Author: Soso FUNG

Hello, I’m Soso FUNG, a migration consultant. I graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2010. After returning to China in 2019, I began specialising in the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and have since helped more than 100 families successfully obtain Hong Kong residency through the scheme. Sincerity is my baseline work attitude, professionalism is my baseline standard, and dedication is the reputation I have built in this industry. I will honour the trust you place in me and, with my most dedicated and professional service, help you and your family successfully secure Hong Kong residency.

Hong Kong Immigration recently released application and approval numbers for all of its talent admission schemes: as of 31 October this year, a total of 184,000 applications had been received across the various talent admission schemes, with 115,000 approvals — an approval rate of about 63%

Of these, 70,000 applicants have already arrived in Hong Kong — double the original target. Dependant visas issued under the schemes totalled 81,000 approvals, of which more than 47,000 were unmarried-child dependants under 18 years old.

Approval breakdown across the talent schemes

From the published data, we can see that the largest number of approved cases came from the 【Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)】，, with more than 43,000 approvals, and also covering the most unmarried-child dependants under 18 — over 24,000 cases. At the same time, the Category C quota for TTPS is starting to tighten.

Next in line, the bulk of approvals came from the 【Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)】，with more than 21,000 cases, covering more than 12,000 minor-child dependants.

Top Talent Pass Scheme

The Top Talent Pass Scheme is a new policy announced by the Hong Kong government on 28 December 2022, designed to attract high-income and highly educated professionals to work in Hong Kong. Not long ago, former US NBA player Stephon Marbury submitted his TTPS application to the Hong Kong Talent Engage office — and the Immigration Department approved it in less than 24 hours! (As a rule, TTPS Category A applications take about two months to process.)

TTPS applicants may apply under any one of the following categories:

Category A: applicants whose annual salary in the year before applying was HKD 2.5 million or above.

Category B: bachelor’s degree holders from the world’s top 100 universities with at least 3 years of work experience.

Category C: bachelor’s degree holders from a world-ranked university within the past 5 years, with less than 3 years of work experience.

Less than a year after launch, TTPS has already become Hong Kong’s standout talent scheme. As of 31 October this year, 54,772 applications had been received, with 43,068 already approved.

Of the three TTPS categories, Category B accounts for the largest share, with more than 23,000 applications.

In addition, October’s Policy Address expanded the TTPS list of eligible universities: bachelor’s degree graduates from Wuhan University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, and Harbin Institute of Technology are now also eligible to apply under TTPS Categories B and C.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

The Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, launched in 2006, is a talent-attraction programme designed to draw outstanding talent from around the world to settle in Hong Kong and strengthen its competitiveness. It is currently the most popular pathway to obtaining Hong Kong residency.

Hong Kong QMAS eligibility requirements:

1. Age: applicants must be 18 or above (identity documents required).

2. Financial requirement: applicants must demonstrate the ability to support themselves and their dependants during their stay in Hong Kong without relying on public assistance (deposit proof: HKD 200,000 for an individual, HKD 300,000+ for a family — ideally an on-demand cash deposit in a bank account; funds do not need to be frozen and can be deposited just before applying).

3. Good character: applicants must have no criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere.

4. Language ability: applicants must have a good command of written and spoken Chinese or English (spoken Chinese refers to Mandarin or Cantonese).

5. Basic education: applicants must have sound academic qualifications, usually a university degree awarded by a recognised university or higher-education institution.

6. Meet the scoring requirements under either the “General Points Test” or the “Achievement-based Points Test”.

Achievement-based Points Test: meeting either of the two requirements below earns the full 245 points; otherwise the application cannot be submitted.

① The applicant has received an outstanding-achievement award (such as an Olympic medal, a Nobel Prize, or a national/international award).

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

General Points Test: applicants are scored across six dimensions — age, academic qualifications, work experience, language ability, family background, and Talent List — with a maximum of 245 points; 80 points or more is enough to apply.

Hong Kong QMAS application process:

The Hong Kong QMAS selection mechanism is divided into five stages.

Stage 1: all applicants must meet the 【basic eligibility】 requirements.

Stage 2: once the applicant signs the engagement and pays, we provide the document checklist; preparing the materials takes about 1 month.

Stage 3: from application submission, processing takes 6–9 months; if additional documents are requested, we handle the supplementary submissions for you.

Stage 4: on being invited, the applicant receives an in-principle approval notice; the interview step has been removed.

Stage 5: once successfully approved, we guide the client through the process of travelling to Hong Kong to activate their Hong Kong Identity Card.

What documents do you need to prepare for the Hong Kong QMAS?

Personal information: mainland ID card, Hong Kong and Macao Travel Permit, overseas passport, marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates, etc.;

Education information: graduation certificate, degree certificate, degree-authentication report, certificates, awards, etc.;

Work information: employment contract, proof of employment, work samples, reference letters, organisational charts, etc.;

Asset proof: bank statements or other evidence of assets;

Language evidence: TOEFL or IELTS results from the last two years, or other proof of language ability;

The two most important documents: your Hong Kong Plan and your employer reference letter!

These two written submissions really are critical!To lift your chances of approval, don’t play it plain — learn to present and polish your work history properly. Your Hong Kong Plan should clearly articulate your post-arrival intentions, so the Hong Kong government can see you are genuinely coming to contribute!

The Hong Kong Plan has recently been revised into 6 sections (Career Achievements / Talent List-related Achievements / Academic Achievements / Hong Kong Plan / Professional Qualifications & Awards / Other Important Information), each capped at 100 words. You cannot exceed the limit, so each section has to be concise and on-point.

Between January and October this year, the Immigration Department received 63,979 QMAS applications, compared with just 16,396 for the whole of 2022 — a jump of nearly threefold on a rough calculation!

The TTPS threshold is set in stone: you either have proof of a bachelor’s degree from an eligible top-tier university, or proof of an annual income above HKD 2.5 million. Either you qualify or you don’t — the pass/fail bar is crystal clear.

By comparison, the QMAS leaves more room to work with: the maximum is 245 points, and 80 points is enough to submit. It gives you a chance to show the Hong Kong government what you’re worth, which is why everyone wants to take a shot at it.

Ever since the announcement late last year of the 2023–2024 “no quota limit” and a series of other enhancements, top applicants have been rushing to submit. With the two-year QMAS window now half-gone, if you want to apply for the QMAS, move early and catch the last train of the uncapped 2024 window — remember, processing still takes 6–9 months.

Today we’re sharing a few success stories of Hong Kong QMAS applicants who were invited on lower scores, together with some recent approvals. If you’re also thinking about planning for Hong Kong residency, scan to follow us and we’ll give you an accurate assessment and scoring!

The advantages of relocating to Hong Kong

1. Prime geographic location: a world-renowned international trading port and entrepôt.

2. Low-tax regime: simple and transparent, taxed on a territorial basis, with low tax rates.

3. International financial hub: no foreign-exchange controls; the world’s freest economy.

4. High-quality education: biliterate and trilingual, 15 years of free education, with 7 universities in the world’s top 100.

5. High-value passport: visa-free access to 170 countries and regions for frictionless global travel.

6. Robust legal system: well-developed legislation, legal protection, and enforcement.

7. Retain your mainland identity: you can keep your mainland household registration and flexibly enjoy the benefits that come with both statuses.

On top of the benefits in Hong Kong, Hong Kong residency also unlocks a range of policy advantages on the mainland:

1. Individual income tax subsidy: a 15% IIT subsidy in the Greater Bay Area.

2. Property purchase: one property purchase allowed freely in the Greater Bay Area.

3. Social-insurance benefits: you can join the mainland social-insurance system and subsequently work, study, and live on the mainland.

4. Overseas Chinese Student Joint Exam: children with Hong Kong status can sit the Overseas Chinese Students’ Joint Entrance Exam and gain easier access to mainland Project 985 / Project 211 universities.

5. Old Age Living Allowance from 65: Under the Hong Kong Social Welfare Department’s “Guangdong Scheme” and “Fujian Scheme”, eligible Hong Kong seniors aged 65 or above who choose to relocate to Guangdong or Fujian can continue to receive the allowance without returning to Hong Kong each year.

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This study-abroad and migration pathway is hot again! Skills assessment on graduation — no language test or work experience required!

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