How Can Hong Kong and Macao Youth Apply for Shenzhen Subsidies for Entrepreneurship, Employment, Housing, and Living?

Eligible Applicants

Hong Kong and Macao Youth

1. Must be under 45 years of age and hold Chinese nationality as a resident of Hong Kong or Macao.

2. Permanent residents of the Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Region, or Chinese citizens who have settled in Hong Kong or Macao and no longer hold mainland household registration.

3. Hold an associate degree or above (including Hong Kong/Macao associate degrees or higher diplomas), except for Hong Kong/Macao youth participating in youth internship programmes or those holding shares in Hong Kong/Macao youth startups.

4. Have signed an employment contract of one year or more with an employer in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, and have social insurance contributions in Qianhai at the time of application (except for Hong Kong/Macao youth participating in youth internship programmes).

Legal Entities or Non-Legal Person Organisations

Must be operating in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone and not listed on the serious dishonesty list at the time of application (except for applications under Article 6 for startup competition award stage bonuses).

Hong Kong/Macao Youth Startups

Enterprises registered in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone with Hong Kong/Macao youth as shareholders, with a combined shareholding of 25% or more. If the shareholder is an overseas enterprise, the Hong Kong/Macao youth's indirect shareholding must reach 25% or more after穿透 calculation.

Incubation Carriers

Must meet the conditions for legal entities or non-legal person organisations, and be recognised or filed by the human resources, industry and information technology, science and technology innovation, or culture, radio, television, tourism and sports departments.

Employment Subsidies for Hong Kong and Macao Youth

Employment Subsidy

For Hong Kong and Macao youth who are first employed in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone after 1 July 2021, an employment subsidy is granted at the rate of RMB 8,000/month for doctoral degree holders, RMB 4,000/month for master's degree holders, RMB 3,000/month for bachelor's degree holders, and RMB 2,000/month for associate degree or higher diploma holders. The cumulative subsidy period shall not exceed 3 years.

Job Creation Subsidy

Employers who hire Hong Kong and Macao youth after 1 July 2021 are granted a subsidy of RMB 20,000 per person hired, with a maximum annual subsidy of RMB 200,000.

Internship Provider Subsidy

Employers in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone are encouraged to provide internship positions for Hong Kong and Macao youth. Those meeting the conditions for the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Youth Internship Subsidy of Shenzhen's human resources department shall apply in accordance with relevant regulations.

Entrepreneurship Subsidies for Hong Kong and Macao Youth

Start-up Reward

Hong Kong and Macao youth start-up projects that receive funding from any of the following sources will be granted a one-time start-up reward by the Qianhai youth start-up enterprise, matching the actual funding received, up to a maximum of RMB 1 million per enterprise:

1. Funding from Hong Kong SAR Government departments or statutory bodies;

2. Funding from tertiary institutions funded by the University Grants Committee of the Hong Kong SAR Government;

3. Funding from the Macao SAR Government;

4. Funding from Shenzhen's human resources and science and technology innovation departments.

Loan Interest Subsidy and Listing Support

Hong Kong and Macao youth start-up enterprises are encouraged to apply for entrepreneurship guarantee loans. Those meeting the conditions of Shenzhen's human resources department shall apply in accordance with relevant regulations. Support is also provided for Hong Kong and Macao youth start-up enterprises to list overseas, with funding available in accordance with relevant municipal policies.

Youth Innovation Competition Reward

Teams winning gold, silver, bronze or merit awards in the Qianhai Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition ("Youth Innovation Competition") Grand Final will receive rewards of up to RMB 500,000. Teams winning gold, silver or bronze awards in the preliminary rounds will receive rewards of up to RMB 100,000. Rewards are disbursed in two equal instalments at the award presentation stage and the actual operation stage.

Rental Subsidy

Hong Kong and Macao youth start-up enterprises that lease incubator space for their own office or business premises will receive a rental subsidy of RMB 40/square metre/month, not exceeding 50% of the actual rent paid. The annual subsidy shall not exceed RMB 300,000, and the cumulative subsidy period shall not exceed 3 years.

Incubation Carrier Operation Reward

Incubation carriers operating in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone with an area of over 1,500 square metres, equipped with sufficient hardware and software facilities, and with Hong Kong and Macao youth start-up enterprises accounting for 50% or more of the total incubated enterprises, will receive the following operation rewards:

1. For every 200 square metres with 1 Hong Kong or Macao youth: RMB 10,000 per person;

2. For every 100 square metres with 1 Hong Kong or Macao youth: RMB 15,000 per person;

3. For every 50 square metres with 1 Hong Kong or Macao youth: RMB 20,000 per person.

Corporate Income Tax Preferential Policy

Hong Kong and Macao youth start-up enterprises meeting the requirements of the "Notice on Continuing the Corporate Income Tax Preferential Policy for the Shenzhen Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone" (Cai Shui [2021] No. 30) and the "Notice on the Corporate Income Tax Preferential Policy for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone" (Cai Shui [2024] No. 13) shall be subject to corporate income tax at a reduced rate of 15%.

Living Subsidies for Hong Kong and Macao Youth

Housing Subsidy

For Hong Kong and Macao youth who are first employed or start businesses in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone after 1 July 2021, and whose spouses and children under 18 years of age do not own any housing in Shenzhen, are not receiving high-level talent housing subsidies or rewards from Shenzhen, and are not enjoying Shenzhen housing security preferential policies or Qianhai Cooperation Zone housing services, a housing subsidy of RMB 1,000/month is granted. The cumulative subsidy period shall not exceed 3 years.

Living Allowance

For Hong Kong and Macao youth who are first employed or start businesses in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone after 1 July 2021, a living allowance of RMB 2,000/month is granted. The cumulative subsidy period shall not exceed 3 years. Hong Kong and Macao youth who meet the conditions for Shenzhen's newly introduced doctoral talent living subsidy or the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Programme living allowance shall apply in accordance with relevant regulations.

How to Apply

Qianhai Gangchuang Consulting Co., Ltd.

HK Venture Consulting is a professional agency specialising in business agency services, with a wide range of services covering company registration, bookkeeping, industrial and commercial business agency, and more. In particular, the company focuses on policy subsidy applications for Hong Kong enterprises, leveraging its in-depth understanding of Hong Kong's local policies and market to provide quality services to enterprises. Whether it is domestic or Hong Kong subsidy applications, we accurately grasp the key policy points to help enterprises unlock policy dividends.

The company brings together policy experts, financial elites and legal professionals to form a professional team that customises exclusive service solutions for enterprises. From qualification assessment, material preparation to application submission, we provide full-process agency services to ensure that enterprises efficiently secure subsidy opportunities. With extensive practical experience, HK Venture Consulting maintains an exceptionally high approval rate and has successfully assisted over 100 enterprises across multiple industries including manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce to obtain million-level funding, helping enterprises achieve equipment upgrades and market expansion. We are a reliable partner for enterprises seeking policy support.

Here, we are not only your partner on your entrepreneurial journey, but also a supporter you can trust. Whether you are just starting out or are already on your way, we can tailor the most professional service solutions for you, assisting you with various business needs in life, work and entrepreneurship, covering company registration, licence processing, social security and housing fund, bank account opening, tax handling and more. We understand the challenges of every striving individual and the persistence and aspirations behind every choice. Let us use our professionalism, efficiency and sincerity to help you take fewer detours and achieve more with less effort in this city full of opportunities and challenges. Dreams are never far away — as long as you are willing to take the first step, we are right here with you.

If you also aspire to make a name for yourself in Shenzhen, pursue your dreams, change your destiny and achieve a life turnaround, please take that bold first step and contact us!