms.

12. Presidents, vice presidents, professors, and associate professors of world-renowned schools of music, fine arts, and the arts.

13. Chief conductors and vocals of world-renowned orchestras.

14. Artists who have given solo performances in world-renowned opera houses or concert halls.

15. Those who have individually won the most prestigious literary, film, television, drama, music, and advertising awards, as well as the grand prize and first prize in Category I contests, or the grand prize and individual awards in Category II contests of prestigious international art competitions. Those who have served as judges for the aforementioned awards and competitions.

16. Noted athletes who made the top eight in major international competitions such as the Olympic Games or the last two FIFA World Cups and World Championships included in Olympic events. Those who made the top three in the Asian Games or the last two AFC Asian Cups and FIBA Asia Championships included in sports within the Asian Games. This also includes head coaches or core members of the coaching staff responsible for the development of these athletes.

17. Those who once held leadership positions at the ministerial level or above in foreign government agencies, or senior leadership positions in prominent international organizations or non-governmental organizations.

18. Winners of world and national skill-based competitions, or professionals engaged in training for their competitive events. Highly skilled talents who hold the highest level of international vocational skills qualification certificates or China's senior technician vocational skills qualification certificates.

iii. Foreign talents qualified for market-oriented positions encouraged by the government

1. Those in senior management or technical positions employed by centrally-owned enterprises and secondary subsidiaries, global or regional headquarters of Fortune Global 500 companies, national high-tech enterprises (identified by science and technology departments at the provincial level or above), and large enterprises.

2. Those holding senior management or technical positions working in state-recognized corporate engineering research centers (recognized by development and reform departments), engineering laboratories (recognized by development and reform departments), engineering technology research centers (recognized by science and technology departments), corporate technology centers (recognized by economic and information departments), and local service platforms for technical innovations (recognized by science and technology departments).

3. Those in senior management or technical positions employed by medium-sized enterprises at home and abroad, as well as board chairmen, legal representatives, general managers or chief technical experts employed by small foreign-invested enterprises in "encouraged industries" of the Catalog of Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment or the Catalog of Priority Industries for Foreign Investment in Central and Western China.

4. Those holding senior management positions or above in institutions of higher learning or scientific research institutions, or serving as associate professors and associate researchers of these institutions, and those employed by vocational institutions for professional and technical positions above the deputy senior level, such as senior lecturers and senior internship instructors.

5. Those appointed by China's Grade A tertiary general hospitals, urban specialist hospitals at or above the sub-provincial level, or foreign-funded hospitals to hold senior management positions or professional and technical positions above the deputy senior level.

6. Chief conductors, artistic directors, and principal performers employed by leading Chinese orchestras and other art groups.

7. Those in senior management or technical positions employed by central and local major media outlets, such as chief editors, associate chief editors, chief announcers, senior hosts, lead planner and layout designer.

8. Star athletes, head coaches, or core members of the coaching staff employed by national or provincial sports teams or clubs.

9. Foreign talents with a six-fold and above wage of the average social wage income of the region in the previous year.

iv. Innovative and entrepreneurial talents

1. An enterprise founder making investment with major technological inventions, patents, and other independent intellectual property rights or proprietary technologies, maintaining stable investments for three consecutive years, and holding actual investment of no less than USD 500,000 in aggregate and at least 30% of all shares.

2. The chairman, legal representative, general manager or chief technologist of an enterprise who makes investment with major technological inventions, patents, and other independent intellectual property rights or proprietary technologies. The enterprise must also have achieved annual sales of more than CNY 10 million or made annual tax payments of over CNY 1 million for three consecutive years.

3. Those in senior management or technical positions employed by institutions included in the list of innovative enterprises, or the list of scientific and technological innovation occupations specified by relevant provincial departments.

v. Excellent young talents

Young talents under 40 who are engaged in postdoctoral research at top universities abroad or universities in China.

vi. Those scoring 85 points and above

(Note: Content source is from Service System for Foreigners Working in China.)