New Qualification Recognition Rules Now Apply to Foreigners

The Guangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau has recently issued the Catalogue of Overseas Professional Qualifications Corresponding to Chinese Professional Titles in Guangzhou (2025 Edition) (hereinafter referred to as the Catalogue).

Aligning Talent Policy with Industrial Strategy

Rather than a simple list of credentials, the new Catalogue is a targeted talent development guide closely aligned with Guangzhou’s strategic priorities of “industry first” and “building the city on manufacturing,” as well as the needs of its “12218” modern industrial system. Developed through extensive research, expert assessment, and public consultation, the document aims to precisely match global professional expertise with the city’s key growth sectors.

The Catalogue recognizes 170 overseas professional qualifications from Hong Kong and Macao SARs, as well as from countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Based on professional rigor and international recognition, these qualifications are benchmarked against China’s professional title system at three levels: Assistant Engineer, Engineer, and Senior Engineer. Specifically, 50 qualifications correspond to Assistant Engineer, 90 to Engineer, and 30 to Senior Engineer, creating a clear and structured pathway for professional evaluation and advancement.

Notably, the distribution of qualifications reflects a strong industrial orientation, mapping out a talent attraction framework across six priority sectors:

Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence (58 qualifications): The largest category, covering cloud computing, big data, AI, cybersecurity, and software development. International certifications from AWS, Microsoft Azure, Cisco, IEEE, and ACM are included, supporting Guangzhou’s ambition to become a leading digital economy hub.

Engineering, Construction, and Transport (46 qualifications): Encompassing architecture, civil engineering, urban and rural planning, and surveying. Recognized credentials include Hong Kong surveyors, architects, and planners, as well as globally accepted qualifications such as RICS and Chartered Engineer (CEng), reinforcing Guangzhou’s international standards in urban development and governance.

Advanced Manufacturing and Automation (22 qualifications): Focused on mechanical engineering, automotive manufacturing, industrial automation, and quality management, with certifications from organizations such as ASME and Japan’s Professional Engineer system, facilitating the transition from “Made in Guangzhou” to “Intelligently Made in Guangzhou.”

Biomedicine and Health (22 qualifications): Covering clinical research, medical testing, and medical devices, directly supporting the city’s trillion-yuan biopharmaceutical cluster and attracting top-tier international researchers.

Green Development and Sustainability (13 qualifications): Including globally recognized green building and environmental certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, and DGNB, underscoring Guangzhou’s commitment to low-carbon and sustainable growth.

Energy, Chemicals, and New Materials (9 qualifications): Spanning petrochemicals, chemical engineering, and advanced materials, strengthening talent reserves in strategic and hard-technology sectors.

Together, this layout sends a clear signal: Guangzhou is actively seeking international professionals whose expertise aligns with the city’s long-term development trajectory.

Clear and Predictable Pathways for International Professionals

The introduction of the Catalogue provides foreign professionals and other holders of overseas qualifications with a transparent and stable institutional framework for career development in Guangzhou.

Under the policy:

Qualification-based eligibility: Professionals holding valid overseas qualifications listed in the Catalogue and working in Guangzhou in related or similar fields may apply for the corresponding level of Chinese professional title.

Equal recognition of overseas experience: Professional experience gained abroad is treated as equivalent to domestic experience. Overseas achievements, publications, and project outcomes are accepted as valid evaluation materials, and renewal periods of overseas certificates may be accumulated with their original validity, reflecting respect for international professional practices.

Flexible and tiered application: Overseas qualifications may be used to apply for the equivalent professional title level, or—based on years of experience—as a condition for applying for a higher-level title, ensuring smooth career progression for international talent.

Importantly, this benchmarking does not involve the automatic issuance of Chinese professional title certificates. Applicants must still follow Guangzhou’s annual professional title evaluation procedures, submit required documentation, and undergo expert panel review. This approach maintains national standards of rigor and fairness while providing international professionals with a clear entry point into the local evaluation system, effectively bridging global practices with local requirements.

The policy is inclusive and nationality-neutral. Foreign nationals, professionals from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as domestically based professionals holding overseas qualifications, are all eligible to apply as long as they work in Guangzhou and meet the relevant conditions—demonstrating the city’s openness and inclusiveness.

For the full policy text in Chinese, please visit:

https://rsj.gz.gov.cn/ywzt/rcgz/gzzc/tzgg/tzgg/content/post_10604303.html

Source: OT-Team(G)