Measures for Recognizing "Urgently Needed" Foreign Talents for the Multifaceted Pilot Program of Expanding Opening-up in the Service Sector of Beijing Municipality

eijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission

These Measures is formulated in accordance with the Reply of the State Council on the Plan for Comprehensively Promoting the Multifaceted Pilot Program of Expanding Opening-up in the Service Sector of Beijing Municipality (Guo Han [2019] No. 16 of the State Council). The goal is to further optimize the development environment for foreign talents, improve the facility for foreign talents working in China, and gather international talents to Beijing. It aims to carry out the task as prescribed in provisions of "qualified foreign talents that are 'high-levels, elites, top leaderships, and urgently-needed' hired by eligible enterprises in the service sector, upon accreditation of the competent authority, can be provided as Foreign Talents (category A) with convenient and 'green channel' services for formalities in aspects of work permit, visa application, and social security".

I. Scope and Conditions for Employers

The enterprises should be registered in and pay taxes in Beijing. They should be in line with the strategic positioning of the capital city, and established as a juridical person in key service sectors such as science and technology, Internet information, finance, education, cultural tourism, health-care of elderly, leasing and business service, or a juridical person whose scope of business is listed in the top ten major industries featuring high-end, precision and sophisticated characteristics supported by the Municipality. The enterprises should also meet one of the following conditions:

1. Enterprises in the service industry (excluding real estate industry) whose contribution to the general public budget revenue in the past two years is more than twice the industry average of the city.

2. Institutions, headquarters enterprises, and regional headquarters of multinational corporations (excluding real estate industry), established by Fortune Global 500 companies.

3. Financial institutions approved by the People's Bank of China, China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and China Securities Regulatory Commission.

4. Investment companies established by foreign investors and foreign-invested R&D centers.

5. Scientific research institutions and new types of research and development institutions in the city.

6. Hospitals and health institutions at or above Grade-II, and foreign-funded medical institutions in Beijing.

7. Double First-Class universities and schools for children of foreigners in Beijing.

8. National high-tech enterprises, as well as the national and municipal university science and technology parks, technology transfer demonstration agencies, incubators and makerspaces, accredited by the state and the municipality.

9. Enterprises and public institutions undertaking the demonstration projects and key introduction projects in accordance with the Plan for Comprehensively Promoting the Multifaceted Pilot Program of Expanding Opening-up in the Service Sector of Beijing Municipality.

10. Innovative organizations that align with the municipality's strategic positioning of the "Four Centers" (national political center, cultural center, international communication center and science and technology innovation center) and are dedicated to the development of the top ten high-end, precision and sophisticated industries.

Entities that have received administrative or criminal penalties for major violations of laws and regulations in the past two years shall not be included in the list of key entities of the service sectors.

II. Accreditation Standards for Foreign Talents

Foreign talents employed by key entities in the service sectors of the municipality must meet one of the following conditions:

1. Managers or professionals with a bachelor's degree or above and at least with two years' work experience in scientific research, teaching, and management.

2. Skilled talents holding international general vocational skills qualification certificates.

3. The salary income shall not be less than 4 times of the average salary income in the previous year.

4. Other foreign professionals who are "urgently needed".

III. Accreditation and Application Procedures

1. Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce shall take the lead, together with other authorities concerned, to study and determine the list of key service entities in accordance with the scope and conditions of the entities and carry out the work from time to time.

2. Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce shall deliver by exchange the list of the key service entities reviewed and determined to Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Beijing Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) for the record.

3. The key service entities shall submit the applications and relevant supporting materials of the foreign talents they employed according to the conditions for the accreditation of foreign talents mentioned in these measures to the work permit handling department for foreigners in China entrusted by Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Beijing Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs), and the handling department shall inform the application entity of the accreditation result within 2 working days.

4. Entities are not listed in the list of key entities shall submit the application, letter of commitment of the entity, registration form of the applicant, letter of commitment of the applicant and relevant certification materials to the Municipal Bureau of Commerce. The Municipal Bureau of Commerce shall conduct the examination within 5 working days, issue the letter of recommendation if the examination is approved, and inform the applicant if the examination is not approved. The Municipal Bureau of Commerce shall deliver by exchange the letter of recommendation to the Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Beijing Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) for the record.

5. The foreign talent applicant accredited as the "urgently needed", may, by him/herself or the person designated by the employer, apply for a work permit that is consistent with the term of the labor (employment) contract from the municipal work permit agency for foreigners in accordance with the standards as for the Foreign High-end Talents (category A). The applicants educational background, work experience and proof of no criminal record are subject to "acceptance of vacancy". 

6. Accredited "urgently needed" foreign applicants can enjoy "green channel" services for social security.

IV. Others

1. Each entity shall be fully responsible for the legality and authenticity of the materials provided or submitted by it. The key service entities shall strictly follow the accreditation conditions for foreign talents, and reasonably put forward their "urgent needs" for the accreditation in combination with the needs of business development.

2. The competent departments of the relevant sectors of the municipality shall fully cooperate with the Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Beijing Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs), the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, and the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau in the accreditation of "urgently needed" foreign talents.

3. The Municipal Science and Technology Commission (Beijing Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs), together with the Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and other departments shall establish a random inspection system and complaint reporting and verification system for the accreditation of "urgently needed" foreign talents, and timely handle the problems arising thereof. Entities that practise fraud and forge relevant materials shall be included in the "breach of trust" list, and the entities that are suspected of breaking the law and committing crimes shall be handed over to the judicial organs for handling.

4. These Measures shall come into force as of January 1, 2020.

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