Key Preferential Policies

for Foreign Talents in Xiamen

I. Immigration and Residence

1. Handling of Work and Residence Permits. Foreign talents recognized by the talent and science & technology authorities of Xiamen Municipal People’s Government are eligible to apply for long-term visas or residence permits with a validity of up to 5 years. Foreign talents can participate in Xiamen’s professional technical and skills evaluations, the results of which can serve as the basis for applying for work-related residence permits valid for up to 5 years.

2. Application for Permanent Residence. Foreign high-level talents can be recommended for handling permanent residence applications by management departments of Xiamen Free Trade Zone, Fuzhou-Xiamen-Quanzhou Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone, and Haicang Taiwanese Investment Zone. Foreign nationals working in China who have worked continuously for 4 years, resided for at least 6 months each year, earned an annual salary of not less than six times the average salary of local employed urban workers in the previous year, and paid individual income tax of not less than 20% of their annual salary, are eligible to apply for permanent residence. Their foreign spouses and minor children can apply concurrently.

II. Work Support

3. Employment in Public Institutions with Equal Treatment. Foreign talents employed by Xiamen’s public institutions will receive the same benefits as local employees in terms of salary, pension insurance, medical insurance, job promotion, and professional title evaluation

4. Establishment of Overseas Academician Workstations and Famous Doctor Workstations. Overseas academicians and experts establishing academician workstations in Xiamen’s enterprises and institutions will be given an establishment subsidy of up to 1.5 million yuan; those establishing famous doctor workstations in medical institutions will be given an annual funding subsidy of up to 500,000 yuan.

5. Conduct of Postdoctoral Work. Foreign talents engaged in postdoctoral work in Xiamen’s enterprises and institutions can receive an annual living subsidy of 120,000 yuan for two years. Those with doctoral degrees from top 200 universities worldwide can receive a higher subsidy of 150,000 yuan per year. Those who stay and work in Xiamen after completing their postdoctoral work in the workstation can receive an additional resettlement subsidy of 300,000 yuan.

6. Application for Double-Hundred Talents Program Support. Foreign talents engaged in technological R&D and entrepreneurship can apply for the Double-Hundred Talents Program. Those selected for innovative individuals can receive a subsidy of 1 million yuan, those for innovative teams can receive 3 million yuan, and those for entrepreneurial talents can receive project support of up to 5 million yuan.

7. Application for “Qunlu Xingxia” Talent Program Support. Foreign talents working in key sectors in Xiamen such as software information, integrated circuits, biomedicine, education, and healthcare can apply for the “Qunlu Xingxia” Talent Program and receive a subsidy of up to 1 million yuan.

III. Living Security

8. Twelve Measures for Talent Ecosystem. Foreign talents can apply for recognition as Xiamen high-level talents and enjoy 12 preferential living security measures, including housing security, children education, healthcare, and spouse placement.

Lump-sum Living Subsidy for Newly Introduced Talents: Newly introduced foreign talents who have been employed in Xiamen for at least 3 months can apply for a living subsidy of up to 80,000 yuan based on their academic qualifications.

Free Accommodation: Foreign graduates with full-time college degrees or higher who come to Xiamen for job hunting or internships within three years of graduation can apply for free accommodation for up to 12 months cumulatively.

Immigration and Customs Facilitation: Foreign high-level talents can apply for or exchange an R visa at the port of entry or after entering China. Door-to-door services are available for permanent residence applications. When applying for long-term residence, applications may be subject to acceptance without sufficient application materials if the applicant commits to provide them within a specified time. Foreign high-level talents can apply for an APEC Business Travel Card, allowing for easier entry and exit among APEC economies. Eligible foreign high-level talents importing a reasonable quantity of research, educational, and personal items can enjoy duty-free customs clearance in accordance with regulations.

Medical Appointment: Foreign talents can make outpatient appointments through the “Beautiful Xiamen Smart Health” WeChat official account and the 96166 Citizen Health Hotline’s “Foreign Talent Service”. English-language guidance services are available at hospitals such as First Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital, Children’s Hospital, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, to facilitate medical services for foreign talents in Xiamen.

Financial Services: Foreign high-level talents establishing enterprises can apply for equity investment of 1-5 million yuan from the municipal scientific and technological innovation and entrepreneurship guidance fund, with the fund accounting for not more than 20% of the total equity of the invested enterprise; they can also apply for scientific and technological credit loans of up to 5 million yuan, scientific and technological guaranteed loans of up to 20 million yuan, and scientific and technological guaranteed insurance loans of up to 3 million yuan, and enjoy corresponding loan discounts, premium subsidies and other support.

Legal Services: Foreign high-level talents can receive free legal consulting services at designated law firms. When hiring a designated firm for legal affairs like arbitration and litigation, review and drafting of legal documents, and assignment of legal advisers, they are entitled to a discount of at least 20% on service fees. Foreign high-level talents can also enjoy free notarization for personal statements and employment experience in the municipal notary institutions, as well as free intellectual property rights depository services. When handling notarization of educational background, professional technical titles, and evidence of infringement, they are entitled to a discount of at least 20% on service fees.

Transportation: Foreign high-level talents can enjoy free rides on Xiamen’s metro, BRT, and public buses; free access to Kulangsu using the citizens’ channel at the ferry terminal, with up to 3 accompanying persons also free of charge; and free access to the first-class cabin security check lane at Xiamen Airport. Class B and above foreign high-level talents have five free uses per year of the first-class lounge at Xiamen Airport and the business waiting area at Xiamen Railway Station, while Class C talents have three free uses per year.

Cultural and Recreational Services: Foreign high-level talents are entitled to at least a 20% discount on tickets at institutions such as the Banlam Grand Theater, Jiageng Theater, and Minnan Opera Arts Center. They can apply for a tourism annual card with no annual fee, which grants free entry to various scenic spots, including Kulangsu, and enjoy a minimum of 20% discount on venue booking fees or membership cards for gyms such as the Xiamen Sports Center and Xiamen Workers’ Stadium. A number of exclusive “Egret Talent Meeting Rooms” are established, offering a high-quality environment for relaxation and discussions for foreign high-level talents.

厦门市外籍人才主要优惠政策

一、出入境和停居留类

1.办理工作许可和居留许可。经厦门市人民政府人才主管部门、科技主管部门认定的外籍人才，可申办有效期5年以内的长期签证或居留许可。外籍人才可参加厦门市专业技术、技能评价，评价结果可作为申请最长5年工作类居留许可的依据。

2.申请永久居留。厦门市自贸区、福厦泉自主创新示范区、海沧台商投资区管理部门可推荐外籍高层次人才办理永久居留。在中国境内工作的外国人，连续工作满4年、每年实际居住不少于6个月，工资性年收入不低于上一年度所在地区城镇在岗职工平均工资的六倍，年缴纳个人所得税不低于工资性年收入标准的20%，可申请永久居留。其外籍配偶和未成年子女可随同申请。

二、工作支持类

3.受聘于事业单位并享受同等待遇。厦门市事业单位聘用的外籍人才，在薪酬待遇、养老保险、医疗保险、职级晋升和职称评聘等方面享受同等待遇。

4.设立海外院士工作站、名医工作室。海外院士、专家在厦门市企事业单位设立院士工作站，给予150万元建站补助；在医疗机构设立名医工作室，每年给予最高50万元经费补助。

5.开展博士后工作。在厦门市属企事业单位从事博士后工作的，可获得2年内每年12万元生活补贴，从世界排名前200名的国（境）外高校获得博士学位的补贴标准可提高至每年15万元；博士后出站后留厦工作的可再获得30万元安家补贴。

6.申请“双百计划”支持。从事技术研发、科技创业的外籍人才可申报“双百计划”，入选创新个人的获100万元补贴，入选创新团队的获300万元补贴，入选创业人才的获最高500万元项目支持。

7.申请“群鹭兴厦”人才计划支持。在厦门市软件信息、集成电路、生物医药、教育、卫生等重点领域企事业单位就业的外籍人才，可申报“群鹭兴厦”人才计划，享受最高100万元补贴。

三、生活保障类

8.“人才生态十二条”。外籍人才可申请认定厦门市高层次人才，享受住房保障、子女教育、医疗保健、配偶安置等12项生活保障优待。

新引进人才一次性生活补贴。新引进外籍人才在厦门市就业满3个月可根据取得的学历学位层次申请最高8万元生活补贴。

免费住宿。毕业3年内来厦求职、见习的外籍全日制大专及以上毕业生，可申请累计最长不超过12个月的免费住宿。

出入境和通关便利。外籍高层次人才可在口岸办理或在入境后换发R字签证，申请永久居留可提供上门服务，申请长期居留时，承诺在时限内补齐材料的可“容缺受理”。外籍高层次人才可按规定申办APEC商务旅行卡，享受亚太经合组织经济体间出入境便利。符合条件的外籍高层次人才入境合理数量的科研、教学和自用物品，可按规定享受通关免税政策。

就医预约。外籍人才可通过“美丽厦门智慧健康”微信公众号和96166市民健康热线的“外籍人才服务专区”预约门诊；在第一医院、中山医院、儿童医院、中医院等增设英语导诊服务，为外籍人才在厦就医提供便利。

金融服务。外籍高层次人才创办企业可申请市级科技创新创业引导基金100-500万元股权投资，基金占股不超过投资企业总股本的20%;可申请最高500万元科技信用贷款、最高2000万元科技担保贷款、最高300万元科技保证保险贷款，对应享受贷款贴息、保费补贴等支持。

法律服务。外籍高层次人才可在指定律师事务所免费享受法律咨询服务，委托指定律师事务所代理仲裁诉讼、审查起草法律文件、指派法律顾问等法律事务的，可享受不低于20%收费折扣。外籍高层次人才可在市属公证机构免费办理本人声明、任职经历等公证，免费享受知识产权存证服务；办理本人学历学位、专业技术职务、侵权保全证据等公证享受不低于20%收费折扣。

交通出行：外籍高层次人才可免费乘坐市内地铁、BRT、公交；可免费使用轮渡码头市民通道前往鼓浪屿，随行人员3人内免费；可免费使用厦门机场头等舱安检便捷通道，B类及以上外籍高层次人才每年免费享受厦门机场头等舱候机室、厦门动车站商务候车区服务各5次，C类人才每年各3次。

文体休闲。外籍高层次人才可享受闽南大戏院、嘉庚剧院、闽南戏曲艺术中心等机构不低于20%的购票折扣优惠；可免年费申领旅游年卡，享受免费游览景区优待(含鼓浪屿景区);可享受市体育中心、工人体育馆等指定健身场馆订场或指定卡票购卡不低于20%收费折扣。开辟一批“白鹭英才会客厅”,为外籍高层次人才洽谈休闲提供优质环境。