Hong Kong Talents Program - Xinmei Overseas Immigration Service Center

Hong Kong Professionals Admission Scheme

Hong Kong Mainland Talents Scheme (Hong Kong Talents Scheme)

Policy Overview 📋

The Hong Kong Talent Scheme (referred to as the Hong Kong Talents Scheme) is a talent introduction policy officially launched by the Hong Kong Immigration Department in 2003. Its core purpose is to attract high-quality talents from the mainland who possess Hong Kong's scarce professional skills and rich industry experience, fill the talent gap in Hong Kong's finance, commerce, science and technology innovation industries, and comprehensively enhance Hong Kong's international industrial competitiveness. Continuously optimizing and upgrading policies, opening electronic application channels by 2025, significantly reducing approval time; Starting from March 1, 2026, approved individuals can submit renewal applications three months before the expiration of their stay, making identity renewal more flexible and convenient. This plan has no annual quota restrictions, no scoring required, and is suitable for a wide range of people. It is the mainstream channel for mainland talents to settle, work, and plan their identity in Hong Kong.

Application Requirements ✅

The application must meet the dual review criteria of personal qualifications and Hong Kong employer qualifications:

（1） Individual application requirements

- 1. Age range: Mainland compliance professionals aged 18-55;

- 2. Educational qualifications: Generally, a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional technical qualification is required; Talents with scarce special skills can be relaxed to a college degree;

- 3. Background compliance: The individual has no criminal record, has a legal tax record, and has good conduct.

（2） Hong Kong employers require

- 1. Subject compliance: A legally registered enterprise in Hong Kong that has been operating continuously for at least 12 months;

- 2. Business compliance: The annual turnover of the enterprise shall not be less than HKD 3 million, and the operating status shall be stable;

- 3. Exclusive requirements for self employment: The applicant applies for self employment and the enterprise must employ no less than 3 Hong Kong local employees full-time.

Three core application models 💡

（1） Employment mode

For workplace talents who are suitable for employment in Hong Kong compliant enterprises, they need to provide real job vacancy certificates from the company, local employee Mandatory Provident Fund payment records, and employers need to provide an explanation of the irreplaceability of job skills to prove that the position cannot recruit suitable talents locally in Hong Kong.

（2） Self employment mode

Suitable for mainland business owners and entrepreneurs to expand their business in Hong Kong, they need to set up physical office space in Hong Kong, prohibit virtual hosting addresses, and hire local employees in compliance with regulations; The minimum registered capital of the enterprise is HKD 500000, ensuring genuine operation and traceable business.

（3） Internal transfer mode

To adapt to the internal transfer of talents within multinational corporations and affiliated enterprises, applicants must be employees of mainland branch offices, with at least 1 year of work experience in the mainland headquarters, and can go to Hong Kong for employment through the internal transfer channel of the enterprise.

Application Process 📝

- 1. Professional qualification assessment, matching and adapting the application mode, confirming that the individual and employer meet the qualification standards before officially signing the contract;

- 2. Comprehensively collect and verify personal materials and the complete set of employer qualification documents, organize and review them, and submit them to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Supplement and improve information as needed throughout the process;

- 3. The immigration department reviews and archives, issues official file numbers, with a cycle of about 1-3 months;

- 4. Entering the formal review stage, the regular approval cycle is 3-6 months, which can be shortened to as fast as 1 month under the new electronic policy in 2025;

- 5. Approved, obtained official approval and Hong Kong entry visa;

- 6. The applicant enters Hong Kong, completes information collection, and applies for a Hong Kong resident identity card;

- 7. Renewal upon expiration and compliance: Regular employees follow a 3-year+3-year+2-year renewal model and must maintain the same employer employment relationship; Top talents with an annual salary of over HKD 2 million can apply for a 5-year long-term renewal; Self employed individuals are required to maintain an annual turnover of at least HKD 3 million for the enterprise;

- 8. Individuals who have resided continuously and compliantly for at least 7 years are eligible to formally apply for Hong Kong permanent resident status.

Project advantages and benefits 🌟

- 1. Zero asset threshold: No investment requirements, no asset review pressure, both start-up entrepreneurs and ordinary professionals can apply, with a friendly entry threshold;

- 2. Family identity planning: After the main applicant is approved, the legal spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 can accompany them to settle in Hong Kong simultaneously;

- 3. Wide range of travel rights: Upon approval of Hong Kong permanent residency and special administrative region passports, visa free/visa on arrival travel can be granted to 172 countries and regions worldwide;

- 4. Superior child welfare: Children born in Hong Kong can directly obtain Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports and enjoy high-quality local educational resources;

- 5. Equal welfare for all: Holders of Hong Kong resident identity cards can enjoy a full set of social welfare benefits, including 12 years of free public education and high-quality medical care, on an equal footing with local residents;

- 6. Convenient and efficient business operation: Relying on the free business environment in Hong Kong, the registration and operation of international companies have a simple process and relaxed policies, which helps enterprises to expand internationally;

- 7. Policy stability and acceleration: no quota competition, no need for scoring, significantly accelerated electronic approval of new policies, optimized renewal rules, and strong identity stability.

Note: The above information is for reference only. The final implementation standard shall be subject to the latest official regulations of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.