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Author: Soso FUNG

Hello everyone, I’m 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, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, and to date I have helped more than 100 families successfully obtain Hong Kong, China residency through the QMAS. Sincerity is my fundamental attitude to work, professionalism is my basic code of conduct, 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, China residency.

As the world’s freest economy and one of its most competitive cities, Hong Kong, China is renowned worldwide for its clean and efficient government, strong rule of law, favourable business environment, low-tax incentives, excellent standard of healthcare, and world-class education resources.

Every year, talented people from around the world obtain Hong Kong, China residency through the Hong Kong, China talent admission schemes, settling in Hong Kong to live, work or start a business.

92% of successful applicants migrated to Hong Kong, China through the General Points Test. As long as you have the talent, Hong Kong, China will always welcome you — with the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, migrating to Hong Kong, China is no longer just a dream~

Search “Hong Kong, China QMAS” and you’ll be flooded with talk of its advantages and benefits… But is the Hong Kong, China QMAS really as flawless as everyone tells you? In my view, before you apply you should at the very least have a thorough understanding of it.

Scheme

Advantages

1. No quota from 2023 onwards, and no employer sponsorship required

From 2023 onwards there is no annual quota. As long as you meet the Immigration Department’s selection criteria, your application can be approved — you do not need to secure a job offer in advance.

2. Low cost, with no need to start a business or invest

There is no minimum investment requirement and no need to start a business — you can apply as long as you reach 80 points on the QMAS points test.

3. One person applies, the whole family migrates to Hong Kong, China

With Hong Kong SAR permanent resident status, children can sit the Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students to enter prestigious Mainland universities with lower scores, or study overseas with ease.

Scheme

Eligibility requirements

1. The applicant must be aged 18 or over;

2. Have a good educational background and financial capacity, and meet the score requirement of one of the two points-test schemes;

3. Have good written and spoken proficiency in Chinese or English;

4. A spouse and unmarried children under 18 may accompany the applicant.

Option 1: Achievement-based Points Test

1) The applicant has received an award for outstanding achievement (for example, an Olympic medal, a Nobel Prize, or a national or international award); or

2) The applicant can demonstrate that their work has been recognised by peers, or that they have made a substantial contribution to the development of their field (for example, by receiving a lifetime achievement award from within the industry).

*Under this option the score is either full marks or zero — there is no in-between.

Option 2: General Points Test

The maximum score is 245 points, and the passing score is 80 points.

* Assessable factors include: age, academic or professional qualifications, language ability, work experience, the Talent List, and family background (refer to the points table for details).

* A good educational background generally requires a university degree conferred by a recognised university or higher education institution. In exceptional circumstances, good technical qualifications, demonstrable professional ability and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may also be considered.

[Application Process]

So, the pros and cons of the Hong Kong, China QMAS mainly cover the following aspects:

The Upsides

Keep your Mainland status

At present, applying for Hong Kong, China residency through schemes such as the QMAS, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, study in Hong Kong, or the Technology Talent Admission Scheme does not require you to cancel your Mainland household registration (hukou).

International education resources

Children gain access to richer education resources. As well as attending all kinds of schools in Hong Kong, China (including international schools), children with Hong Kong, China residency can also attend international schools on the Mainland.

Higher education resources

Students with Hong Kong, China residency can sit the DSE to enter universities in Hong Kong, China or overseas; use their DSE results to apply to prestigious Mainland universities without an entrance exam; or sit the Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students to bypass the fierce competition of the Gaokao and enter top-tier Mainland universities.

Social security system

The Hong Kong, China healthcare system allows all Hong Kong residents to enjoy high-quality medical services at low cost. Even without permanent residency, children can receive free vaccinations.

Career development advantages

Working locally in Hong Kong, China gives you access to a wider range of leading international firms. Hong Kong, China residency can be a powerful asset for career advancement.

Free business environment

In Hong Kong, China’s open and free business environment, setting up a company is quick and simple, with low costs and low barriers to entry. A Hong Kong, China company also helps raise a business’s international profile and strengthen its brand. As an international city, Hong Kong, China allows enterprises from any country or region to operate within its territory — it is both a window for expanding into international markets and a springboard into the Mainland China market.

Simple tax system and low rates

In Hong Kong, China, the profits tax rate (corporate income tax) is 16.5% and the salaries tax rate (personal income tax) is capped at 15% — among the lowest in the world.

Travel on a Hong Kong SAR passport

Once you become a permanent resident of Hong Kong, China, you can apply for a Hong Kong SAR passport. The Hong Kong SAR passport offers visa-free access to 168 countries and territories, allows transit through third countries, and gives you shorter waiting times and more favourable conditions when applying to migrate abroad.

Greater Bay Area opportunities

For overseas high-end and in-demand talent working in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, where the personal income tax paid across the nine Pearl River Delta cities exceeds 15% of taxable income, the governments of those nine cities provide a financial subsidy for the difference. As the Greater Bay Area continues to develop, more favourable policies are expected in the future.

So, as one way of obtaining Hong Kong, China residency, what are the downsides of the QMAS?

The Downsides

Fierce competition

Although the annual quota was abolished from 2023, this does not mean the requirements for applicants have been relaxed. With the quota gone, competition has actually intensified, as everyone wants to seize Hong Kong, China residency while the window of opportunity is open.

Nationality restrictions

In fact, the QMAS is open to people from the Mainland and most countries and regions overseas, but not to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Nepal and Vietnam, who are not eligible to apply. For Mainland residents, however, this is hardly a drawback — the vast majority of QMAS approvals each year go to Mainland residents, who can be said to make up the bulk of the talent the Hong Kong, China government takes in!

Education requirements

Generally speaking, the QMAS has an education threshold: you need at least a bachelor’s degree to be eligible to apply. While it restricts applicants with lower qualifications, it also awards extra points to those with higher qualifications — for example, holding a bachelor’s degree or above conferred by an internationally recognised prestigious institution, including those in the world’s QS top 100, earns an additional 30 points.

Industry selection

Not every industry is well suited to the QMAS. Fields such as catering, trading, classroom teaching and new-media operations, for instance, are relatively difficult to get approved. What Hong Kong, China is looking for is the in-demand talent its current economic development needs — the right profile tends to involve prestigious schools, leading companies, patents, and research- or technology-focused work, and so on.

In truth, you can think of Hong Kong, China residency as a Hong Kong, China “hukou.” A household registration in a different city naturally brings different lifestyle benefits, and there are always pros and cons — but here the advantages are simply too obvious for the minor drawbacks to outweigh them! If you’re also thinking about planning for Hong Kong, China residency, learn about it early and make the most of the window of opportunity over these next couple of years~

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