How to Apply for Hong Kong PR through Talent Schemes and What Are the Procedures in 2024

8 min readAug 6, 2024

How to apply for Hong Kong permanent residents? 3 ways to relocate to HK for ex-pats and the full advantages of Hong Kong PR.

A Hong Kong identity can bring many advantages to you and your direct family, such as education, taxation, medical care, travel, and business, Hong Kong, an international metropolis, connects the Chinese mainland to the International community and recognizes dual identities, all kinds of advantages make more and more elites consider taking a Hong Kong identity.

Then the question is how to apply for Hong Kong PR? What are options suitable for expats? What are some of the advantages or disadvantages? Let us take a look.

Image from South Morning China

3 Popular Ways to Apply for Hong Kong PR

The mainstream ways to apply for Hong Kong identity include the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, Top Talent Pass Scheme, and Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates.

📌Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

It is a global talent attraction program, and the quota limit cancels in 2023 and 2024, and the application surged in these two years. According to the data, there are 12,969 are approved by the Hong Kong Immigration government.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) is one of the Hong Kong settlement policies that most mainland Chinese and expats apply for because it is flexible and convenient. The scheme grants eligible applicants a 3-year stay in HK without employment in advance, so QMAS is a good choice to apply for Hong Kong PR for most expats.

Eligibility Criteria

Age: 18 years old or above;

Financial: sufficient to cover the living expenses of the first year for the self and dependents;

Character: Clean criminal record, no bad entry record;

Language: Good speaking and writing skills (Mandarin/Cantonese/English);

Education: Bachelor’s degree or above;

On the premise of meeting the above basic qualifications, start to choose the points system for scoring. You can choose between the General Points Test (GPT) and the Achievement Points Test (APT).

Comprehensive point system (GPT): It mainly depends on personal conditions, from age, education, work experience, talent list, language ability, family background, and other aspects to score, with a full score of 245 points, and you can apply if you reach 80 points.

Achievement-based Points Test (APT): A full score of 245 points will be awarded if one of the following two requirements is met, and 0 points will be awarded for those who do not.

🔸The applicant has received an outstanding achievement award (e.g. Olympic medal, Nobel Prize, national/international award);

🔸Applicants can demonstrate that their work has been recognized by their peers or has made significant contributions to the development of their sector (e.g. lifetime achievement awards from the industry);

The APT is too demanding, and most people have a GPT and only need to reach 80 points to submit their application.

Advantages of applying

✅It is not required to work in Hong Kong and does not affect the work and life of the Mainland;

✅There is no residency requirement and there is no mandatory length of residence in Hong Kong;

✅The application is flexible, and the renewal can be through work, life, and other connections.

Cons of Application

✔The application period is long, generally 6–12 months;

✔It is difficult to obtain approval, and the applicant needs to have certain personal advantages;

✔The material is complex and requires patient preparation.

Application Process

1. Evaluate qualifications + understand talent schemes;

2. Collect documents + write documents;

3. Apply online;

4. Obtain the file number after successful submission;

5. Wait for the approval;

6. After approval, submit the consent letter to go to Hong Kong, receive the official approval letter, pay the visa fee, and download the e-visa;

7. Make an appointment for a Hong Kong ID card, go to Hong Kong to activate the visa, and get a 3-year visa for the first time.

Favorable Policies

(1) Abolish the quota limit for QMAS applications for two years, i.e. 2023–2024;

(2) The duration of stay for the first time has adjusted to 3 years, and the renewal mode is 3+3+2 years;

(3) Adjust the talent scoring system, the full score is changed to 245, and the new famous enterprises will be given an additional 20 points;

(4) Cancel the interview process and shorten the approval process and approval time;

(5) Fully open the online application channel and cancel the offline/mail submission method;

(6) The list of talents has been expanded from 13 to 51 professional talents;

(7) The online application system has been comprehensively upgraded and revised, and the senior management bonus points have been adjusted.

📌Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)

IANG in full form is Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, and they can apply for a student visa to live in Hong Kong during their study, can apply for a Hong Kong IANG visa after graduation, and can apply for permanent residence in Hong Kong after 7 years.

IANG requires you to study in Hong Kong, so friends who want to get Hong Kong PR through the Hong Kong Study Scheme need to consider whether their time allows or not.

Eligibility Criteria

Age: 18 years old or older;

Education: Bachelor’s degree (10 years of senior management experience is required for a bachelor’s degree without a degree);

Language: English proficiency or English scores;

Character: No criminal record, no bad entry record;

Financial: Able to afford the cost of study and living expenses for yourself or your family in Hong Kong.

Advantages of Application

The application threshold is loose and cost-effective;

After graduation, you can apply for a 2-year IANG visa, and you can work freely in Hong Kong.

Get a postgraduate degree and Hong Kong identity at the same time, killing two birds with one stone.

Cons of Application

The cost is higher, the tuition fee of different schools/majors is different, about 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, and some are more expensive;

You need to go to Hong Kong to study on a full-time basis.

Application Process

1. Confirm the application institution and major, and apply;

2. Get the admission offer and get the student visa approved;

3. Go to Hong Kong to activate the student visa and apply for a Hong Kong resident identity card;

4. Complete a 1-year master’s program in Hong Kong, and apply for a 2-year IANG visa after graduation.

Favorable policies

1. Easy requirements for application;

2. The period of stay of IANG will be extended from 1 year to 2 years;

3. Expand the two-year trial period to cover all graduates of undergraduate and postgraduate programs of local universities on their campuses in the GBA, with no quota.

📌Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

The TTPS is a talent scheme launched by the Hong Kong Government at the end of 2022. It aims to attract high-end talents from around the world, including high-income earners and graduates of the world’s top universities, to explore opportunities in Hong Kong.

At present, TTPS has become one of the popular channels to get Hong Kong’s identity!

There are three categories of application requirements:

■ Category A: Annual income of HK$2,500,000 or above (or its equivalent in foreign currency) in the year preceding the submission of the application

■ Category B: Bachelor’s degree from one of the world’s top 100 universities, with at least 3 years of work experience within 5 years before applying.

■ Category C: Bachelor’s degree from one of the world’s top 100 universities within 5 years before applying, with less than 3 years of work experience, limit: 10,000 per year

Hong Kong’s newly introduced talent introduction policy targets “high-earn talents” and “elite talents”, as long as they meet the requirements, they can submit applications.

Advantages for Application

✔Required documents are simple;

✔The first application does not require an appointment from a Hong Kong company;

✔The processing time is short, and the approval is generally completed in 1–2 months;

✔You are not bound to a Hong Kong employer, and you can work, start a business, or set up a company in Hong Kong.

Cons of Application Cons:

Since it is a new talent plan, there are many policy changes;

There is only one chance to be approved, and do not have a second chance。

Advantages of Hong Kong PR

✔Visa-free access to 172 countries and regions

Hong Kong Passport holders can access 172 countries and territories, including Canada, Finland, Japan, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, and many other countries

✔Favorable tax policy

Hong Kong’s tax system is characterized by its simplicity and low tax rate. There is no double taxation in Hong Kong, and there is no inheritance tax, interest tax, capital tax, business tax, sales tax, VAT, gift tax, or capital gains tax.

Hong Kong’s import tariffs, corporate business tax, and personal income tax are significantly lower than those of mainstream developed countries, especially individual income tax, and the Hong Kong government stipulates that the salary tax rate is up to 15%.

✔International Education

Hong Kong has 5 QS100 universities, and children are eligible for access to 15 years of free international education.

✔Good quality life

Hong Kong is a vibrating city that has high-quality health care and many kinds of food from all over the world.

✔More opportunities for jobs or business

According to the data released by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, the median salary in the second quarter of 2022 was 20,000 HKD, and the salary and benefits are still competitive in the world.

As the world’s third-largest international financial center, Hong Kong has a fair and free economic system and an open investment system.

Registered Hong Kong companies can enjoy low taxes, low tax rates, free entry and exit of assets, convenient capital circulation, a high-quality business environment, and convenient international investment activities.

At present, these 3 talent schemes are the most popular to obtain the PR in Hong Kong. Among them, QMAS is common for expats who want to work and live in Hong Kong. Contact us if you have questions about Hong Kong PR.