1. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

Purpose: Attract highly skilled individuals globally to settle in Hong Kong—no job offer needed at the time of application.

• General Points Test (GPT): Assesses applicants across six domains: age, education, work experience, language skills, annual income/business ownership, and family background. You must meet at least six of twelve assessment criteria to be eligible.

• Achievement-based Points Test (APT): Reserved for individuals with exceptional accomplishments (e.g., Nobel Prize, Olympic medals). If accepted, you're awarded full points and granted further assessment.

Recent Enhancements:

• From Nov 1, 2024, the QMAS underwent key reforms:

  • GPT was updated to a simplified questionnaire-based system.

  • No more annual quotas are imposed.

  • A new assessment panel has been established to review applications.

Application Logistics:

• Basic requirements include: age ≥18, good character, ability to support oneself and dependents, and a solid educational or professional background.

• Online portal facilitates application and document submission (got updated March 2025).

• Application fees follow a two-tiered structure since Feb 26, 2025: HK$600 to apply, plus a visa issuance fee (HK$1,300 if >180 days validity, HK$600 if ≤180 days).

Stay and Renewal:

• GPT entrants typically begin with 2-year stay, renewable for 3 years upon showing employment/business establishment; you may apply for permanent residency after 7 years.

• APT entrants can be granted up to 8 years stay. PR eligibility comes after continuous 7-year residence.

2. Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

Focus: Targets high-income individuals or those with degrees from top universities. No job offer needed.

Developments:

• In 2024, 13 more universities were added to the eligible list, making 198 in total, including top Mainland institutions and global art/design schools.

• Category A applicants (earning ≥ HK$2.5 million in the prior year) can now receive a 3-year first visa (up from 2 years). Existing Category A visa holders may apply to extend by 3 years unconditionally if they have employment or business in Hong Kong.

3. Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

Concept: Relaunched in 2024, this program targets affluent individuals with at least HK$30 million in assets. Applicants invest in approved assets to gain residency.

• Though cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin or Ethereum) aren’t formally accepted, applicants can demonstrate asset holdings through recognized exchanges or wallets.

• Mainland applicants generally need foreign permanent residency to be eligible, often using countries like Vanuatu for this purpose.

Subject to the terms of the New Scheme Rules, an Applicant who satisfies the following criteria will be eligible for applying for admission into Hong Kong for residence under the New CIES:

1. Age – aged 18 or above at the time of applying for net asset assessment to Invest Hong Kong (hereafter “InvestHK”);

b. Scope of the Scheme –
(i) foreign nationalsNote1;
(ii) Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country;
(iii) Macao Special Administrative Region residents; or
(iv) Chinese residents of Taiwan;

c. Net assets – applies for net asset assessment to InvestHK, i.e. demonstrating that he/she has net assets or net equity (including the respective portion of jointly-owned assets or equity with the applicant’s family member(s) which is absolutely beneficially entitled to the applicant as mentioned in paragraph 1.15 of the New Scheme Rules) to which he/she is absolutely beneficially entitled with a market value of not less than HK$30 million Net (or equivalent in foreign currencies) throughout the six months preceding the date he/she lodged the application for net asset assessment;

d. Investment in permissible investment assets – makes investment of not less than HK$30 million Net (or equivalent in foreign currencies) in the permissible investment assets Note2 to which he/ she is absolutely beneficially entitled;

e. No adverse record – demonstrates that he/she has no adverse immigration record and meets normal immigration and security requirements;

f. Others – demonstrates to the Director of Immigration that he/she is capable of supporting and accommodating himself/herself and his/her dependants, if any, on his/her own without relying on any return on the Permissible investment assets, employment, self-employment, office, business or public assistance in or carried on in Hong Kong as the case may be. In addition, the entry of dependants will be subject to any other policy applicable to such entry at the time.

4. Other Schemes & Pathways

• Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals

• Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates

• Second Generation of Chinese HK Permanent Residents

• Technology Talent Admission Scheme

• Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme

• General Employment Policy
  – Working Holiday Scheme and more tailored pathways exist.