Management Commission of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone:

For purposes of implementing theFramework Plan for the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zoneissued by the State Council, and, according to the spirit of theSeveral Opinions of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and the Shanghai Municipal Peoples Government on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Implementing Special Support Policies, accelerating the building of a globally influential science and technology innovation center in this Municipality, deepening the innovation of the foreign talent administration service system, supporting the enhancement of development capabilities of the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, improving urban functions, and providing employers within the area with more facilitative and open foreign talent introduction policies, you are hereby notified of the relevant matters onthe support given by the Management Commission of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality to the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in terms of foreign talent introduction as follows:

Making more efforts to support the introduction of foreign science and technology innovation talents

Supporting the introduction of foreign talents making innovations in the high-tech field

Foreign talents in the high-tech field employed by scientific research institutions, innovation platforms, high-tech enterprises, R&D centers, and state-owned enterprises, among others, registered withinthe Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (hereinafter referred to as the Lin-gang Special Area) may be subject to appropriately relaxed requirements on age, education background or work experience. An eligible foreign talent may be granted at one time a work permit with the validity period of two years or more.

Reinforcing the efforts in introducing the foreign talents who are in line with the development direction of the industries in the Lin-gang Special Area

Such foreign talents as senior technical workers, technicians and other foreign skilled talents urgently needed in Shanghai, and who are in line with the development direction of the industries in the Lin-gang Special Area and who are introduced by employers in the Lin-gang Special Area may be subject to appropriately relaxed requirements on age, education background or work experience, and eligible ones shall be granted at one time work permits with the validity period of two years or more.

Supporting the introduction of foreign members of science and technology innovation teams of major projects

3. Opening green channels for leading scientific research and innovation talents and teams in terms of applying for work permits

With respect to the major foreign members of the teams undertaking major projects of the state and this Municipality and the leading science and research innovation talent teams, the core foreign members in project teams who comply with the basic access standards may be determined by the Management Committee of the Lin-gang Special Area as foreign high-end talents and they can enjoy the relevant treatment for foreign high-end talents in this Municipality; and, if necessary, other core foreign members in project teams may, upon recommendation and determination, be subject to appropriately relaxed requirements on age, education background or work experience, and they can apply for foreigners work permits in China under the relevant provisions.

Giving the Management Committee of the Lin-gang Special Area the foreign talent introduction management right and autonomy

Giving the Lin-gang Special Area the right to recommend relevant entities to be included in the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Occupation List

The Management Committee of the Lin-gang Special Area may, according to the layout of key industries, recommend the key science and technology innovation entities in the Lin-gang Special Area to be included in the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Occupation List, and the personnel holding senior management or technical positions employed by the entities included in the List may be determined as foreign high-end talents and can enjoy facilitation when applying for work permits.

5. Granting plus points in terms of foreigners work permits and foreign talent visas

Where any foreign talent is employed by an employer within the Lin-gang Special Area, upon determination and recommendation by the Management Committee of the Lin-gang Special Area, the employment can be taken as an indicator showing that the foreign talent meets the condition for getting a locally encouraged plus point item involved in the points-based system for foreigners work permits and foreign talent visas, and the foreign talent shall be given extra points which may be up to ten points in the points-based system.

6. Establishing the employer credit record system

Exploration shall be made in the Lin-gang Special Area for implementing the differentiated process for foreigners in applying for work permits in China. When applying for work permits in China for foreign high-end talents, employers with good credit may use green channels such as adoption of the commitment system in respect of certificates of no criminal record, proof of seniority, and relevant job qualification certificates, exemption of certification of diplomas, and simplification of material verification process, and credit entities shall conduct background investigation of the foreign talents they employ and undertake corresponding responsibilities.

Facilitating foreign talents innovation and entrepreneurship in China

7. Supporting the applications for work permits of foreigners who make innovations and start businesses

When the legal persons, small-sum investors and other foreign talents that make investment or make innovations or start businesses in the Lin-gang Special Area apply for foreigners work permits in China for the first time after the legal formation of the enterprises, they may be subject to appropriately relaxed requirements on age, education background or work experience, and, when an application for extending the period of a work permit is made, the period may be extended appropriately in consideration of the operation, tax payment, social insurance premium contribution and other situation of the company formed.

V. Providing more facilitation services for employers and foreign talents in the Lin-gang Special Area

8. Providing employers with an overseas intelligence introduction platform

Based on the talent and intelligence introduction need for the construction of the Lin-gang Special Area, employers in the Lin-gang Special Area shall be vigorously supported in the introduction of foreign talents, and the channels and resources of the overseas liaison office of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) shall be fully utilized to provide employers in the Lin-gang Special Area with an overseas intelligence platform, so as to broaden the channels for overseas talent introduction and build a bridge for the communication between employers and foreign talents.

9. Facilitating the filing of applications for credit cards by foreign high-end talents in the Lin-gang Special Area

For the purpose of meeting the need of foreign talents for applying for credit cards, foreign high-end talents employed by employers in the Lin-gang Special Area shall be allowed to apply for credit cards in the Shanghai Branch of the Bank of China, and may enjoy simplified card application procedures, and be provided with green channels such as wealth management services.

10. Supporting the Lin-gang Special Area in exploring for building itself as a foreign talent service harbor

The Lin-gang Special Area shall be supported in exploring for providing the service of local integration of foreign talents within the Lin-gang Special Area, and the Lin-gang Special Area shall be encouraged to conduct foreign talents pre-employment training, legal consultation, cultural exchange and other integration activities, so as to actively promote the building of the Lin-gang Special Area as a foreign talent service harbor.

You are requested to attach great importance to relevant work and strengthen communication, hold a practical, rigorous, efficient and responsible attitude, and arrange relevant personnel to implement the specific tasks, so as to ensure the best effects of the polices, benefit enterprises and provide facilitation to people to the largest extent, and provide employers and foreign talents in the Lin-gang Special Area with better services.

The Notice shall come into force on the date of issuance.

Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality

Shanghai Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs

August 21, 2019