NEW POLICIES in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

In 9 cities of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,  employees and their children from other provinces don’t need to apply for their residence permit, before the applicant of their entry documents; high-level talent settled in 9 cities of Greater Bay Area, can make their settlement procedures completly within 5 days; The visa-free duration of foreign nationals in 53 countries is extended from 72 hours to 144 hours ……

In December 2017, the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department announced a batch of 18 new initiatives to serve the construction of the Greater Bay Area. It involved entry and exit visas, vehicles entering and leaving the country, border clearance clearance inspection, high-level personnel settling down, fire service, cooperation and other six areas, which are included of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, Huizhou (excluding Longmen), Zhongshan, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing (urban and Sihui) and Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Region.

1

Foreigners in 53 countries have a 144-hour transit visa-free policy.

According to the introduction of Li Shiwei who is the director of the Exit and Entry Administration of the Guangdong Public Security Bureau: starting from the first season of 2018, the province will implement the 144-hour transit visa-free policy for foreigners in 53 countries. The existing 53-member Guangdong Province will have a further 72-hour transit visa exemption scope at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The port of entry will be expanded from Baiyun Airport to Shenzhen Baoan Airport and Jieyang Chaoshan Airport. The exit port will be expanded from Baiyun Airportto All ports in the province open to the outside world land, sea and air to achieve the airport, air and land, sea and air ports linkage.

The scope of activities during the visa-free period is limited to the administrative area of Guangdong Province. The period of stay is extended from 72 hours to 144 hours.

The policy will be implemented in the first season of 2018.

2

High-level talent settled in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area within 5 days

The introduction of high-level personnel to complete the settlement procedures, from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Bay Area of 9 county-level public security organs window directly to accept, review, completely documents , within 5 working days to  review the procedures , permit to move in. Some of the cities can also be based on local specific conditions, to save the processing time.

In the past, accepting, reviewing and approving work of relocating people into cities outside the city was  within 50 working days according to the requirements of the Provincial Public Security Bureau. This policy could short the time as much as they can to provide great convenience to high-level personnel.

In addition, the Guangdong Public Security Department will unify the formalities for the high-level talents in 9 cities in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area  by the county-level public security organs for handling and reviewing directly. It does not need to be accepted from the police stations at the grassroots level, also enhances the work efficiency.

3

Enjoy 6 terms Free Trade Zone Immigration Policy

In August 2016, with the approval of the Ministry of Public Security, the Guangdong Public Security Bureau launched 16 terms policies on exit and entry that support the development and innovation-driven of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone and provided conveniences for both foreign high-level talents and innovative entrepreneurs in exit-entry and leaving China.

The New Rules, start from December of last year, 6-term benefitsof the Immigration Policy have been extended to the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or Jieyang Sino-German Metal Eco-City. Here is the details for the 6-term Benefits:

1.  For foreign high-level talents and their spouse and under-aged children who satisfy the criteria ， as recommended by the government of the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or Jieyang， can apply for permanent residence in China.

2.  According to the Talents evaluated criteria, up to the certain scores ,as a foreign member of the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or employed by innovative and entrepreneurial team of Sino-German Metal Eco-city. Or work as technical personnel in the enterprises in the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or employed by the innovative and entrepreneurial team of Sino- German Metal Eco-city, can apply permanent residence in China.

3. For foreigners who have doctoral degree or above, or who work continuously for 4-year in the enterprises in the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or Jieyang Sino-German Metal Eco-City and each year total live in China mainland not less than 6 months， can directly apply permanent residence in China.

4.  For the foreigners who work in start up business in the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or Jieyang Sino-German Metal Eco-City （not subject the limitation of 60-year-old），can apply for 5-year valid work permit residence with work permit and the sponsor letter by the employer，or directly apply for 5-year valid Private Affairs residence permit with the program of entrepreneur（Add“Entrepreneurship”）.

5. Foreigners who are natural persons or through their own natural person as the controlling shareholder of the company， have direct investment and 3-year consecutive stable investment and total investment more than 1 million USD（total 500,000USD+ investment， issued from the Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Catalogue issued by the nation ) and a good tax record, can apply for permanent residence in China.

6.  For foreign students who come to an internship in the 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area or Jieyang Sino-German Metal Eco-City, can apply for short-term private affairs visa in the Port Visa agencies ( Add “Internship” ) for internship activities; holding other types visa entry, also can be in the application of change to a short-term private affairs visa ( Add “ internship “ ) for internship activities.