Rule 7:

    A foreign national who has worked in Guangdong for four consecutive years and has stayed in China for at least six months per year can apply for a permanent residence permit with a recommendation from an employer. The person should have stable accommodation in China, with an annual income and individual income tax paid above certain amounts set by the provincial public security department each year.

    Convenience and breakthroughs: The rule lifts previous restrictions on the type of company or position an applicant must have. It includes income and taxation as part of the admission standards, allowing the market to play a bigger role in soliciting foreign talents.

    Rule 8:

    High-level foreign talents, accredited by the Guangdong talented personnel authority, who are hired by companies approved by the Guangdong science and technology innovation authority or the Guangdong FTZ office, or are employed by universities or scientific research institutions in Guangdong, can apply for five-year work permits (endorsed “talents”) without an age limit. Those who are recommended by employers can apply for permanent residence permits after working for three years or more.

    Convenience and breakthroughs: 1) The rule cancels the previous age limit of 60 years old for applicants.

    2) It simplifies application procedures and expands the valid period of work permits to five years. Applicants are no longer required to provide an employment permit for foreigners or a foreign expert certificate.

    3) The rule cancels previous restrictions on the type of company or title expats must have.

    Rule 9:

    High-level foreign talents accredited by the Guangdong talented personnel authority, hired by companies approved by the Guangdong science and technology innovation authority or the Guangdong FTZ office, or employed by universities or scientific research institutions in Guangdong can apply for R (talents) visas at border checkpoints on arrival if they don’t have visas, and they can apply for five-year residence permits after arrival. Those who hold other types of visas can also apply for R (talents) visas and five-year residence permits after arriving in China.

    Convenience and breakthroughs: The previous rule only accepted R (talents) visa and five-year residence permit applications from high-level foreign talents accredited by the Guangdong talented personnel authority, but the new rule allows more agencies and institutions to recommend expats.

    Rule 15:

    High-level professional talents from overseas or Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao, who have acquired permanent residency or work residence permits in China, can apply for personal affairs residence permits (endorsed “housekeeping services”) for foreign domestic workers that they have hired by providing personal guarantee documents and employment contracts.

    Convenience and breakthroughs: The rule breaks new ground on existing policies, allowing high-level professional talents from overseas or Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao to apply for residence permits for foreign domestic workers whom they have employed.

    (Zhang Yang)

    (To be continued)