21 New Qualifications Could Bring Work & Residence Benefits for Foreigners

Beijing has released the 2026 edition of its International Professional Qualification Recognition Catalogue, expanding the number of recognized international professional qualifications from 163 to 184.

The catalogue, jointly issued by the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and the Beijing Talent Work Bureau on September 11, is designed to broaden international talent recognition, strengthen recruitment in key industries and facilitate the movement of qualified professionals between China and overseas markets.

The updated catalogue places particular emphasis on green and low-carbon industries, financial services, artificial intelligence, information technology, smart manufacturing, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

Four Categories of Recognized Qualifications

The 2026 catalogue divides the 184 qualifications into four categories: the International Professional Qualification Recognition List, the Urgently Needed International Professional Qualification List, the Overseas-Oriented Professional Certification List and the International Professional Qualification Mutual Recognition List.

The system is intended not only to help Beijing employers identify and evaluate international professionals, but also to support the internationalization of Chinese technical standards and talent evaluation systems.

The 2026 edition adds 21 new international professional qualifications. Among them are the World Green Design Organization’s Green Design Engineer qualification, the International Capital Market Association’s Corporate Finance Consultant (CFC) qualification, and the International Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s Artificial Intelligence Audit and Assurance (AAIA) certification. The additions expand recognition in areas linked to industrial digitalization, green development and emerging technologies.

More Support for High-Demand International Talent

One notable change is the inclusion of the Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) qualification on the urgently needed list.

Beijing has a large concentration of research institutions and a substantial pool of scientific and technological achievements. The city says recognizing RTTP as an urgently needed qualification, with the credential eligible to correspond to an associate senior professional title, is intended to attract professionals who understand both technology and markets and have international experience.

The move is also aimed at helping accelerate the commercialization of research results in Beijing.

Other high-level international qualifications already included on the urgently needed list include IEEE Fellow, ACM Fellow, ACCA Fellow and CFA.

Holders of qualifications on this list can receive additional support beyond the standard recognition measures. For eligible foreign professionals, this includes access to a talent visa confirmation letter and greater entry-exit convenience, while eligible family members can also receive related high-level talent visa and permanent-residence services.

Certain qualifications on the list can also correspond to associate senior professional titles, and qualified professionals may be included in Beijing's high-level talent services and considered for relevant talent programs.

Chinese AI Certification Added for Overseas Expansion

Beijing has also placed the 360 Intelligent Agent Expert (ADEE) Certification on its overseas-oriented professional certification list.

The certification standard, developed by Chinese technology company 360, is the first such Chinese AI enterprise certification standard to be included in the city's overseas-oriented certification list, according to the Beijing government.

The policy is intended to provide Chinese AI professionals with a recognized way to demonstrate their capabilities when working in overseas markets, while also encouraging overseas professionals to learn and apply Chinese technical standards.

Beijing said qualifications associated with companies including Huawei and Lingshan Intelligent have also previously been recognized under the catalogue for overseas-oriented certification.

For professionals covered by this category, Beijing provides services including multiple-entry visas or residence permits of up to five years for eligible foreign nationals, work-permit facilitation and, in qualifying cases, access to a permanent-residence facilitation channel.

Mutual Recognition Could Cut Exam Requirements

Another significant change is the addition of the International Accountant Qualification Certificate, established by the UK-based Association of International Accountants (AIA), to the international mutual recognition list.

The qualification covers four financial and accounting credentials, including the Global Digital Accountant (GDA).

Under the mutual recognition arrangement, Chinese Certified Public Accountants applying for the international accountant qualification can receive exemptions from some examination subjects. Eligible candidates may be exempted from up to nine of the 11 examination subjects.

The arrangement is intended to reduce duplicate qualification requirements and make it easier for accounting and financial professionals to move between domestic and international qualification systems.

What It Means for Foreign Professionals in Beijing

The catalogue is particularly relevant to foreign professionals who already work, or plan to work, for employers in Beijing.

For holders of qualifications on the general recognition list who have an employment relationship with a Beijing-based organization, the city provides a range of services covering visas and residence permits, work permits, work-related residence permits and professional-title recognition.

For eligible foreign nationals, a recognized qualification can support multiple-entry visas or residence permits valid for up to five years. Work-permit applications can also be exempt from certain education, degree and work-experience requirements, while the age limit can be extended to 65, or to 70 for certain high-end and high-tech industries. Overseas work experience may also be treated as equivalent to domestic work experience.

Some recognized qualifications can correspond to intermediate professional titles and may also be used as a condition for applying for higher-level professional titles in Beijing.

However, recognition under the catalogue does not automatically mean a person can practice in every regulated profession. Professionals holding qualifications in fields such as international finance, accounting, medicine and teaching must still comply with the relevant industry authorities' rules for practicing in Beijing.

Certificate Verification Platform

Employers and qualification holders can verify recognized international professional qualifications for free through the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei International Professional Qualification Certificate Verification Service Platform.

As of August 2026, the platform had provided certificate verification and related services to more than 3,600 companies and 11,000 people, helping employers assess international qualifications and recruit overseas talent more efficiently.

Five Years of Reform

Beijing has been advancing its international professional qualification recognition reform since 2021, gradually shifting from unilateral recognition to two-way mutual recognition between domestic and overseas qualifications.

The city says the reform has been recognized as a best-practice case by China's Ministry of Commerce. The 2026 catalogue further expands recognition in emerging industries, talent-shortage fields and cross-border professional development.

For the full Beijing International Professional Qualification Recognition Catalogue (2026 Edition) and the original policy text, please visit:https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengcefagui/202609/t20260911_4859809.html
Source: OneTubeDaily