Immigration News
Move to Hong Kong 2025: Top Talent, Tech Talent, Professionals and QMAS Pathways
Posted by Uni Immigration on 2025-08-28
Move to Hong Kong 2025: Top Talent, Tech Talent, Professionals and QMAS Pathways
Under the wave of immigration from Hong Kong, Hong Kong will relax the entry plan for non-local graduates within two years starting from 2023 in order to grab talents to fill the gap. The Hong Kong government stated that as of the end of February 2025, 450,000 applications had been received for various talent entry programs, of which more than 290,000 were approved. About 196,000 talents have arrived in Hong Kong, and some talents have come with their families, successfully reversing the decline in the local labor population. Regardless of whether you are professionals, talents, high-end talents or scientific and technological talents, the Hong Kong government welcomes you. How can you miss this opportunity to immigrate to Hong Kong?
There are 7 main ways to immigrate to Hong Kong, includingTalent Plan, Talent Plan, "Technology Talent Entry Scheme", "High-end talent pass plan”, “Program for importing the second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents”, “Arrangements for non-local graduates to stay/return to Hong Kong for employment”, “Entrepreneurs to invest in Hong Kong”, etc. Some of the plans have been relaxed from the original “2+3+3” years to a “3+3+2” year stay mode, and spouses and unmarried children under the age of 18 can accompany them, which shows Hong Kong’s determination to compete for talents. In addition to entrepreneurs investing in Hong Kong, all of these programs are suitable for mainlanders to immigrate to Hong Kong. You may wish to understand the basic concepts of each work visa and program, or directlycontactUni Immigration to see which plan is best for you.
Methods to immigrate to Hong Kong 1. Hong Kong Talents Scheme (Mainland Talents Admission Scheme)
The Hong Kong Talent Scheme includes the "General Employment Policy" applicable to overseas residents, and the "Mainland Talent Admission Scheme" applicable to mainland residents. In short, the Hong Kong Talent Scheme is what is known abroad as a Hong Kong work visa. As long as the applicant possesses the special skills, knowledge or experience required but lacking in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and is hired by a local enterprise in Hong Kong, he or she can immigrate to Hong Kong through this scheme.
In addition, in order to cope with the manpower shortage in the local technical industry, the government will add new channels under the "General Employment Policy" and the "Mainland Talent Admission Scheme" to allow a certain number of young non-degree professionals with relevant professional and technical skills and experience to apply to come to Hong Kong. The purpose is to attract them to settle in Hong Kong for long-term development. It is expected to be launched in 2025 after relevant details are finalized.
Once Uni Immigration processes the application for Hong Kong professionals, it only takes 1 to 6 months to obtain an identity card and work in Hong Kong.
In addition, Uni Immigration will match applicants with jobs related to their academic qualifications or work experience to reduce the risk of Hong Kong visa rejection. Since the Hong Kong Talent Program is tied to the company where they work, they will try to find stable large or international companies. If you want to change jobs, you will have to resubmit your application to the Immigration Department; once the company goes bankrupt or is dismissed, the work visa will be cut off and the 7-year residence time will be recalculated.
Enter the Mainland Talent Program details:
-No quota limit and no specific scoring system
- The applicant has a good educational background, technical qualifications, proven professional abilities or documented experience and achievements
-The applicant’s past salary and benefits were roughly the same as those of Hong Kong professionals at that time
If you want to learn more about the benefits and application qualifications of the Mainland Talent Admission Scheme (Hong Kong Talent Scheme), read now "Grab talents｜People who have successfully applied for the Hong Kong Professionals Program, the Hong Kong Excellent Talents Program and the Entrepreneur Investment Program have arrived in Hong Kong one after another!"article.
immediatelycontactUni Immigration's Hong Kong immigration consultants understand how to apply for the "Hong Kong Talent Scheme" and handle related procedures. Some of Uni Immigration's expert clients have even become Hong Kong talents and successfully immigrated to Hong Kong.
Methods to immigrate to Hong Kong 2. Technology Talent Entry Scheme
This program, like the Hong Kong Talent Program, requires you to be hired by a company before you can obtain a Hong Kong work visa. From the launch of the Science and Technology Talent Entry Program at the end of 2022 to February 2025, only 366 applications were received, 321 were approved, and the approval rate was as high as 87.7%, and 266 people have arrived in Hong Kong. 279 approved applications came from the mainland, 7 scientific and technological talents were from the United States, and 6 were from Taiwan.
The Science and Technology Talent Admission Scheme is supported by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport and will be implemented in December 2022. It was born in response to Hong Kong companies' thirst for science and technology talents. Through quick application, specific companies can obtain mainland or overseas science and technology talents to participate in research and development work. The Hong Kong government has also specifically removed the requirement that technology companies must hire additional local employees when importing foreign talents under the scheme to speed up the competition for talents.
Through the program, qualified technology talents can obtain a 24-month Hong Kong work visa from enterprises, which can be renewed later to become a permanent resident of Hong Kong.
Technology Talent Entry Scheme Eligibility
- Full-time employees employed by Hong Kong technology companies or organizations with quotas issued by the Innovation and Technology Commission
- Engaged in R&D work in the fields of advanced communications technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, network security, data analysis, digital entertainment, financial technology, green technology, integrated circuit design, Internet of Things, materials science, microelectronics, quantum technology or robotics technology
- Hold a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics from a specially recognized university
- The salary should not be lower than the salary level for similar positions
- Meet the specific conditions for the relevant positions specified in the quota notification issued by the Innovation and Technology Commission
immediatelycontactUni Immigration's Hong Kong immigration consultants understand how to apply for the "Technology Talent Entry Scheme" and handle related procedures to avoid rejection of your Hong Kong visa application.
Method 3 for immigrating to Hong Kong. High-end Talent Pass Scheme
As for Gao Caitong, from its launch at the end of 2022 to February this year, more than 120,000 applications were received, more than 98,000 were approved, with an approval rate of about 80%, and nearly 82,000 talents have arrived in Hong Kong. Nearly 95% of the approved applications came from the mainland, and the rest came from Canada, the United States, Australia, Singapore and other places.
The High-end Talent Pass Scheme, referred to as the Talent Pass (TTPS), was launched at the same time as the Science and Technology Talent Entry Scheme and will be effective from December 2022. It is a relatively novel method. The program lasts for 2 years, and applicants should meet at least two requirements: annual income of HKD 2.5 million or more or the equivalent in foreign currency. In addition, those who have obtained a bachelor's degree from a qualified university but have less than 3 years of work experience.
If you successfully apply, you can stay in Hong Kong for 24 months without being restricted by the conditions of stay.
For details, please refer to "High-end talent pass plan” article to learn about the application qualifications, approval time and required documents for Gao Caitong.
Methods to immigrate to Hong Kong 4. Quality Talents Entry Scheme
If you intend to immigrate to Hong Kong but have not been hired by a company in Hong Kong, in addition to the High-end Talent Pass Scheme, you may also consider applying for the Excellent Talents Entry Scheme. In order to attract world-class talents, including from the mainland, to Hong Kong, the quota for the Talent Entry Scheme will be canceled for two years in 2023. This is an opportunity not to be missed. The Quality Talent Admission Scheme adopts two points systems: "Comprehensive Points System" and "Achievement Points System". For details, please refer to "Grab talents｜People who have successfully applied for the Hong Kong Professionals Program, the Hong Kong Excellent Talents Program and the Entrepreneur Investment Program have arrived in Hong Kong one after another!"Article, learn about the differences between the two points systems and the pros and cons of the Talent Entry Scheme.
The "Comprehensive Points System" is the main application channel and is suitable for talented or highly skilled talents who are over 18 years old, have at least a bachelor's degree or a recognized professional qualification, a corresponding level of work experience, written and spoken skills in Chinese and English, a good family background, and independent finances. The "Achievement Points System" requires people with extraordinary talents or skills and outstanding achievements, and is more difficult than the "Comprehensive Points System". If you want to know which industries applicants for the Quality Talent Entry Scheme mainly come from, read "Grab talents｜People who have successfully applied for the Hong Kong Professionals Program, the Hong Kong Excellent Talents Program and the Entrepreneur Investment Program have arrived in Hong Kong one after another!” article to learn more.
For most applicants, it takes about 3 to 9 months to obtain a Hong Kong residence visa once their application is processed by Uni Immigration.
Details of the Quality Talent Entry Scheme
- No quota restrictions
- Accompanying spouses and unmarried children under the age of 18 may have the opportunity to add points to the applicant
- The applicant reaches a certain score in the "Comprehensive Points System" or "Achievement Points System"
- Low cost, short time way to immigrate to Hong Kong
immediatelycontactUni Immigration’s Hong Kong immigration consultants will teach you how to quickly immigrate to Hong Kong through the Quality Migrant Entry Scheme.
Methods for immigrating to Hong Kong 5. Employment arrangements for non-local graduates to stay/return to Hong Kong
The Non-local Graduates Residence Scheme in Hong Kong allows non-local graduates to study full-time locally accredited courses in Hong Kong and obtain a bachelor's degree or higher qualifications to apply for a Hong Kong work visa from the Hong Kong Immigration Bureau (called the Immigration Department in Hong Kong) within six months of graduation and fill in the ID(E)991 form. Apply within 6 months from graduation. If the application is successful, you can stay in Hong Kong for 24 months regardless of the length of employment, and are not subject to other stay conditions.
If you are working in Hong Kong through other schemes such as the Mainland Talent Admission Scheme (Talent Scheme), you do not need to submit an application immediately under the employment arrangement for non-local graduates to stay in/return to Hong Kong.
Details of employment arrangements for non-local graduates staying in/returning to Hong Kong
- "Bachelor's degree or higher qualifications" includes postgraduate non-degree qualifications, such as Graduate Diploma in Education, Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, etc.
- There are no restrictions or quotas on the occupations you can be employed in
- Approval time is about two to four weeks
Method 6 for immigrating to Hong Kong. Scheme for importing the second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents
The second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents who have immigrated overseas can apply for a Hong Kong work visa overseas through this program. In addition to their own information, applicants must also submit their parents' information. The period of stay is about 2 years.
Eligibility for the Second Generation Scheme for Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents
-Age between 18 and 40 years old at the time of application
- Born outside Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan
- The applicant’s parent holds a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card and was a Chinese national who had settled overseas at the time of the applicant’s birth
- Hold a bachelor's degree (or have recognized technical, professional abilities or experience and achievements)
-Good written and spoken skills in Chinese or English
- Financial independence
immediatelycontactUni Immigration's Hong Kong immigration consultants understand the procedures and arrangements for the second-generation Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents program and non-local graduates' stay/return employment arrangements in Hong Kong, which can greatly reduce the risk of Hong Kong work visa rejection.
Methods for immigrating to Hong Kong 7. Entrepreneur investment
Entrepreneur investment is equivalent to entrepreneurial immigration. It is also a general employment policy and does not apply to mainland entrepreneurs. Applicants from overseas, Taiwan or Macau can apply as long as they have a good educational background, technical qualifications or proven professional experience and prove that they can make a significant contribution to Hong Kong's economy.
For details, please see "Grab talents｜People who have successfully applied for the Hong Kong Professionals Program, the Hong Kong Excellent Talents Program and the Entrepreneur Investment Program have arrived in Hong Kong one after another!"article.
Apply to become a permanent resident of Hong Kong
Regardless of any of the above plans, to become a permanent resident of Hong Kong, you must obtain a residence visa for 7 consecutive years or more. The Hong Kong Immigration Bureau (called the Immigration Department in Hong Kong) will consider accepting the permanent residence application. Uni Immigration's professional team will fully cooperate with the high requirements of the Hong Kong Immigration Bureau to reduce the chance of visa rejection. With more than 17 years of experience, we will ensure that you can successfully immigrate to Hong Kong immediately.contactInquire about Uni Immigration’s Hong Kong Immigration Consultants!