Hengqin offering up to RMB270,000 in talent living subsidies

The Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has opened applications for this year’s talent living subsidies, offering financial support to attract professionals across the education, technical, and skilled sectors.

Eligible educational and professional technical talent can receive up to RMB270,000, while high-skilled talent may receive up to RMB60,000.

The application period runs until March 6.

Subsidy eligibility covers three categories: degree-holding talent, professional technical staff, and skilled workers. Applicants must be employed by registered enterprises or institutions operating in Hengqin and actively working in these units.

Degree-holding candidates must have a full-time bachelor’s degree or higher, professional technical staff must hold at least an assistant-level title, and skilled workers must possess senior national vocational qualifications.

Employees of government agencies or public institutions are not covered.

The subsidy applies only to candidates who meet the criteria as of the end of last year.

The subsidy is structured in tiers. Degree-holding and professional technical talent receive payments over three years: PhD holders or those with associate senior technical titles receive RMB270,000, master’s degree holders or mid-level technical staff receive RMB90,000, and full-time bachelor’s or assistant-level professionals receive RMB60,000.

Skilled workers receive payments over two years: senior technicians RMB60,000, technicians RMB30,000, and senior workers RMB20,000.

Applicants must meet age requirements: under 50 for all categories, under 45 for master’s degree holders, mid-level technical staff, and technicians, and under 40 for bachelor-level and assistant-level professionals or senior workers.

Continuous contributions to personal income tax and social insurance in Hengqin are also required, with minimum periods varying by subsidy installment: six months for the first, two years for the second, and three years for the third.

Applications are submitted through Hengqin’s “Enterprise and Citizen Service Platform,” where employers or individuals upload the required materials for review.

Approved applicants will be publicly announced on the Hengqin official website. Late submissions will not be accepted.

In addition, local professionals working full-time in Hengqin and providing services in finance, accounting, taxation, legal, medical, or education sectors are eligible for cross-border practice subsidies.

Those with one recognized qualification receive RMB30,000, and those with multiple qualifications may receive up to RMB60,000.