🇭🇰 Hong Kong Immigration Services: Expert Visa & Residency Guide

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Immigration Services: Expert Visa & Residency Guide | Bestar

Hong Kong Immigration

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Immigration Services: Expert Visa & Residency Guide

Hong Kong remains a global hub, and its immigration policies are aggressively focused on attracting top talent. Navigating the diverse visa landscape—from the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) to the traditional General Employment Policy (GEP)—requires precise, up-to-date knowledge.

The most successful applications align the applicant's profile with the government's current priorities, which often means prioritizing the newer, talent-focused schemes.

1. Top Tier Talent Schemes: The Fast Track

The government's focus is currently on schemes that do not require a prior job offer, offering unparalleled flexibility for high-value individuals.

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) Hong Kong

The TTPS is designed for high-income professionals and graduates from the world's top universities, allowing them to secure a visa and settle in Hong Kong before securing employment.

TTPS Category	Eligibility Requirement	Initial Stay Grant (Approx.)
Category A	Annual income of HK$2.5 million or above in the year preceding the application.	36 Months
Category B	Degree from a Top 100 Global University with at least three years of work experience in the past five years.	24 Months
Category C	Degree from a Top 100 Global University with less than three years of work experience in the past five years. (Subject to an annual quota.)	24 Months

Key Benefits:

• No Prior Job Offer: Apply and be approved before securing employment.

  
  

• Flexibility: Visa holders can take up or change jobs, or establish a business freely.

  
  

• Family Inclusion: Spouses/partners and unmarried dependent children under 18 may join the applicant on a Dependent Visa, which allows them to live, study, and work in Hong Kong.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

QMAS is a quota-based points system that attracts highly skilled or talented individuals without a confirmed job offer. While the scheme is still running, the government has placed a greater emphasis on the more recent TTPS for speed and simplicity.

2. Standard Employment & Entrepreneur Routes

These traditional visas remain essential, particularly for those with a confirmed local job offer or capital to invest.

General Employment Policy (GEP)

The GEP is the most common visa for foreign professionals who have already secured a job in Hong Kong. It is an employer-sponsored visa.

GEP Requirements:

1. Confirmed Job Offer: The applicant must have a confirmed job offer from a legitimate Hong Kong company.

   
   

2. Special Skills: The job must be one that cannot be readily taken up by the local workforce (i.e., requires specialist skills, knowledge, or experience).

   
   

3. Remuneration: The salary and benefits package must be broadly commensurate with the prevailing market rate for similar roles in Hong Kong.

   
   

4. Qualifications: The applicant must have a good education background, normally a first university degree in the relevant field.

Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)

Relaunched to attract capital, the New CIES allows high-net-worth individuals who invest HK$30 million or above in approved financial assets (like stocks, bonds, funds, etc.) and non-residential real estate to apply for entry to Hong Kong.

3. Essential Application Requirements & Tips

The Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) is increasingly moving towards digital submissions, making accuracy and completeness more critical than ever.

Required Documentation Checklist (General)

• Completed official application forms (must be the latest version).

  
  

• Valid travel document (passport) and proof of overseas residence.

  
  

• Proof of academic qualifications and relevant work experience.

  
  

• Proof of Income: Crucial for TTPS Category A applicants (e.g., tax assessment notices).

  
  

• Evidence of relationship (marriage/birth certificates) for accompanying dependents.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

• Incomplete Forms: Minor omissions or inaccuracies can lead to significant delays.

  
  

• Outdated Documentation: Using old financial statements or expired certificates.

  
  

• Lack of Justification (GEP): The employer failing to clearly articulate why the role cannot be filled by a local worker is a common reason for rejection.

  
  

• Unverified Degrees: TTPS applicants from non-English speaking universities must provide clear translation and degree verification proof.

4. Why Hire a Hong Kong Immigration Consultant?

Using a professional Hong Kong Visa Consultant helps streamline the application process, which has become more rigorous, especially for schemes like TTPS and GEP.

A professional service provides:

• Eligibility Strategy: Determining the optimal visa scheme (e.g., TTPS over GEP) based on your unique profile.

  
  

• Documentation Mastery: Ensuring every required document is correctly prepared, certified, and translated to meet the ImmD's precise standards.

  
  

• Liaison & Follow-up: Handling direct communication and responding quickly to queries from the Immigration Department, which is vital for reducing processing time.

Ready to secure your Hong Kong visa?

Eligibility assessment for the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the General Employment Policy (GEP)

The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the General Employment Policy (GEP) are the two most common and effective routes for professionals seeking to work in Hong Kong.

Here is an assessment of the eligibility criteria for both schemes to help you determine the best path.

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) Eligibility

The TTPS is designed to attract top-tier global talent by offering a flexible visa that does not require a confirmed job offer upon application. It grants a stay of 24 to 36 months, allowing you to secure employment after arrival.

Key Criteria

You only need to meet the requirements of one of the three categories below:

TTPS Category	Criteria	Key Evidence Required	Initial Stay Grant
Category A: High-Income	Annual income of HK$2.5 million or above (or equivalent foreign currency) in the year immediately preceding the date of application.	Tax assessment notices, pay slips, documentary proof from employing company (salary, allowances, stock options, etc.).	36 Months
Category B: Top University + Experience	A degree from one of the World's Top 100 Universities (on the official aggregate list) AND at least three years of work experience in the past five years.	Degree certificate, transcripts, employment records, reference letters.	24 Months
Category C: Recent Top Graduate	A degree from one of the World's Top 100 Universities (on the official aggregate list) AND less than three years of work experience, graduated within the past five years.	Degree certificate, transcripts (This category is subject to an annual quota).	24 Months

Important Note: Category B and C require you to hold a bachelor's degree from one of the eligible universities, not just a master's or PhD.

General Employment Policy (GEP) Eligibility

The GEP is the standard employment visa route and is employer-sponsored. It requires a confirmed job offer and focuses on the need for your skills within the local market.

Key Criteria

You must satisfy all four requirements below:

GEP Requirement	Description	Key Evidence Required
1. Confirmed Job Offer	You must have a confirmed offer of employment from a locally registered Hong Kong company.	Signed employment contract detailing position, salary, benefits, and contract period.
2. Local Workforce Test	The job must be one that cannot be readily taken up by the local workforce (i.e., requires special skills, knowledge, or experience).	Employer's organizational chart, detailed job description, and a justification letter explaining the difficulty in filling the role locally.
3. Remuneration	Your salary and benefits package must be commensurate with the prevailing market rate for the comparable position in Hong Kong.	Proof of the company's financial standing (audited accounts/business proof) and a breakdown of your compensation.
4. Good Background	The applicant must have a good education background, normally a degree in the relevant field. Good technical qualifications or proven professional experience may also be accepted in special circumstances.	Degree certificate, professional qualifications, and employment reference letters.

Comparison: TTPS vs. GEP

Feature	Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)	General Employment Policy (GEP)
Job Offer Required?	NO (Can apply job-hunting first)	YES (Must have a confirmed offer)
Sponsorship	None (Self-applied)	Employer-sponsored
Flexibility	High (Can change jobs without prior ImmD approval for the initial grant period)	Low (Tied to the specific sponsoring employer and job)
Processing Time	Often faster (The process is highly streamlined)	Standard (Requires detailed employer documents, which can take time)
Initial Stay Grant	24 or 36 months	Usually 24 months or the contract duration (whichever is shorter)

Recommendation

• If you meet the HK$2.5 million income or Top 100 University criteria, the TTPS is the most advantageous route due to its speed and high flexibility.

  
  

• If you have already secured an attractive job offer but do not meet the high-bar TTPS criteria, the GEP is your primary pathway.

How Bestar Hong Kong Can Help You Navigate Hong Kong Immigration

🇭🇰 Hong Kong Immigration Services: Expert Visa & Residency Guide

Bestar Hong Kong specializes in providing integrated professional services—including company formation, corporate secretarial, accounting, and expert visa assistance. This combined expertise is crucial for clients who are not only seeking a visa but also planning to establish a business or take up complex roles in Hong Kong.

By leveraging our experience in corporate compliance and immigration, we ensure your application is legally robust and strategically sound, minimizing processing delays.

1. Expert TTPS (Top Talent Pass Scheme) Application Support

The TTPS is highly desirable but requires meticulous documentation, especially for financial and academic verification. Bestar focuses on optimizing your application to meet the stringent criteria efficiently.

TTPS Challenge	How Bestar Hong Kong Provides Value
Eligibility Assessment	Conduct a precise, up-to-date assessment of your academic credentials against the official Top 100 Global University list and verify the HKD$2.5 million income threshold for Category A.
Financial Documentation (Category A)	We assist in collating, converting, and presenting complex financial evidence (tax returns, stock option value, foreign currency income) to meet the HK$2.5 million requirement, ensuring it is compliant with ImmD standards.
Academic Verification	We ensure transcripts and degrees from international institutions are properly certified and recognized, preventing common delays in academic proof.
Entrepreneurial TTPS	For Category A/B applicants planning to start a business, our team assists with parallel company registration and corporate setup, providing a seamless transition from visa approval to business launch.

2. Streamlined GEP (General Employment Policy) Services

The GEP application depends heavily on the sponsoring employer and the demonstration that the role cannot be filled locally. Bestar provides comprehensive support to both the applicant and the company.

GEP Challenge	How Bestar Hong Kong Provides Value
"Local Workforce" Test	We work with the employer to draft a compelling justification letter and gather supporting documents (e.g., failed recruitment attempts) that clearly demonstrate the necessity of hiring a non-local professional.
Employer Compliance	We ensure the sponsoring company meets all statutory requirements, including providing the necessary business documentation (e.g., audited accounts, business registration proof) to prove they are a legitimate entity capable of offering the employment.
Contract Review	We ensure the employment contract and remuneration package are commensurate with the prevailing market rate in Hong Kong, preventing salary-related rejection reasons.
Full Submission & Liaison	We manage the entire application submission process, track the status with the Hong Kong Immigration Department, and handle all requests for further information (RFI) to keep the application moving smoothly.

3. Integrated Corporate & Immigration Solutions

Bestar's unique advantage lies in providing a single point of contact for corporate and personal relocation needs.

• Company Formation: For entrepreneurs, we facilitate Hong Kong company registration immediately, aligning the business setup timeline with your visa application.

  
  

• Corporate Secretarial: We ensure your new Hong Kong company remains compliant with all legal and statutory obligations, giving the ImmD confidence in the legitimacy of the sponsoring entity.

  
  

• Dependent Visas: We manage the concurrent application for your spouse and children, ensuring they receive their Dependent Visa, which grants them the right to work or study in Hong Kong.

📞 Start Your Seamless Hong Kong Journey

Do not risk delays or rejection due to complex documentation requirements. With Bestar Hong Kong, you benefit from a team that understands both immigration law and the commercial realities of doing business in Hong Kong.

Ready to move forward with your visa application?

Schedule a confidential consultation with one of our specialists to review your specific TTPS or GEP eligibility evidence.