Notice of the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau on Issuing the List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualification Certificates in Shanghai (Version 3.0
To the relevant departments, commissions, offices, and bureaus of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, the Human Resources and Social Security Bureaus of all districts, and all relevant units:
In order to comprehensively implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and carry out the “Opinions of the State Council on Carrying Out Pilot Work for Business Environment Innovation” (Guofa [2021] No. 24), and in accordance with the requirements of the national pilot reform of professional and technical personnel management services regarding the improvement of mechanisms for international (overseas) recognition of professional qualifications, we aim to explore high-level institutional opening-up, promote industrial development in key areas, and attract professional and technical talents. We strive to formulate a Shanghai plan for innovative reforms in the evaluation of professional and technical talents that aligns with international standards. The Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, together with relevant departments, has established four major mechanisms: an industry-linked proactive certificate discovery mechanism, an expert evaluation mechanism for certificate selection, a dynamic adjustment mechanism for lists tailored to industries, and a rapid response mechanism for certificate verification. These efforts further improve the system of the List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualifications and the mechanism for aligning overseas professional qualifications and title evaluations. Accordingly, we have researched and formulated the “Shanghai List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualifications (Version 3.0)” (hereinafter referred to as the “List,” see Attachment 1) and developed supporting policies and measures categorized by different levels. Relevant matters are hereby notified as follows:
The following convenience and support services are provided to Category A project certificate holders who are legally employed in this city:
1. Foreign nationals may, based on invitation letters from relevant entities, apply for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years, or obtain work-residence permits valid for up to five years with a work permit.
2. Eligible foreign nationals may apply for work permits corresponding to their respective categories; among them, the age limit for Foreign Professionals (Category B) can be relaxed to 70 years, and those meeting the criteria for Foreign High-Level Talents (Category A) may obtain permits valid for up to five years.
3. Non-local residents may receive corresponding points for their professional qualifications or titles when applying for Shanghai Residence Permit Points.
4. Eligible foreign nationals and those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan may receive additional points when applying for the Shanghai Overseas Talent Residence Permit.
5. Overseas work experience shall be regarded as equivalent to domestic work experience.
6. All municipal industry authorities, district governments, and enterprises are encouraged to provide additional support and guarantees to certificate holders.
Building upon the convenience and support services provided to Category A project certificate holders mentioned above, the following additional convenience and support services are offered to Category B project certificate holders who are legally employed in this city:
1. Eligible foreign nationals may apply for Foreign High-Level Talent (Category A) work permits without restrictions on education, age, or work experience.
2. Eligible foreign nationals recommended by the competent authorities of key national development zones may apply for permanent residency in China, accompanied by their foreign spouses and minor children.
3. Foreign nationals may obtain multiple-entry visas valid for five years; eligible individuals may also apply for a Confirmation Letter for Foreign High-Level Talents and subsequently apply for a talent visa (R-type visa) valid for up to ten years, enjoying convenient entry and exit procedures.
4. Foreign nationals engaging in innovation and entrepreneurship in Shanghai may, upon presentation of relevant proof, obtain corresponding residence permits.
5. Those who demonstrate outstanding performance in their positions, upon recommendation by local employers, may apply for talent introduction programs.
6. All municipal industry authorities, district governments, and enterprises are encouraged to provide additional support and guarantees to certificate holders, similar to those extended to high-level talents.
Certificate holders of Category C projects on the List who are legally employed in this city may directly apply to assess and confirm titles at corresponding levels within relevant series (professions). Their overseas professional experience, work achievements, and innovative contributions may serve as evaluation criteria.
1. Must abide by the Constitution and laws of the People’s Republic of China.
2. Must possess sound professional ethics, dedication, and upright conduct.
3. Must love their profession and conscientiously fulfill their job responsibilities.
4. Must have relevant overseas experience or engage in related overseas business activities in corresponding professional fields.
Certificate holders must have worked in this city in related fields for at least one year. For engineering and technical personnel seeking confirmation of various-level titles, a science or engineering degree is required.
1. To be certified for junior-level titles, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
(1) Possess a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree.
(2) Hold a university bachelor’s degree or bachelor’s qualification and have worked in related fields for at least one year.
2. To be certified for intermediate-level titles, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
(1) Possess a doctoral degree.
(2) Have a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree and have worked in related fields for at least two years.
(3) Hold a university bachelor’s degree or bachelor’s qualification and have worked in related fields for at least five years.
3. To be certified for associate senior-level titles, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:
(1) Possess a doctoral degree and have worked in related fields for at least two years.
(2) Have a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree and have worked in related fields for at least seven years.
(3) Hold a university bachelor’s degree or bachelor’s qualification and have worked in related fields for at least ten years.
1. Complete verification on the Shanghai Platform for Checking and Verifying Overseas Professional Qualifications; specific procedures are detailed in the “Shanghai Procedure for Querying and Verifying Overseas Professional Qualifications” (see Attachment 2).
2. Employers shall rigorously review submitted materials and actual job performance, publicly post the application materials within the organization for no less than five working days.
3. Applicants shall submit their applications through the “Shanghai Title Service System.”
4. The Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau will organize experts to evaluate and certify titles.
5. Upon successful evaluation and absence of objections during public notice, the Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau will issue electronic title certificates.
Overseas professional and technical talents recruited by public institutions shall submit applications after obtaining approval from their respective administrative departments and, in principle, follow the regulations governing public institution staffing.
Gradually explore various approaches such as direct qualification applications, exemptions from certain courses, and reductions in examination subjects to promote mutual recognition between Category D projects on the List and domestic professional qualifications, certifications, or professional technical titles.
A city-wide unified platform for querying and verifying certificates will be established to provide certificate verification services for certificate holders, with verification results serving as the basis for enjoying related services and conducting related business. Certificate holders who have not yet come to Shanghai for employment may apply for verification while abroad.
The municipal departments responsible for economy and information technology, science and technology, construction and transportation, education and health, commerce and finance, and other related sectors shall optimize mechanisms for innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as for talent selection, training, evaluation, and incentives. They shall introduce supporting detailed rules and practice guidelines, and, under certain conditions, cautiously and appropriately relax restrictions on the employment of overseas professional and technical talents.
Strengthen monitoring of the issuance status of certificates for List projects, their technical standards, and the situation of certificate holders engaging in innovation and entrepreneurship in Shanghai, promptly removing projects that do not meet the requirements from the list. At the same time, establish and improve the selection criteria for List items and the application procedures for Category C projects (see Attachment 3). Based on the actual economic and social development of this city and its talent needs, adjust and refine the List as appropriate, incorporating internationally recognized and urgently needed overseas professional qualifications into the List, thereby broadly attracting and cultivating scarce professional and technical talents in key fields.
This notice shall take effect from the date of its promulgation, and the “Notice of the Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau on Issuing the Shanghai List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualifications (Version 2.0)” (Hu Ren She Zhuan [2024] No. 365) shall be simultaneously repealed.
Hereby notified.
Attachments:
1. Shanghai List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualifications
2. Shanghai Procedure for Querying and Verifying Overseas Professional Qualifications
3. Application Procedures for Category C Projects on the Shanghai List of Recognized Overseas Professional Qualifications
Shanghai Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau
October 30, 2025