Hong Kong Immigration
Hong Kong Immigration Pathways for Talent, Work and Investment
Compare pathways for top talent, professionals, graduates, entrepreneurs, investors and families—then plan employment, business activity and renewals together.
Country overview
Choose the Pathway Around the Person and the Purpose
Hong Kong provides distinct admission routes for high-income or highly qualified talent, skilled professionals, graduates, entrepreneurs, capital investors and families. The right route depends on whether the applicant already has a role, intends to establish a business, qualifies through achievements or education, or is making an eligible investment.
Initial approval is only part of the plan. Employment changes, business progress, conditions of stay, extension evidence and the path toward permanent residence should be considered from the beginning.
Entrepreneur admission and capital investment are not the same pathway.
Investment as Entrepreneurs focuses on establishing or joining a business that contributes to Hong Kong, while the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme applies separate asset and investment requirements.
Options at a glance
Compare Hong Kong Immigration Pathways
Skilled or exceptional talent
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
An admission route for highly skilled or talented applicants assessed under the current general or achievement-based framework without requiring a local job offer first.
Key focus: prerequisites · assessment route · qualifications · achievements
Top talent
Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
A talent-admission route for qualifying high-income applicants and eligible university graduates. A local job offer is not required at the initial application stage.
Key focus: income or education · work experience · eligible university · renewal activity
Professional employment
GEP and ASMTP
Employer-supported routes for professionals whose education, experience, position and remuneration meet the relevant requirements.
Key focus: job offer · employer · role relevance · market remuneration
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur Admission
A business-based route for applicants establishing or joining a company that can make a meaningful contribution to Hong Kong.
Key focus: business plan · resources · local contribution · applicant role
Capital investment
New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)
An investment-based route for eligible applicants who meet the scheme's net-asset and permissible-investment requirements.
Key focus: net assets · permissible investments · portfolio maintenance · ongoing compliance
Hong Kong graduates
Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
A route for eligible non-local graduates of Hong Kong institutions, with requirements that differ according to when the application is made.
Key focus: eligible qualification · graduation timing · employment · extension
Pathway details
Match the Applicant to the Correct Admission Scheme
Hong Kong schemes differ in whether a job offer is required, who supports the application, what achievements or assets must be shown and how extensions are assessed.
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
QMAS is designed for highly skilled or talented people who can contribute to Hong Kong. Applicants must meet the prerequisites and then satisfy the current assessment route.
A strong filing makes qualifications, professional experience, language skills, business ownership or exceptional achievements easy to verify. Passing a threshold does not remove the need for full assessment.
Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
TTPS uses defined categories based on recent income or graduation from an eligible university, with work-experience requirements applying to certain categories. Evidence should match the category selected at the time of filing.
Applicants should plan how they will work or establish activity after arrival. Extension assessment may look at employment, business operation and contribution in Hong Kong.
GEP and ASMTP
The General Employment Policy generally applies to professionals from outside Mainland China, while the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals serves eligible Mainland applicants. The employer, genuine vacancy, applicant qualifications and remuneration must align.
Employer materials should explain the business, role, reporting line and why the applicant is suitable. Changes of employment or role may require immigration action before the change takes effect.
Entrepreneur Admission
Entrepreneur admission considers whether the proposed business can make a substantial contribution to Hong Kong. The business plan, resources, local jobs, technology, market need and the applicant's role may be relevant.
This route is assessed around the proposed business and the applicant's role. It should not be confused with an investment portfolio under the New CIES.
New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)
The New CIES is an asset- and investment-based scheme with its own net-asset, permissible-investment and portfolio-maintenance requirements.
It is separate from entrepreneur admission and should not be presented as a business-founder visa.
Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
IANG supports eligible non-local graduates who completed qualifying study in Hong Kong. Recent graduates and returning graduates follow different application requirements, particularly around securing employment.
Long-term planning should connect the first grant with genuine employment or business activity, timely extensions and continuous ordinary residence.
Eligibility & evidence
Present a Clear Profile and a Credible Hong Kong Plan
Show the qualifying profile.
- Income, education or achievement records
- Career history and professional credentials
- Employment, business or investment purpose
- Identity and family documents
Show genuine local activity.
- Company registration and operations
- Position, remuneration and reporting line
- Business plan, funding and local contribution
- Eligible investment and asset records
Renewal planning starts with the first application. The proposed employment, business or investment story should remain credible and capable of being evidenced at extension.
Application journey
Your Hong Kong Immigration Journey
Select the Route
Compare the applicant's income, education, role, business, investment and family objectives.
Build the Evidence File
Prepare the records needed for the applicant, employer, business or investment route.
Submit Through the Correct Channel
Complete the forms and submit the application under the selected scheme.
Complete Entry and Identity Steps
Complete the e-Visa, entry and local identity-card steps that apply.
Track Changes and Renewal
Maintain evidence of employment, business, investment and ordinary residence.
Family & long-term status
Coordinate Dependants, Extensions and Long-Term Residence
Family members may follow the principal applicant under eligible schemes, but relationship, age, dependency and support requirements must be documented. Their conditions and expiry dates should be tracked separately.
Eligibility for permanent identity-card status generally depends on seven years of continuous ordinary residence and the individual facts. Absences, changing status and the location of the family's real life require careful review.
Planning risks
Avoid Common Hong Kong Planning Mistakes
Common pitfalls
- Treating TTPS and QMAS as interchangeable
- Confusing entrepreneur admission with the New CIES
- Using a job title without explaining the genuine role
- Waiting until renewal to document local activity
Questions to resolve
- Is a local job offer required for this scheme?
- Who supports the application and what must they prove?
- What activity must continue after approval?
- How will absences and status changes affect long-term plans?
Frequently asked questions
Common Questions About Hong Kong Immigration
Do I need a Hong Kong job offer before applying?
Not for every scheme. TTPS and QMAS can be applied for without a secured local role at the initial stage, while professional employment routes generally require an offer and employer support.
Are TTPS and QMAS the same?
No. They use different eligibility and assessment frameworks. The applicant should be tested against the current requirements of each scheme.
Is the New CIES an entrepreneur visa?
No. The New CIES is based on qualifying net assets and permissible investments. Entrepreneur admission examines a proposed business and its contribution to Hong Kong.
Can dependants work in Hong Kong?
Work rights depend on the dependant category and the principal applicant's status. Confirm the conditions applying to the specific grant.
Information reviewed: August 2026. Admission categories, assessment criteria, quotas, fees and extension arrangements may change. Confirm the current Immigration Department requirements.
Hong Kong immigration planning
Choose the Scheme That Fits the Real Plan
Share the applicant's income, qualifications, role, business or investment plan and family needs. We will help organise the route-comparison questions.
Discuss Your Hong Kong Options →Approval and renewal depend on current rules and the complete facts.