Futian introduces the One-stop Online Service Platform for Foreign Nationals at the C Future City shopping mall in Futian District yesterday. Photos by Lin Songtao
Experiencing difficulties finding information on visa extension? Unsure about how to file your personal income tax? Look no further — everything expats need to live and work in Shenzhen can be found on Futian’s One-stop Online Service Platform for Foreign Nationals.
Initiated by the Futian District Foreign Affairs Bureau, and operated by EyeShenzhen.com, the English-language service platform is designed to help expats navigate life in the city with ease.
The platform is organized into four major sections — News, Services, Guide and Useful Apps, and Mini Programs — and is presented in a user-friendly format. The News section features major events happening in Futian, Shenzhen, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, keeping expat residents informed about activities in their home away from home.
Scan the QR code to downlod Futian's One-stop Online Service Platform for Foreign Nationals.
Luca Baroli, an Italian expert with the China (Shenzhen) International Personnel Training Center, commended the English-language platform for providing a wide range of practical information for expat residents. He said he wished such a helpful all-in-one service platform had been available a decade ago when he first arrived in the city.
“I know how challenging it can be for a foreign national to navigate a new place, even though I didn’t have the language barrier issue myself,” said Baroli, who often volunteers to assist international business people visiting Huaqiangbei, which is not only the largest electronics market in China, but also the biggest distribution center for electronic products in Asia.
Italian expert Luca Baroli with the China (Shenzhen) International Personnel Training Center shares his experience in the ceremony yesterday.
Newly arrived expats and those with entry and exit concerns can find valuable information in the Service section. It covers topics like entry and exit matters, visas, residence permits, and accommodation registration, among others.
Long-term residents can also turn to the Service section for tips on living, working, and traveling in the city. The Guide section includes information on the city’s sports and tourism industries, transportation system, healthcare services, and enterprise solutions.
Ben Kitirou, from the U.K., an executive with Galaxy Industrial Group, said the information provided, especially regarding visas and residence registration, will surely benefit new international arrivals.
Recalling his own experience of arriving over 10 years ago, Kitirou said, "At one time, due to a lack of useful information, even with help from my colleagues, my work visa was refused twice." He believes that the one-stop platform will address issues like those due to its useful information.
Known as a city of the future, Shenzhen can be challenging for expats to navigate without using essential mobile apps. The platform provides a brief introduction to apps and mini programs commonly used in Shenzhen and across China, such as car-hailing service Didi, mobile payment platforms WeChat Pay and Alipay, food delivery and shopping platform Meituan, and online tourism service provider Ctrip.
“This platform will make life so much easier for expats in Shenzhen, and I will definitely recommend it to my friends, especially those who just arrived,” said expat Priyasha Sharma. She has been in Shenzhen for 11 years and currently works in the city’s tech industry after graduating from Shenzhen University.
Expats attentively listen to speakers during the ceremony yesterday. The one-stop online service platform is part of a package of services that Futian offers to bolster the development of the core district of an international city. Other services include the Convenience Service Package for Foreign Nationals and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Package for Foreign Nationals. In addition, the International Visa and Certification Service Center and the One-stop Platform for Enterprise Globalization Services have been inaugurated.
Expats attentively listen to speakers during the ceremony yesterday.
The one-stop online service platform is part of a package of services that Futian offers to bolster the development of the core district of an international city. Other services include the Convenience Service Package for Foreign Nationals and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Package for Foreign Nationals. In addition, the International Visa and Certification Service Center and the One-stop Platform for Enterprise Globalization Services have been inaugurated.
WeChat Editors/Cynthia, Yunfei
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