Visa & Immigration

Hong Kong has business friendly immigration policies. As such, visitors from over 170 countries/territories can enjoy visa-free entries to Hong Kong and stay for between seven to 180 days.

Hong Kong Visa or Entry Permits Types

Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
The new CIES will accept applications from eligible persons aged 18 or above (including foreign nationals, Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country, Macao Special Administrative Region residents and Chinese residents of Taiwan). An applicant must demonstrate that he/she has net assets of not less than HK$30 million to which he/she is absolutely beneficially entitled throughout the two years preceding the application. An applicant must make an investment of a minimum of HK$30 million in the permissible investment assets, including investing a minimum of HK$27 million in the permissible financial assets and non-residential real estate, and placing HK$3 million into a new CIES Investment Portfolio. The Portfolio will be set up and managed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited to make investments in companies/projects with a Hong Kong nexus, with a view to supporting the development of innovation and technology industries and other strategic industries that are beneficial to the long-term development of Hong Kong's economy.

Top Talent Pass Scheme
To attract top talents with rich work experience and good academic qualifications from all over the world to explore opportunities in Hong Kong. These top talents include high-income talents and graduates from the world’s top universities.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
To attract highly skilled or talented persons to settle in Hong Kong in order to enhance Hong Kong's economic competitiveness. Successful applicants are not required to have secured an offer of local employment before their entry to Hong Kong for settlement. All applicants are required to fulfill a set of prerequisites before they can be awarded points under one of the two points-based tests, namely the General Points Test and Achievement-based Points Test, and compete for quota allocation with other applicants.

Sector-specific Labour Importation Schemes
The Sector-specific Schemes to handle applications for importation of labour for specific sectors. Administered by the concerned bureaux/departments of the Government of the HKSAR or the concerned statutory organisations of the HKSAR with the specific sectors, the Sector-specific Schemes allows employers with genuine difficulties in recruiting suitable labour locally to import labour from outside the Hong Kong.

General Employment Policy (GEP)
To employ overseas staff, you must demonstrate that a prospective employee possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to come to work under the GEP. The GEP is quota-free and non-sector specific.

Investment as Entrepreneurs
The applicant should be in a position to make substantial contribution to the economy of the HKSAR, with consideration factors or startup businesses. Their startup business may be considered favourably if it is supported by a government-backed programme with a rigorous vetting and selection process. 

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)
Chinese residents of the Mainland China who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to come to work under the ASMTP. The ASMTP is quota-free and non-sector specific.

Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)
TechTAS provides a fast-track arrangement for eligible companies to admit non-local technology talent to undertake research and development (R&D) work for them in Hong Kong. Eligible companies would first have to apply for a quota. A company allotted with a quota by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) can accordingly sponsor an eligible person to apply for an employment visa/entry permit within the 12-month quota validity period. It also has to fulfil the requirement to employ new local employees in technology-related work. 

People who successfully apply for a visa can bring their spouse and dependent children under the age of 18, provided they have sufficient funds and suitable accommodation. The limit on their stay is the same as the visa holder – who is officially the ‘sponsor’. A spouse holding a Dependant visa can undertake any type of lawful employment in Hong Kong.

Working Visa Requirements
Short-term visitors can make the most of Hong Kong’s light-touch visa policies and are permitted to conduct business negotiations and sign contracts while on a visitor’s visa or entry permit. Foreign nationals working in Hong Kong for longer periods of time require a visa before they can live or work in Hong Kong.

Other Admission Schemes for Talent, Professionals and Entrepreneurs, please visit here.

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