Visa Information & Application

Discover Your Eligible Talent Admission Schemes

The HKSAR Government provides 7 Talent Admission Schemes for skilled professionals seeking to work and reside in Hong Kong. Below is a summary of each scheme, including key eligibility criteria and a list of Eligible Universities recognised under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS).

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1

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

Eligibility
Talents# who have not yet secured a job offer in Hong Kong but are interested in settling and working in Hong Kong may apply under TTPS. Applicants may choose to apply for TTPS under one of the following categories:
  1. persons with annual income reaching HK$2.5 million or above, or its equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application (Category A);
  2. degree graduates of the eligible universities with at least three years of work experience over the past five years immediately preceding the date of application (Category B); or
  3. degree graduates of the eligible universities in the past five years immediately preceding the date of application with less than three years of work experience, subject to an annual quota which is to be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis (Category C); however, Category C does not apply to those non-local students who have obtained an undergraduate qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in the HKSAR.
Duration of Stay
  • TTPS entrants will normally be granted in initial stay of 36 months (Category A) or 24 months (Categories B and C) on time limitation only without other conditions of stay upon entry. Upon applying for extension, they are required to have secured an offer of employment with a stable income, or established/ joined in a business in the HKSAR. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for not more than three years. Eligible top-tier entrants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of six years.
* The eligible universities refer to those universities/institutions on the aggregate list of eligible universities (hereafter “the aggregate list”), which is compiled by the Labour and Welfare Bureau. The aggregate list is based on (i) the top 100 universities/institutions in four designated world university rankings in the past 5 years, namely Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities; (ii) the top five universities/institutions providing specialised hotel programmes on the QS World University Rankings in the discipline of “hospitality and leisure management” in the past five years; (iii) the top 20 Mainland universities under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Best Chinese Universities Ranking in the past five years; and (iv) the top five specialised institutions on the QS World University Rankings in the discipline of “Art and Design” in the past five years. For the avoidance of doubt, the academic qualifications obtained from the continuing and professional education arms, the branch schools, the extension schools or the subsidiary schools, etc., established by the eligible universities will not be accepted.
# This Scheme is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of).
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2

General Employment Policy (GEP) (for non-Mainland residents)

Eligibility
Professionals
Professionals from overseas, Taiwan and Macao# who are interested to work in Hong Kong may apply under the GEP which has no sector restriction. Key requirements include -
  • Secured a job relevant to his/her academic qualifications or work experience that cannot be readily taken up by the local workforce
  • Remuneration package is commensurate with the prevailing market rate
  • Good education background, technical qualifications or proven professional experience
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs from overseas, Taiwan and Macao# who plan to establish or join in a business in Hong Kong may apply under the GEP. Key requirements include -
  • Good education background, technical qualifications or proven professional experience
  • In a position to make substantial contribution to the economy of the HKSAR with consideration factors including:
    • The business plan, investment sum, and new technology or skills involved
    • The business turnover, number of jobs created locally, and financial resources
    • Start-up entrepreneurs who plan to establish or join in a start-up business supported by a government-backed programme* will receive favourable consideration
Duration of Stay
Professionals
  • GEP entrants will normally be granted an initial stay of 36 months on employment condition, or in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter), upon entry. Upon applying for extension, such applications will be considered only when the applicants continue to meet the eligibility criteria under the GEP. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay following the 3+2 years pattern, also on employment condition, or be in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter).
  • Eligible top-tier entrants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of five years.
Entrepreneurs
  • GEP entrants will normally be granted an initial stay of 36 months on employment condition upon entry. Upon applying for extension, such applications will be considered only when the applicants continue to meet the eligibility criteria for entry for investment. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay following the 3+2 years pattern, on employment condition.
# This Scheme is not applicable to a) Chinese residents of the Mainland; and b) nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of).
* Such as InvestHK's StartmeupHK Venture Programme, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation's Incu-App, Incu-Bio and Incu-Tech programmes, the Cyberport Incubation Programme, the Innovation and Technology Commission's Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Programme and Enterprise Support Scheme, and the Hong Kong Design Centre's Design Incubation Programme
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3

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)

Eligibility
Professionals from the Mainland who are interested to work in Hong Kong may apply under the ASMTP which has no sector restriction. Key requirements include -
  • Secured a job relevant to his/her academic qualifications or work experience that cannot be readily taken up by the local workforce
  • Remuneration package is commensurate with the prevailing market rate
  • Good education background, technical qualifications or proven professional experience
Duration of Stay
  • ASMTP will normally be granted an initial stay of 36 months on employment condition, or in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter), upon entry. Upon applying for extension, such applications will be considered only when the applicants continue to meet the eligibility criteria under the ASMTP. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay following the 3+2 years pattern, also on employment condition, or be in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter).
  • Eligible top-tier entrants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of five years.
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4

Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)

Eligibility
Non-local graduates# may apply under the IANG to stay in Hong Kong for two years to look for a job. Key requirements include -
  • Obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong; or obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time programme offered by a higher education institution in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area jointly established by universities of the Mainland and Hong Kong in accordance with the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools
  • Job offer not required upon entry (for recent graduates)
  • If applying six month or later after receiving their degree, the applicants are required to secure an offer of employment at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and is remunerated at the market rate (for non-recent graduates)
Duration of Stay
  • IANG entrants will normally be granted an initial stay of 24 months on time limitation only without other condition of stay upon entry. Upon applying for extension, they are required to have secured an offer of employment or established/ joined in business in the HKSAR. Successful applicants will normally be permitted to remain on time limitation only without other conditions of stay on the 3+3 years pattern. Eligible top-tier entrants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of six years.
# The IANG does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of). For nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam, the IANG only applies to (a) those who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time locally-accredited local programme in Hong Kong offered by the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions, but excluding: (i) self-financing programmes offered by the relevant institutions; (ii) programmes offered by the continuing and professional education arms of the relevant institutions; and (iii) exchange programme or short-term studies offered by the relevant institutions; or (b) Greater Bay Area campus graduates.
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5

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

Eligibility
Highly skilled or talented individuals* who have not yet secured a job offer in Hong Kong but are interested to settle and work in Hong Kong may apply under the QMAS which has no sector restriction. There are two assessment routes under the scheme -
  • General Points Test (GPT) for highly skilled or talented persons
    • 12 assessment criteria under six aspects including: age, academic qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, annual income and business ownership
  • Achievement-based Points Test (APT) for talents with outstanding achievements (e.g. recipients of Olympic medal, Nobel prize, national/international award)
Duration of Stay
  • GPT entrants under QMAS will normally be granted in initial stay of 36 months without other conditions of stay upon entry. Upon applying for extension, they are required to provide evidence demonstrating that they have settled in and made contribution to Hong Kong, such as engaging in graduate, specialist or senior level gainful employment with a stable income; or establishing or joining in a business of a reasonable size in Hong Kong. Successful applicants will normally be granted extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay on the 3+2 years pattern. Eligible top-tier entrants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of five years.
  • Persons admitted through the APT under the Scheme will normally be granted a stay of eight years on time limitation only without other conditions of stay upon entry.
* This Scheme is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)
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6

Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)

Eligibility
TechTAS provides a fast-track arrangement for eligible companies to admit non-local technology talents# to undertake research and development (R&D) work for them in Hong Kong. Eligible companies may first apply for and received a quota from the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), after which they can sponsor an eligible person to apply for an employment visa/entry permit within the 24-month quota validity period

Key requirements for an application for a visa/entry permit to take up employment under TechTAS include -
  • Employing company with a valid quota approved by ITC at the time of application
  • Applicant being engaged principally in conducting R&D in the areas of advanced communication technologies, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, data analytics, digital entertainment, financial technologies, green technology, integrated circuit design, Internet-of-Things, material science, microelectronics, quantum technology or robotics
  • Applicant being a degree-holder in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) from a well-recognised university
  • Remuneration not lower than the prevailing market level for comparable jobs in Hong Kong
  • Applicant meeting the specific particulars pertaining to the job position set out in the quota allotment letter issued by ITC
Duration of Stay
  • TechTAS entrants enjoy a duration-of-stay pattern of "3+3+2" years on employment condition.
  • Eligible top-tier entrants may enjoy an even further relaxed pattern of "3+5" years, with an extension of stay on time limitation only with no other conditions of stay
# This Scheme is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)
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7

Admission Scheme for the Second-Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents (ASSG)

Eligibility
Persons who are the second generation of emigrated Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents from overseas may apply to return to work in the Hong Kong under the Scheme#. There is no sector restriction and no job offer is required upon entry. Key requirements include -
  • Aged 18-40; born overseas
  • At least one parent holding valid Hong Kong permanent identity card upon application and was a Chinese national* settled overseas at the time of applicant's birth
  • Good education background, technical qualifications or proven professional experience
  • Proficient in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English
Duration of Stay
  • ASSG entrants will normally be granted in initial stay of 24 months without other condition of stay upon entry. Upon applying for extension, they are required to have secured an offer of employment or established/ joined in business in HKSAR. Successful applicants will normally be permitted to remain on time limitation only without other conditions of stay on the 3+3 years pattern. Eligible top-tier entrants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of six years.
# This Scheme is not applicable to applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of).
* "Chinese national" means a person of Chinese nationality under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, as implemented in the HKSAR pursuant to Article 18 of and Annex III to the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and interpreted in accordance with the Explanations of Some Questions by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Concerning the Implementation of the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region adopted at the 19th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress at the 8th National People's Congress on 15 May 1996
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Application for Extension of Stay

Looking to continue your venture in Hong Kong? Take the next step by submitting a simple online application for you and your dependants.
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Hong Kong Talent Admission Scheme Quick Guide

This concise and user-friendly leaflet simplifies the details, allowing you to easily understand the characteristics of each admission scheme. Start your journey today and be part of Asia's World City!
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