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“You Yue Card” brings more convenience to expats in Guangdong

More overseas professionals consider Guangdong their number one choice for starting a business or career in China. Apart from opportunities, the province’s living conditions and public services are always their primary considerations when making a decision.

Expats that have been in Guangdong long enough and adapted to the local life are called as “Yang Lao Guang” (“overseas Cantonese” in English). Some it could be said have become even “more local than the locals” in recent years.

 

Reported by Huang Xuhao, Chen Xiao, Hunan

Edited by Ouyang Yan, Yin Juewen, Simon Haywood

 

"I can feel the improvement"

Radu Gosav works in the office. (Photo by Eric)

"Guangdong’s living environment has kept improving over the past 17 years. Government services, education, medical services and transport are getting better and better,” said Radu Gosav.

Attracted by the booming electronics industry, Gosav came to Shenzhen in 2001 and has been working as the director of TÜV SÜD’s Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) Department for fifteen years now.

In the beginning, Gosav had to update his work permit and have a body check every six months. This procedure was then simplified in 2005 which has enabled him to skip the body check for as long as he works at the same company.

“You can feel the improvement through various city services,” said Gosav, “(for example) there is the Nanshan foreign service center, which is not far from my home. They are becoming more considerate and provide us with English application forms and a fluent English service.”

Gosav brought his wife and daughter to Guangdong in 2009, and successfully applied for a place for his daughter in an international school. "Although the school fees are expensive, its education quality is premium. I know that the province has more than 20 international schools offering overseas students different courses,” Gosav said.


"Green card policy gives a stronger sense of belonging"

Long Lesi [Photo provided by Huang Xuhao]

Apart from the satisfaction at better public services, many of these “Yang Lao Guang” also expressed a sense of belonging due to a series of favorable policies.

In April 2016, Guangzhou began to implement the talent green card policy. Cardholders are entitled to treatment equivalent to a local Chinese citizen in respect to home purchase, schooling of children, professional title appraisal, bank account application, business license application, driving license application, and vehicle registration.

"I really appreciate the green card policy," said Miguel Nunes, who is from Portugal and used to teach at University of Sheffield. He came to Guangzhou and has been working as the Dean of the School of Information Management at Sun Yat-sen University since 2016. Soon after arriving here, Miguel Nunes applied for the Guangzhou Talent Green Card, and now he even has a Chinese name Long Lesi.

Long Lesi believes that the green card policy gives overseas professionals sufficient confidence to live and work in Guangdong long term. "The green card will give expats the feeling of being welcomed by Guangdong, which is a very distinct advantage,” he said.

The new green card has a similar design to Chinese resident’s ID card with a chip that contains the cardholder’s name, gender, date of birth, nationality and other information.

Long Lesi, pointed out that applying pension and unemployment insurance is still a problem for expats, however, largely because of a lack of relevant regulations, the inconsistency between handling of Chinese residents’ ID numbers and expats’ green card numbers. “This is one of the reasons why many expats are reluctant to stay here in the long run,” said Long, “I hope the green card will be compatible with more services in the future.”


"Overseas talent visa policy is vital"

The Guangdong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security issued the first batch of "Confirmation Letters for Foreign High-end Talents" on January 15th, marking the official launch of a foreign visa policy in the province. Spanish linguistics professor Rafael Guzman Tilado is among the first batch of expats to have received this confirmation.

"The policy has a great influence on my life and allows me to travel between countries more easily. I’m very happy and feel much relieved,” said Rafael. He is working for various institutions and needs to travel from country to country for lectures and seminars. In 2017, he encountered a long delay due to visa problems during travel between Spain and China. But with the new policy, he has no worries about visa issues.

Rafael’s wife and children have been granted equivalent visas. "It is wise for Guangdong to launch the foreign talent visa policy because it will help attract more overseas elites," Rafael said.

Being a linguist, Rafael is able to realize his childhood dreams now in Guangzhou – learning Chinese and even traditional martial arts. He hopes that he will have more opportunities to travel around Guangdong in the future.

Major reforms in visa and residency policies for expats

1. Green card policy

In August 2004, China officially implemented the green card policy. By the end of June 2018, 320 expats has obtained permanent residency in Guangdong.

2. Guangzhou talent green card

In April 2016, Guangzhou introduced the talent green card. Cardholders are entitled to treatment equivalent to a local Chinese citizen in respect to home purchase, schooling of children, professional title appraisal, bank account application, business license application, driving license application, and vehicle registration. In August 2018, Guangzhou decentralized the green card’s approval authority to Nansha and Huangpu.

3.Foreign talent visa policy

The Confirmation Letters for Foreign High-end Talent works as an express lane to attract overseas high-end professionals and those professionals in great demand. Being one of the nine pilot provinces nationwide, Guangdong started to implement the policy in January, 2018.

4."You Yue Card” (人才“优粤卡”制度)

The “You Yue Card” will be officially released soon in Guangdong. Seven types of overseas professionals including senior managers of foreign-invested enterprises will qualify for application. Cardholders can enjoy convenient services and treatment equivalent to Chinese citizens in respect to border entrance&exit, children’s schooling, social insurance, healthcare, finance, house purchase, and taxation etc.


在粤外国人生活保障不断完善,人才服务持续优化

“洋老广”有了当中国人的感觉

 

关键词 安居

    今年8月,在距离家乡将近一万公里之外的广州,埃及动物学家艾哈迈德·尤西夫与家人再次团聚。尤西夫所供职的广东省农科院为他提供了一笔生活补贴和一套供全家人居住的人才公寓,更为他未成年的孩子解决了入学问题。

    安居才能乐业。艾哈迈德·尤西夫一家在广州的经历是许多在粤外国人生活的真实写照。

    广东逐渐成为外国人才来华的首选地。除了找到更广阔的事业平台,日益完善的生活保障也让他们减少了许多后顾之忧。现在,这些“洋老广”有了当“中国人”的感觉。

●南方日报记者 黄叙浩 陈晓 南方英文网记者 胡南

 

“我就‘生活’在广州”

    “过去我想体检,需要提前很长时间预约。但现在一切变得更简单了,手续简便快捷了很多,当天就可以完成体检。”尤西夫感叹,“广东所提供的条件总是出乎意料的好。”

    来自罗马尼亚的戈萨夫·克里斯蒂安有着相似的感受:“自从我来到广东,这里几乎一切都在改善。不管是政府服务、学校、医院、交通,还是生活环境,都在变得越来越好。”今年已是戈萨夫来到广东的第17个年头,在他看来,广东发展日新月异,令人印象深刻。

    17年前,戈萨夫被广东蓬勃发展的电子产业所吸引,并最终选择在深圳南山高新技术区工作,成为南德检测公司的一名电子设备工程师。

    回忆起刚到广东的时候,戈萨夫说,当时他每6个月就要更新一次工作许可并进行一次体检,十分麻烦;而到了2005年,只要不换公司,就只需要更新工作许可,不需要再进行体检。“所以我感受到这里最大的改进体现在各类服务上。在深圳南山有个外国人服务中心,很靠近我的住处。服务中心的服务越来越到位,现在不仅有英文表格,就连工作人员也会讲英语。”这些细节的改善,让他收获感满满。

    2009年,戈萨夫把太太和女儿一起接到了广东,很顺利就办妥了女儿在一家国际学校的入学手续。“学校的教育和服务质量都非常好。我听说整个广东省有二十几所学校为外国学生或华侨提供不同的课程。”戈萨夫说。

   “其实不管是在英国谢菲尔德大学,还是在中山大学,我都是外国人的身份,我挺习惯做一个外国人的。但我相信,我一定能很好地融入广州,融入中山大学。”在2016年的就职演说中,中山大学资讯管理学院院长龙乐思(Miguel Nunes)如是说。2016年,葡萄牙人龙乐思来到广州,成为国内信息管理院系的首位外籍院长。转眼两年过去,龙乐思在广州“找到了家的感觉”。

    龙乐思的父亲曾在澳门生活过几年。“广州距离澳门非常近,而且澳门仍保留着非常浓厚的葡萄牙文化,这让我对我父亲和祖国的情感有所依托,这是我选择广州的原因之一。此外,广州的空气、环境也非常吸引人。”龙乐思告诉记者,他还发现,在广东,越来越多人能够用英语进行交流。

    龙乐思有位中国太太,太太的思乡之情亦坚定了他当初的选择。如今,龙乐思院长住在中山大学提供的人才公寓里,如果需要到资讯管理学院所在的中山大学大学城校区,搭乘接驳校车便可以直达。

   “外国人来到广东,往往觉得自己是来工作的。但我不是,我就‘生活’在广州。”龙乐思说。

“绿卡”制度带来更强归属感

    除了生活质量的提升所带来的获得感,公共服务的持续优化亦让“洋老广”们找到了归属感。

    2016年4月,广州市开始实施人才绿卡制度。持卡人可在购房、子女入学、职称评审、开设银行账户、申办工商营业执照、申领机动车驾驶证、办理机动车注册登记等九方面享受市民待遇。

   “这是一项很给力的举措。”谈起人才绿卡政策,龙乐思赞叹有加。2016年,曾在英国谢菲尔德大学任教的他来到广州,成为国内信息管理院系的首位外籍院长,并很快申领了广州市人才绿卡。

   “广东不仅要吸引人才,更要保持人才不流失。如果人才流失,他们所做的工作是很难持续的;相反,如果他们能够长期留下来,往往能磨合、组成一个稳定的团队,对产业发展的促进作用将不断增长。”龙乐思认为,广东的政策和环境为人才长期工作、生活提供了足够信心。

   “在粤外国人会感到,留下来是广东所支持的。”龙乐思说。

   “拿着这张身份证,我才终于有了当‘中国人’的感觉。”来自奥地利的司马高德也有着相似的感受。去年6月,在广州经营餐厅的司马高德拿到了2017版外国人永久居留身份证。在此之前,他已在中国生活了十几年,并在2012年取得永久居留权。

    新版的永居证由于内置芯片,与中国二代身份证功能设计类似,使用身份证阅读机器便可以读取持证人的姓名、性别、出生日期、国籍等资料,实用程度极大提升。

    与此同时,龙乐思、司马高德等人也提出,由于未有相关规章制度,或是永居证号码与中国公民身份证号码位数不一致等原因,购买养老、失业保险成为一个棘手难题,在粤外国人退休后的养老问题仍是一个“痛点”。“这也是导致很多外国人不愿意长期居留的原因之一。”龙乐思说,希望各类绿卡能进一步提高适用范围。

■声音

西班牙籍语言学教授拉斐尔·古兹曼·蒂拉多:

启动外国人才签证制度意义非凡

    今年1月15日,广东省人社厅签发了首批《外国高端人才确认函》。西班牙籍语言学教授拉斐尔·古兹曼·蒂拉多成为首批获签的外国专家之一。这标志着外国人才签证制度在广东正式启动。

   “这件事对我来说意义非凡,最大的好处就是往返各国更方便了!我很高兴,也感到如释重负。”拉斐尔说。

    原来,拉斐尔同时兼任很多机构的不同职位,需要到不同的国家、地区工作,包括讲课、举办讲座或研究交流,很少在同一个地方长时间停留。2017年,他曾因西班牙和中国两国签证的问题,耽搁了很长时间。但现在,有了外国高端人才确认函,他在签证方面就没有后顾之忧了。

   拉斐尔的妻子和孩子也因此获得了相应的签证待遇。“广东省启动外国人才签证制度是明智之举,这将吸引更多国外的人才精英。”拉斐尔说。

   如今,这位语言学家得以在广州完成他儿时的梦想——学习中文,他甚至还开始学习中国传统武术。拉斐尔希望,有朝一日可以走遍广东。

大事记

外国人永久居留证管理制度

◎2004年8月,中国正式实施外国人永久居留证管理制度。截至2018年6月,已有320名外籍人士在粤获得永久居住权。

广州人才绿卡

◎2016年4月,广州市开始实施人才绿卡制度。申请人才绿卡后,可在购房、购车、子女入学等九大方面享受市民待遇。2018年8月,广州市下放人才绿卡审批权限至南沙、黄埔。

外国人才签证制度

◎《外国高端人才确认函》是中国向为国家经济社会发展需要的外国高层次人才和急需紧缺人才提供的签证通道。广东作为全国首批9个试点省市之一,2018年1月起实施外国人才签证制度。

策划统筹:谢思佳 卢轶 张莹 黄扬华

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