Gusu cards for high-level talents

High-level talents in Suzhou, in East China’s Jiangsu province, can apply for a Gusu card to enjoy special treatments as follows. Gusu is a nickname for Suzhou.

Residence and Entry and Exit
1. Application for foreign talents’ permanent residence permits will be handled in less than two months
2. Multiple round-trip visas valid for one to five years for foreign talents without permanent residence permits
3. Online appointment and priority procedures for visa services; visas on arrival for those entering from Shanghai Pudong International Airport with an application to Suzhou Public Security Bureau 24 hours in advance
4. Renewal of driver’s licenses within one week with the passport, proof of residence and work in Suzhou documents and overseas driver’s licenses when passing the required exam

Settling down
1. Simplified and priority procedures for high-level talents’ settling down in Suzhou
2. Cancelling the precondition of “one-year working in Suzhou with a fixed residence” when foreign talents apply for settling down

Medical and Health Care
1. Green channel services in designated hospitals
2. Medical consultation services, including customized healthcare program

Housing
1. Enjoying preferential policies from Suzhou Public Rental Housing to get priority stays in local apartments
2. Equal treatment as locals for foreign talents in purchasing commercial residential buildings
3. Deposit and use of housing provident fund in Suzhou; for those reaching the legal retirement age, the period of deposit can be extended until the termination of the labor contract
4. From the month of payment of personal housing provident fund, they will be entitled to apply for a housing provident fund loan. The maximum amount of the loan can be four times the local maximum amount with no restriction on the types of houses, as well as reductions on loan guarantee service fees

Taxation
1. Exemption from personal income tax for subsidies and allowances granted by the government above provincial level
2. Exemption from personal income tax for wages and salaries of foreign experts stationed by the United Nations or international financial organizations with “foreign expert” certificates issued by the State Administration of Foreign Affairs
3. Foreign talents are entitled to an additional fixed deduction of 2,800 yuan ($404.7) in terms of personal income tax based on a fixed monthly deduction of 2,000 yuan
4. Exemption from personal income tax for actual housing, food, relocation and laundry subsidies and expenses, as well as dividends obtained from foreign-invested enterprises, mission allowance, language training fees and children’s education fees

Clearance
1. High-level talents studying abroad can enjoy a duty-free policy for their own belongings when passing through Customs. They can also apply for a self-use motor vehicle to be transported from abroad exempt from duty, as well as some materials and equipment for scientific and research and teaching usage
2. Reduction or remission of taxes for self-use equipment, technology, accessories, and spare parts introduced from abroad for the production of enterprises based in Suzhou under the category of investment projects encouraged by the national government which are established by high-level talents studying abroad

Placement for Spouses
Employment opportunities or reasonable living subsidies available to foreign talents’ spouses according to their own willingness

Children’s Schooling
1. Getting free compulsory education
2. Reduction on or exemption from tuition and fees, as well as priority admission, for their secondary education
3. Finishing school transfer procedures within three work days

Salary
1. Flexible salary system for high-level talents based on their original income level
2. Promoting medium- and long-term incentives such as options, equities and corporate annuities

Others
1. Free admission to all gardens in downtown Suzhou
2. Green channel to museums in Suzhou
3. Free access to library materials

The card is applicable to
1. Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering
2. Those involved in National Thousand Talents Program, Provincial High-level Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talents
3. Winner of Suzhou Outstanding Talent Award and Nomination Award, and Innovation and Entrepreneur Mayor Award
4. Talents in such industries as entrepreneurship, culture, healthcare and tourism subsidized by the Gusu Talent Program
5. Other talents with outstanding contributions