Author: Soso FUNG

Hello, I am Soso FUNG, a migration consultant. I graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2010. After returning to China in 2019, I began working on the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, and to date I have helped more than 100 families successfully obtain Hong Kong residency through the QMAS programme. Sincerity is my fundamental approach to work, professionalism is my core ethic, and dedication is the reputation I have built in this industry. I will not let you down — with my most dedicated and professional service, I will help you and your family successfully secure Hong Kong residency.

Hong Kong widens its drive to attract talent

Following the abolition of the QMAS quota and the streamlined processing of the new Top Talent Pass Scheme, the Hong Kong Government made another major move on 2022/5/16

expanding the Talent List from the original 13 professions to 51!

Hong Kong’s Talent List has grown from the original 13 professions to 51, applied with immediate effect to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, in order to attract talent across a wider range of professions to develop in Hong Kong.

If your professional background falls within the Talent List, you will have a stronger advantage when applying for any of these three Hong Kong talent schemes!

In particular, QMAS applicants whose professional background falls within the 51 listed professions can gain a direct 30-point bonus!

What is the benefit of meeting the Talent List criteria?

If an applicant works in a Talent List profession, they can earn an extra 30 points under the General Points Test when applying for QMAS, which greatly improves the chance of approval. Based on past data, applicants the Immigration Department recognises as meeting the Talent List are, in most cases, approved. That said, submitting under the Talent List also requires more supporting documentation.

Why expand the Talent List?

It signals that Hong Kong is genuinely facing a serious talent shortage. Previously the shortage was confined to just the 13 listed professions; now the scope has been widened to draw in as many professionals as possible across every industry to develop in Hong Kong, while approvals for QMAS and professional admission applications are becoming more rigorous.

The new Talent List covers 9 major fields

[Medical services] and [construction and engineering] make the list

The updated Talent List now spans 9 major fields, namely:

1. Business support

2. Creative industries, arts and culture, performing arts

3. Development and construction

4. Environmental technology services

5. Financial services

6. Medical services

7. Innovation and technology

8. Legal and dispute resolution services

9. Maritime services

The most eye-catching of these ismedical services. For a long timeHong Kong has taken a very conservative attitude towards bringing in overseas talent in healthcare, largely because Hong Kong’s medical system differs significantly from that of the mainland. However, with the current staff shortage in the healthcare sector, Hong Kong has begun adopting several measures to attract overseas medical talent to develop in Hong Kong,and 13 medical professions covered by the registration process will be listed, namely doctors, dentists, dental hygienists, nurses, midwives, Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory technologists, optometrists, radiographers and chiropractors,although practising in Hong Kong is not simply a matter of an interview — under the relevant policy, the registration arrangements that allow overseas professionals to practise in Hong Kong are determined in consultation with each sector.

Including medical services on the Talent List this time may also help Hong Kong replenish talent in the sector.

The construction industry is another newly listed profession, covering specialists in civil engineering, building services, site works, electrical and mechanical engineering, surveying and more. Another category supports Hong Kong’s development into a hub for cultural exchange between East and West, with specialists in fields such as art promotion and cultural heritage restoration also being added to the new Talent List.

Hong Kong’s QMAS policy has been continually adjusted through 2023, with one favourable change after another — making this year a golden window to apply for Hong Kong residency

What changes has the 2023 Hong Kong QMAS policy made?

1. Abolition of the annual quota

From 1 January 2023, the Hong Kong QMAS annual quota was abolished for a period of 2 years.

2. Initial period of stay extended from 2 years to 3 years

Applicants now receive an initial period of stay of 3 years, with the usual extension pattern being 3+3+2. To obtain Hong Kong permanent residency, your continuing connection with Hong Kong must not be broken, and extension is a topic many applicants care about. When assessing extensions, the Immigration Department mainly carries out a holistic assessment of factors such as whether you have settled in Hong Kong, your time spent in Hong Kong, your habitual place of residence and your family members.

3. Points-test adjustment — 20 extra points for leading firms, multinationals and listed companies

The 2023 points table was revised with a new bonus criterion: applicants with no fewer than 3 years of degree-level or expert-level work experience at a multinational corporation or a renowned company can earn an extra 20 points.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department defines renowned companies as:

l Listed companies

l Forbes Global 2000

l Fortune Global 500

l Hurun China Top 500

4. Streamlined approval process — interviews abolished

Once an applicant receives approval-in-principle, they no longer need to travel to Hong Kong for an interview to present original documents — they only need to visit Hong Kong once to complete the residency formalities

5. Shorter processing time

QMAS applications currently take 6-9 months to process, and this is expected to be progressively shortened to 5 months as processing speeds up

6. Postal applications abolished — online application and extension fully opened

7. No certificate of no criminal conviction required

8. Transcripts from overseas institutions no longer need to be sealed

9. Talent List expanded to 51 professions

Hong Kong QMAS eligibility requirements:

Age: 18 years or older

Finances: proof of funds required — 200,000+ for an individual, 300,000+ for a family application

Character: no criminal record and no adverse immigration record

Education: a bachelor’s degree or above

Advantages of the Hong Kong QMAS:

Low cost: no investment required — a low-cost residency-planning option

Few requirements: no foreign-language requirement and no occupation-list restriction

Easy to apply: no need to secure employment with a Hong Kong company at the time of application

Fast: a quick application process — you can expect to settle in Hong Kong within 6-12 months

Excellent education: a British-style system with trilingual, biliterate teaching aligned to international standards

Convenient travel: a Hong Kong passport gives access to 168 countries and regions worldwide

Keep your status: Hong Kong is part of China, so holding a Hong Kong passport means you remain a Chinese citizen

General Points Test:with a maximum of 245 points and a minimum pass mark of 80 points, this gives a holistic assessment based on the applicant’s age, education, work experience, language ability, family situation and more. The General Points Test suits most eligible, high-calibre applicants.

If you are interested in applying for Hong Kong but are unsure how you would score in the assessment, scan and follow us

Past highlights

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Western Australia releases its May round — 1,600 invitations issued!

Subclass 189 issues another wave of invitations after six months — but “no surprises”?

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