Five Types of Hong Kong Visas and Their Application Requirements Explained
Five Types of Hong Kong Visas and Their Application Requirements Explained
(1) Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme
Introduction: Launched in 2022, this initiative aims to attract high-caliber talent with extensive work experience and strong academic credentials from around the world to Hong Kong.
Eligibility:
· Category A: Annual income of HK$2.5 million or more in the year preceding the application.
· Category B: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and at least three years of work experience gained within the five years prior to the application (no quota).
· Category C: A bachelor’s degree from a qualifying university obtained within the five years preceding the application, but with less than three years of work experience (annual quota of 10,000, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis). Category C does not apply to non-local students who earned a bachelor’s degree by completing a full-time, locally accredited program in Hong Kong (such students are eligible for the IANG visa).
Qualifying Universities:
· The top 100 universities and institutions listed over the past five years by the four major global university rankings—Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities—including the top 184 universities in the QS rankings.
· Universities or institutions that have ranked in the top five for "Hospitality & Leisure Management" in the QS World University Rankings over the past five years and specialize in hospitality programs.
· Newly added mainland institutions include Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, Nanjing University, Sun Yat-sen University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Central South University, Renmin University of China, Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing Normal University, Southeast University, Nankai University, Tianjin University, Tongji University, and Sichuan University.
(2) Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
Introduction: Launched by the HKSAR Government, this initiative aims to attract highly skilled talent and quality migrants to settle in Hong Kong, thereby enhancing the city’s competitiveness.
Eligibility:
· Applicants do not need to be employed by a Hong Kong company before coming to Hong Kong. They may bring their spouse and children under 18 years old to Hong Kong and may apply for permanent residency after fulfilling the residency requirement.
· The application criteria have changed from a points-based system—previously requiring a total of 245 points with 80 points needed to apply—to a new system based on 12 assessment criteria across six major categories. Applicants who meet at least six of these criteria are now eligible to apply.
The New 12 "Assessment Criteria" for the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme:
1) Aged 50 or younger
2) Holding a master’s or doctoral degree from a prestigious university.
3) The master’s or doctoral degree from a prestigious university is in a STEM discipline (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics).
4) Good written and spoken proficiency in two languages.
5) Good written and spoken proficiency in English.
6) At least five years of work experience.
7) At least three years of work experience at a reputable company.
8) At least three years of work experience in a specific industry. Eligible industries include innovation and technology, finance, international trade, cross-border sea and air transport, and supply chain management.
9) At least two years of international work experience.
10) An annual income of HK$1 million (or its equivalent in foreign currency) in the year preceding the application.
11) Owning a business entity with an annual profit of HK$5 million (or its equivalent in foreign currency) in the year preceding the application.
12) Owning 10% or more equity in a publicly listed company.
(3) Immigration Arrangements for Non-Local Graduates (IANG)
Staying in Hong Kong to work after graduation:
· Mainland residents must obtain admission to a Hong Kong institution before coming to Hong Kong and may only apply for the IANG visa after completing one year of study in Hong Kong. For longer programs, they must complete their studies before remaining in Hong Kong to work and must secure a job before applying to renew their status.
· Policies now favor studying in Hong Kong, allowing students to take up part-time work during their studies to earn money.
Eligibility:
1) Non-Local Graduates:
· Non-local graduates who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification by completing a full-time, locally accredited program in Hong Kong.
· Categorized into "non-local fresh graduates" and "non-local non-fresh graduates"
· "Non-local fresh graduates" must submit an employment application to the Immigration Department within six months of their graduation date. No job offer is required when applying for the IANG visa.
· "Non-local non-fresh graduates" must submit a return-to-Hong Kong employment application six months after their graduation date. A job offer is required before applying, and the remuneration package must meet market standards.
2) Graduates of the Greater Bay Area campus:
· Graduates who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification by completing a full-time program offered by a higher education cooperative institution established in a mainland city within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This institution is jointly operated by a mainland and a Hong Kong university in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperative Education.
· Divided into "Greater Bay Area Campus Fresh Graduates" and "Greater Bay Area Campus Non-Fresh Graduates"
· "Greater Bay Area campus fresh graduates" must submit an employment application to the Immigration Department within six months of their graduation date. No job offer is required to apply for work in Hong Kong.
· "Greater Bay Area campus non-fresh graduates": Submit an employment application within six months after the date of graduation; a job offer is required before submitting the application.
(4) Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)
Introduction: The Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) is a policy launched by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in 2003. It aims to attract mainland talents with specialized skills, professional knowledge, or extensive experience to work in Hong Kong. The goal is to meet the talent demands of various industries and enhance the city’s international competitiveness. The scheme is not industry-specific and has no quota limit.
Eligibility:
· Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree along with a relevant qualification certificate. Additionally, the position offered by a Hong Kong employer must correspond to their previous profession and work experience.
· The employer must have been established for more than one year, have an office address in Hong Kong, employ at least three local employees, and make MPF contributions. Additionally, the employer should have an annual turnover exceeding HK$10 million or more than HK$3 million with profitability. A consent letter for working in Hong Kong, issued by the current employer or the relevant mainland authority, is also required.
(5) Hong Kong Science and Technology Talent Admission Scheme
Introduction: The Hong Kong Science and Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) is a policy launched by the HKSAR Government aimed at attracting overseas and mainland technology talent to Hong Kong to engage in research and development through a fast-track processing arrangement. The scheme primarily targets R&D personnel working in 13 high-tech industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, data analytics, fintech, green technology, integrated circuit design, the Internet of Things, robotics, 5G communications technology, quantum computing, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), and autonomous driving technology.
Eligibility:
1) Company Eligibility:
· Having substantial business operations in Hong Kong and holding a valid Business Registration Certificate.
· Engaging in research and development activities across the 13 technology areas mentioned above.
· Must demonstrate that the relevant skills, knowledge, or experience are not readily available or easily found locally in Hong Kong.
2) Individual Eligibility:
· Employed full-time by a Hong Kong company in Hong Kong.
· Primarily engaged in research and development across the 13 technology areas mentioned above.
· Holding a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from a university with special recognition. A university with special recognition is defined as one ranked among the top 100 in the latest STEM-related rankings published by the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities, or U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings. - Holders of a master’s or doctoral degree are not required to have work experience, whereas holders of a bachelor’s degree must have at least one year of work experience in a relevant technological field. Reason: Improved sentence structure and clarity by breaking the original long sentence into two bullet points. Corrected punctuation and capitalization for proper nouns and ranking titles. Replaced "technology area" with "technological field" for better technical accuracy and readability.
· Technology talent who do not meet the above academic requirements but possess strong technical qualifications, proven professional competence, and/or relevant experience and achievements in a specific area may be considered on a case-by-case basis with sufficient justification.
· Meeting the specific conditions stipulated for the relevant position in the quota allotment letter issued by the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission.
If none of the five visa types above apply to you, don’t worry—there are two additional visas you can consider.
(1) Dependent Visa:
The Dependent Visa is for mainland residents who plan to come to Hong Kong to join their parents, spouse, or children working in Hong Kong.
(2) Labour Visa:
The Labour Visa is intended for mainland residents who plan to engage in non-professional or low-skilled work in Hong Kong. These visas are typically used to fill vacancies in the local labor market, particularly in sectors such as construction, catering, and retail. The employer must have a substantial business presence in Hong Kong and must provide detailed recruitment records to demonstrate the difficulty of hiring locally.
Tips: How to Find a Matching Job with OfferToday
(1) Make good use of the featured section pages.
Desktop users can click on the section pages to view the IANG, Top Talent, and Quality Migrant sections, quickly finding the one that corresponds to your visa type to discover the great job opportunities waiting for you! Who knows—the next person to shine in Hong Kong could be you. Get moving!
(2) Confirm the visa type required for the position.
In the recommendation list, the type of talent required by the employer is clearly specified in each job’s details. Everyone should carefully check the visa type required by the employer—whether a Hong Kong work permit is needed or Hong Kong permanent residency is specified—and only apply after confirming that they meet these requirements. This approach will not only improve your application efficiency but also increase your chances of being hired.
Hong Kong is extending an olive branch to mainland talent by offering multiple visa options that make it easier to work in the city. Now that you understand the application requirements and conditions for the various visas, it’s time for a self-assessment. Review the requirements, determine which visa type suits you best, prepare your application materials, and take the first step toward working in Hong Kong. Don’t hesitate—seize this opportunity and begin your job search in Hong Kong with OfferToday!
Disclaimer: For the most up-to-date regulations and provisions regarding relevant visa schemes, please refer to the official website of the Immigration Department:
