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I’m Ashley, a migration consultant at Newstars Education & Migration in Beijing
A veteran of the migration industry with over 10 years’ experience in migration and study abroad, I have served as a migration writer and consultant, and am well versed in migration policies across multiple countries — including Australia, Canada, the United States,Hong Kongand more. I specialise in talent-based migration programmes, including Hong Kong and US talent schemes and Australia’s Global Talent Independent (GTI) programme. I have always upheld the service philosophy of “professionalism first, experience above all, client at the centre”, and am committed to helping each client achieve their family’s migration goals.
When it comes to starting a new life elsewhere, most people’s first thought is emigrating to traditional destination countries — Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom — but in fact,Hong Kong SAR, known as the Pearl of the Orient,is also an excellent option for families with a range of different plans.
Hong Kong SAR has its own comprehensive system of global talent attraction programmes, including the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (closed in 2015),the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, post-study settlement pathways, and more.
Of these, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) is currently one of the most popular pathways,requiring no investment, no sponsorship, no prior job offer, and no language test results — low cost, straightforward process, and excellent value for money!
Backed by policy support and priority quota allocation!
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On 6 October this year, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Carrie Lam, announced in her Policy Address that the QMAS’annual quota would be increased to 4,000 places.
Since the scheme was launched in June 2006, the annual quota has generally remained at 1,000 places,last October it was raised to 2,000 for the first time, and just a short time later — last month — it was increased again to 4,000.
Looking back at the number of QMAS approvals over the past five years: 273 in 2016, 411 in 2017, 555 in 2018, and 874 in 2019.In 2020, following the quota increase, the number of approvals surged to 1,709. This year alone, 1,360 applications have already been approved.
This shows that the Hong Kong SAR Government continually reviews the QMAS,hoping to use the scheme as a leading initiativeto more proactively attract high-calibre, skilled individuals to settle in Hong Kong and expand the city’s talent pool.
Hong Kong SAR needs growth, and what applicants need is opportunity. Based on our analysis of Immigration Department processing patterns and our firm’s own success cases,the majority of QMAS applications are decided within 9 to 12 months,which is a fairly consistent timeframe. And when it comes to scores, the key point remains:a score of 80 or above is sufficient to submit an application, and what matters most is the applicant’s outstanding achievements.
Moreover, the QMAS does not solely rely on scores(I’ll explain this further in the requirements section below)!
Perfect for those with overseas qualifications or work experience!
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For internationally experienced professionals and academics looking to return to the region, Hong Kong SAR is an excellent choice.If you have graduated from Australia, the UK, or the US and are considering returning to the region for work, Hong Kong SAR — much like China’s major first-tier cities — is also a very appealing option.
Here is some relevant recent background:
On 23 August, a briefing session on China’s 14th Five-Year Plan was held in Hong Kong SAR, providing a clear direction for the city’s future development,reaffirming ongoing support for Hong Kong SARin strengthening its status as an international hub for finance, shipping, and trade, and in developing it as an Asia-Pacific centre for international legal services and dispute resolution;while for the first time addingfour emerging areas: an international aviation hub, an international innovation and technology centre, an intellectual property trading centre, and a hub for cultural exchange between China and the world — alongside support for the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
This provides the foundation for the growth in the QMAS annual quota mentioned above.
Looking at practical demand, Hong Kong’s four pillar industries — finance, trade, logistics, and professional services — although temporarily affected by the pandemic,are now seeing borders reopen worldwide as vaccination rates rise, and there is an urgent need to attract more talent to consolidate and develop these sectors.In addition,beyond maintaining its established industries, Hong Kong SAR also needs new emerging industries to join the mix — every crisis carries within it an opportunity for transformation.
Based on Hong Kong SAR’srecently approved applicants’ industry breakdown and the latest published talent list, you can see exactly which industries are hungry for talent — a valuable guide for job-seekers.
Speaking of opportunities for applicants,Hong Kong SAR is home to no shortage of Fortune 500 companies, which is a major draw for many overseas graduates.Looking at the age profile of current QMAS approvals, those aged 18 to 39 make up the majority — which is easy to understand, as every country and region values a young workforce. That said, this does not mean applicants outside this age range have no chance. The same principle applies: as long as you are sufficiently accomplished, we will help you plan your path forward.
Perfect for those who want to give their children more options!
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Obtaining Hong Kong SAR residency opens up a world of educational pathways for your children!
You can choose to have your child study locally and gain admission to one of Hong Kong SAR’s prestigious universities,receiving a genuine British and American-style education that aligns with the educational systems of the UK, US, and Australia — highly international, with a broader worldview, and an excellent foundation for future overseas study.
Alternatively, your child can sit the Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to gain admission to more than 300 mainland universities — including Peking University and Tsinghua University — with significantly lower score thresholds.
About the Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students:
This is a dedicated university entrance examination designed by China’s Ministry of Education specifically for overseas Chinese students and students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, providing them with an opportunity to pursue higher education in mainland China.Nationwide, more than 300 undergraduate institutions and over 1,000 academic programmes currently accept overseas Chinese students.The admission scores for this examination are significantly lower than those of the standard university entrance examination (Gaokao).A score of 300 is sufficient to gain admission to general universities through this examination, while a score of as little as 400 points can secure a place at certain 985/211 elite institutions — cross the threshold, and you’re in. The examination also has other advantages: the arts stream does not include politics, the science stream does not include biology, the questions are straightforward, the difficulty level is lower, there are no household registration (hukou) restrictions, fewer candidates sit the exam, and competition is minimal — making it a smooth pathway to mainland China’s top universities.
Below is a brief overview of the application requirements
Newstars on Change.org
Petition to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration
Over 22,000 signatures!
1. Following New Zealand’s policy, grant a one-off amnesty to temporary residents who have been waiting a long time for their migration to be finalised
2. Restore the skilled migration visa quota for this financial year to at least its original level of 108,000 places
SBS and ABC News have followed up with coverage!
Keep speaking up and adding your voice
Sign! Sign! Sign!
(Long-press the QR code below)
Application Requirements
– Aged 18 or above
– A bachelor’s degree or above
– Proficient spoken and written ability in Chinese or English
– Sufficient financial means
– Good character
Only one of the following two scoring systems needs to be satisfied
Achievement-Based Points Test
– The applicant has received a distinguished achievement award, such as an Olympic medal, a Nobel Prize, or a national/international award)
Or the applicant’s work has been recognised by peers in the same field, or the applicant has made a significant contribution to the development of their industry (for example, being awarded a lifetime achievement award by a professional body)
– Either zero points or full marks
General Points Test
– Open to all applicants; maximum score 225 points; a score of 80 is sufficient to apply (the key is your level of excellence — not the score itself)
For a personalised points assessment, scan the QR code below!
Here are some of thesuccess cases, and you are welcome to see if any of them resemble your own situation
#Top-100 Global University Graduate → Determined to Return and Build a Career#
#Prestigious Degree + Solid Work Experience → Seeking a New Environment for the Children#
#Top Domestic University Graduate + Established Career → Ready to Reach New Heights#
Mr Gu, aged 31, holds a bachelor’s degree from a well-known domestic university,and has been working in internet innovation and research for almost six years. In addition to strengthening its traditional pillar industries, Hong Kong SAR is actively developing its innovation and technology sector — and internet innovation falls squarely within that scope.He was ultimately approvedwith a total score of 119. Mr Gu expressed his hope to pursue more diverse career opportunities and to eventually establish his own internet company in Hong Kong.
Process details:
September 2020 — Engaged our services; began preparing application documents
November 2020 — Application submitted to the Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department
December 2020 — Received application reference number
March 2021 — Submitted additional documents as requested by the Immigration Department
September 2021 — Submitted materials as required by the Immigration Department
The policy information we see here reflects the gaps across Hong Kong SAR’s industries — positions urgently waiting to be filled, and a steady stream of job opportunities. The talent Hong Kong SAR needs most urgently is open to anyone with the right credentials: as long as you are accomplished, you can apply. As for how to demonstrate that excellence, come and talk to me. I’m Ashley, QMAS migration specialist at Newstars in Beijing.
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