Life of Guangzhou - A Guide for Applying for the Foreign Expert Certificate and Certificate for Experts from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan

Foreign Expert Certificate and Certificate for Experts from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan (hereinafter referred to as the Certificate for Experts) are the identification cards for experts coming from foreign countries and from Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan during the period when they are working legally in China. Those experts who have been employed in Guangdong province shall apply for the Foreign Expert Certificate or the Certificate for Experts. Within thirty days after their entry into China, experts from foreign countries including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions can go to the local Administration Office of Foreign Affairs of the Municipal Public Security Bureau so as to go through the formalities necessary for living in Guangdong with the Foreign Expert Certificate, the Certificate for Experts and relevant documents. By doing this, they don't need to apply for the Work Permit for Foreigners and the Work Permit for People from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

1. Applicable Scope of the Foreign Expert Certificate and the Certificate for Experts
The following different kinds of foreign experts (including experts coming from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions) are qualified for applying for the two types of Certificate:

1) Technical and managerial experts engaged in technology-introduction and importing equipments;

2) Foreign technicians, managerial experts and senior consultants to carry out the multi-lateral, bi-lateral assistance projects assigned by Chinese state or local governments and international organizations;

3) According to the need of economic construction in Guangdong Province, those foreign technicians, managerial experts and senior consultants employed by using of public expense concerning "Attracting Talents Program" or funds raised by state-owned enterprises;

4) According to the Measures for the Administrations of Foreign Experts in Enterprises with Foreign Investment issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (WZF [1996] No.176), those technical and managerial experts engaged in production, operation and management in foreign-invested enterprises of Guangdong Province. Simply put, they refer to the experts from foreign countries including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions who are employed in foreign-invested enterprises. And these experts concerned shall deal with work related to their own specialties and skills.

In addition, they shall meet the following requirements as well,
1) Holding bachelor's degree or above, technical titles of engineer or above, or enjoying the same degree and technical titles;

2) Possessing at least five years of relevant solid experience, commanding knowledge and skills necessary to conduct technical instructions and to be qualified for the job they are hired for;

3) Holding the growing or breeding professional technology or special skills imperative to Guangdong;

4) Possessing at least five years of relevant solid experience in management in an overseas company, being the department manager or above in a large-medium-sized foreign-invested enterprise or a high-tech enterprise;

5) Foreign cultural and educational experts engaged in education, publication, culture, art, public health, and sports (foreign cultural and educational experts employed under the provincial educational system shall go to the Provincial Education Administration to apply for the Foreign Expert Certificate if necessary).

2. Documents for Application
1) Official letter from the employer;
2) Application form of the Foreign Expert Certificate (can be downloaded);
3) Copy of employment agreement or contract;
4) Valid passport and its copy;
5) Diploma and qualification testimonial of applicant;
6) A recent, 1 inch, bareheaded photo; and
7) If accompanied by spouse and dependants, it is necessary to provide their names, genders, nationalities and passport numbers.

3. Procedures for Application
1) When all documents are ready, the employers of the foreign experts can directly go to the Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of Guangdong Province or the local administrations in charge of foreign experts affairs at city level where the employment units are located for application;

2) The bureau will issue the Foreign Expert Certificate or the Certificate for Experts within two working days after examining and checking the received documents, and if the documents are not complete, then they will be sent back to the applicants within 2 working days together with a list of documents needed;

3) The longest period of certificate validity is no more than one year for each issuance. Those experts who are continually being employed can go to the issuing authority to apply for prolongation of the Foreign Expert Certificate or the Certificate for Experts. Otherwise, these two Certificates will be null and void automatically if exceeding the time limit;

4) The Foreign Expert Certificate or the Certificate for Experts shall be handed back to the issuing authority if the foreign experts change employment units within Guangdong Province, and the new employers are responsible for applying for the new Foreign Expert Certificate or the Certificate for Experts for them.