Shenzhen unveils list admitting qualified overseas professionals

This aerial photo taken on March 19, 2019 shows the central business district of Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Shenzhen recently released its first list of qualified professionals in 20 industries who will be allowed to practice in the city without taking exams. 

Professionals certified outside the mainland, including tax advisers, architects, urban planners, physicians, seafarers, and tour guides will now only have to register to practice their trade.

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The local human resources and the social security bureau said the move aims to improve the policy environment and attract more professionals

The local human resources and the social security bureau said the move aims to improve the policy environment and attract more professionals, as the insufficient adoption and equivalence of international qualification certificates in the professional-services sector has become one of the bottlenecks restricting the inflow of professionals in the city.

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The Shenzhen government began to study new regulations to hasten the entry of overseas professionals in 2020, when the central government issued the “Implementation Plan for the Pilot Comprehensive Reform of Building a Pilot Demonstration Zone of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Shenzhen”.

The city came up with several new rules for different occupations and attracted over 400 overseas professionals with international qualifications since March, according to the bureau.

Tax professionals and tour guides from Hong Kong and Macao can practice in the Qianhai special zone after a brief training and registration.

The title-recognition process for Hong Kong and Macao medical care personnel has also been simplified in order to give full play to their expertise and allow them to perform certain surgeries in the city.

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In the maritime sector, Shenzhen also issued the first national crew visa based on the International Certificate of Competency for Seafarers, a historical breakthrough for foreign crew who want to serve in the Chinese mainland.