Shanghai’s Overseas Qualification Recognition List: What Foreign Professionals Need to Know

Shanghai’s updated List of Overseas Professional Qualification Certificates refines the existing framework for foreigners’ qualification recognition in China, providing clearer rules and expanded support for foreign professionals. The new version strengthens links between overseas credentials and local employment pathways, including visa facilitation and professional title recognition. It also gives employers a more predictable system for bringing in and managing global talent.

Shanghai’s Municipal Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (Shanghai MOHRSS) has released a notice updating the list of recognized overseas professional qualification certificates. The new list, titled the List of Overseas Professional Qualification Certificates Recognized in Shanghai (Version 3.0) (hereinafter the “List”), aligns with the 2021 Opinions of the State Council on Carrying Out Pilot Work on Business Environment Innovation, which called for establishing a “talent evaluation system” in line with international standards. 

The new rules, which took effect on November 14, 2025, include a range of beneficial policies and support mechanisms for foreign talent working in Shanghai who hold a certificate on the List.

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Many cities and regions in China implement similar systems to recognize overseas qualifications and facilitate the employment and mobility of foreign professionals. Beijing, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chongqing are among the jurisdictions with their own versions. While the underlying logic is consistent, the specific certificates and benefits vary according to each city’s industrial structure and talent priorities. 

Shanghai’s updated List groups recognized qualifications into four categories: A, B, C, and D. The category a certificate falls under determines the level of preferential policies and support services available. Category A and B certificates unlock the broadest range of benefits, including more flexible pathways for work authorization, residence permits, and talent program eligibility, while Categories C and D focus more on professional recognition and long-term alignment with domestic evaluation standards. The full catalogue of eligible certificates is provided in Attachment 1 of the Shanghai MOHRSS Notice. 

In this article, we focus on Shanghai’s new List as a representative example of how local qualification recognition systems operate in practice, outlining the benefits attached to each category, the emerging pilot policies, and the broader implications for foreign professionals seeking to work or develop their careers in China.

Convenience and support services for Category A and B certificate holders 

The new List provides different streamlined visa procedures and support services for talents holding Category A or B certificates. 

A sample of the Category A and B certificates is provided in the table below.

Benefits for Category A certificate holders 

Foreign nationals holding a Category A qualification certificate who are legally working in Shanghai can enjoy the following benefits: 

1. Ability to apply for multiple-entry visas valid for up to five years with an invitation letter from their employer.
2. Ability to apply for corresponding categories of foreigner’s work permits in China, provided they meet the requirements. The age limit for foreign professionals (B-Tier) can be extended to 70 years old, and those who meet the requirements for foreign high-level talents (A-Tier) may apply for work permits valid for up to five years. (Note that the A-Tier and Tier B-Tier talent here refer to China’s talent tier system, not the certificate category. Within this system, the age limit to qualify for B-Tier talent is generally 60 years.)
3. Ability to apply for work-type foreigner’s residence permits valid for up to five years base on their work permits.

Meanwhile, non-Shanghainese residents (Chinese citizens) may receive corresponding professional qualification or title points when applying for a Shanghai Residence Permit Points System. 

Foreign nationals and residents of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan who meet the requirements may also receive bonus points when applying for a Shanghai Overseas Talent Residence Permit. 

Additionally, the overseas work experience of Category A certificate holders can be considered equivalent to domestic work experience, thus easing applications for work visas and residence permits. 

Benefits for Category B certificate holders 

Meanwhile, foreign nationals holding Category B qualifications who are legally working in Shanghai can enjoy the following benefits: 

• Ability to apply for a work permit in China as a foreign high-level (A-Tier) talent, without being restricted by academic qualifications, age, or work experience. (Note that A-Tier here refers to China’s talent tier system, not the certificate category. Under this system, foreign talent must meet certain academic, age, or work-related requirements to qualify as A-Tier talent.)
• Ability to apply for permanent residence in China through recommendations from the relevant authorities of key national development areas, and their foreign spouses and minor children can apply together.
• Ability to apply for multiple-entry visas valid for five years, and eligible foreign nationals are supported in applying for a “Confirmation Letter for Foreign High-Level Talents,” which allows them to apply for a talent visa (R visa) with a maximum validity of 10 years, enjoying convenient entry and exit procedures.
• Foreign nationals coming to Shanghai for innovation and entrepreneurship can apply for relevant residence permits with relevant certificates. 

Meanwhile, persons who play an “outstanding role” in their positions can apply for the “talent introduction” program upon recommendation by their employers in Shanghai. This is a government-supported program to attract and retain high-value professionals, which provides qualified individuals with benefits such as faster access to local residency, targeted financial support, and improved living and working conditions. 

Recognition of professional titles for Category C certificate holders 

Holders of Category C qualifications who are legally working in Shanghai can directly apply for an assessment and recognition of the corresponding seniority of their professional title in their relevant profession. Their overseas professional experience, job performance, and innovative contributions can be used as evaluation criteria. 

Eligibility requirements 

To be able to apply for the recognition of a professional title, the applicant must meet the following basic requirements: 

1. Comply with China’s constitution, laws, and regulations;
2. Have good professional ethics, dedication, and upright conduct;
3. Have a passion for their job and conscientiously perform their duties; and
4. Have relevant overseas experience or have engaged in overseas business related to their professional field. 

Meanwhile, certificate holders must have worked in the relevant field in Shanghai for at least one year. For the recognition of all levels of engineering and technical personnel, a science or engineering degree is required. 

Further requirements must be met depending on the seniority level of the title. To have a junior professional title recognized, one of the following conditions must be met: 

1. Have a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree; or
2. Have a bachelor’s degree and have worked in the relevant field for at least one year.

To have a mid-level professional title recognized, one of the following conditions must be met: 

1. Hold a doctoral degree;
2. Hold a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree and have worked in the relevant field for at least two years; or
3. Hold a bachelor’s degree and have worked in the relevant field for at least five years.

To have a mid-senior level professional title recognized, one of the following conditions must be met:

1. Hold a doctoral degree and have worked in a related field for at least two years;
2. Hold a master’s degree or a second bachelor’s degree and have worked in a related field for at least seven years;
3. Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent and have worked in a related field for at least 10 years. 

Recognition procedures 

The verification must be carried out through the Shanghai Overseas Professional Qualification Certificate Verification Platform.  

The employer must first review the application materials and performance record, and publicize the application materials within the unit for no less than five working days.

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The applicant can then submit the application through the “Shanghai Professional Title Service System“. The Shanghai MOHRSS will then organize experts to conduct an evaluation and recognition of the title. 

After evaluation and approval—if there has been no objection during the five-day public notice period—the Shanghai MOHRSS will produce an electronic professional title certificate. Overseas professional and technical personnel employed by public institutions must apply for recognition only after obtaining approval from the competent department of the institution, and should, in principle, comply with the requirements of the public institution post management. 

Exploring the promotion of mutual recognition of professional titles for Category D certificate holders 

The benefits for Category D certificate holders are still in the pilot phase, which means Category D holders do not yet enjoy fixed preferential benefits like those given to A, B, or even C categories. Instead, the Notice places them in a forward-looking track aimed at “gradually exploring” mutual recognition between their overseas qualifications and China’s domestic evaluation standards. 

In practice, this means Shanghai intends to open pathways that make it easier for Category D professionals to convert their foreign credentials into locally recognized qualifications. The mechanisms under exploration include allowing holders to apply directly for certain domestic qualifications, exempting them from specific required courses, or reducing the number of exam subjects they need to complete. While these measures are not yet fully formalized, they seek to allow Category D holders to eventually align their overseas credentials with China’s own professional titles and certification structures. 

Key takeaways for employers and foreign professionals 

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Shanghai’s updated qualification recognition system represents another deliberate step toward making the city more welcoming for global talent. By formally recognizing a wider set of overseas credentials and connecting them to tangible benefits, the city is reducing friction for skilled professionals who want to establish or advance their careers in China. For holders of Category A and B certificates in particular, the expanded visa flexibility, long-term residence options, and access to local talent programs can substantially ease both initial entry into Shanghai and the long-term stability needed to build a career here.

Meanwhile, the new list may make it easier for companies operating in Shanghai – especially those in sectors facing acute talent shortages – to attract, hire, and retain high-caliber foreign professionals. The new List provides clearer compliance pathways, reduces administrative uncertainty, and shortens onboarding timelines. Employers can leverage these policies to strengthen project teams, introduce international best practices, and support innovation and global competitiveness.

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