The official numbers are out and as of March 2017, Guangzhou had issued no fewer than 1,560 green cards since China introduced new measures to attract high-level global talent in May of last year.
To put that in perspective, only 1,576 foreigners across the entire country became permanent Chinese residents in 2016. Though that number now seems low given Guangzhou's generous quota, it still represents an increase of 163 percent from the previous year.
According to the municipal government, recent green card recipients in Guangzhou hail from 11 countries and regions, including the US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, among others. Nearly 370 of the 1,560 successful applicants thus far are actually Chinese citizens from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Shenzhen, who do not hold a Guangzhou hukou.
A ‘talent’ green card grants them the same rights as local Guangzhou hukou holders, including permanent residency and the ability to purchase property or cars, send their children to public schools and access better employment and healthcare benefits. Expatriates that successfully obtain a green card can enjoy the same benefits.
Guangzhou aims to offer more than 2,300 green cards to talented professionals annually as part of its initiative to draw fresh talent and reinforce sustainable economic growth in the city.
Curious if you qualify for a talent green card?
See if you fit one or more of the descriptions below:
You’re a foreign expert who holds a position as an associate professor or above in overseas colleges and universities or scientific research institutes
You’ve worked in a top international enterprise as a researcher or senior executive for more than three years
You own core technology and independent intellectual property rights, with good market prospects and the potential to turn R&D results into mass production
You have experience starting businesses in foreign countries and plan to open a start-up in Guangzhou to bring in new technology, projects and capital
You hold some kind of ‘expert’ certificate
You work in Nansha District and have been named a certified foreign expert by the Administration of the Free Trade Zone
You work in Guangzhou with an annual income above RMB600,000 and individual income tax above RMB12,000
Sound like you? Awesome. To apply, you’ll need to bring your degrees, professional certificates and/or some kind of evidence of high-level talent, a valid passport, materials to prove your official marital status, an employee contract, proof of income and tax records as well as your company performance records to the Guangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau. The entire approval process should take roughly 25 days.
READ MORE: China Launching New Green Cards for Expats This Summer
[Cover image via Xinhua]
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