Seminar highlights policy benefits for international talents

High-end international talents are allowed to bring a reasonable number of items for scientific research, teaching, and personal use into the Chinese mainland tariff-free, a seminar held in Nanshan was told Friday afternoon. Motor vehicles and specific categories of goods that Chinese Customs explicitly stipulates are subject to taxation do not enjoy the exemption.

A speaker explains tariff-free policies for international talents. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

The seminar at the Nanshan Administrative Service Center gathered nearly 80 representatives from universities, research institutions, foreign-funded enterprises, and organizations hiring international talents, briefing them on the latest policy benefits for introduced talents.

Nearly 80 people attend a seminar on policy benefits for international talents in Nanshan on Friday. 

Staff from Shenzhen's Foreign Experts Affairs Bureau explained how an expat can apply to become a "high-level international talent" in Guangdong, providing details on the recognition standards, application procedures, and checklists of required documents.

Customs officials explained the preferential tax policies for international talents as well as the application procedures for enjoying these policies.

Another speaker elaborated on the application for expat work permits, residence permits, and the Five-Star Card, also known as the Chinese green card.

Attendees sign in before the seminar.

The speaker also explained in detail the applicable scenarios and required documents for R visas (talent visas), port visas, visa-free and visa-free transit visits. There are also visa-on-arrival arrangements for foreign businesspeople coming to Shenzhen to attend APEC meetings. Afterwards, the speaker answered questions on how to apply for visas for family members of foreign talents.

The speaker then introduced the APEC Business Travel Card, including application procedures, required documents, fees, and processing times.

Shenzhen has also introduced convenient measures to facilitate tax refunds for foreign visitors, the seminar was told.

At a departure tax refund service counter in Huaqiangbei, foreign travelers can, with unopened goods, corresponding invoices, and tax refund forms, complete "buy and refund on the spot" or use self-service machines, with the whole process taking just two minutes. They can also complete the tax refund online, the speaker said.

The seminar was co-organized by Nanshan's Government Services and Data Management Bureau, the city's Exit-Entry Administration Brigade, Foreign Experts Service Bureau, International Talent Service Center, and Shenzhen Customs.