Immigration News
Hong Kong Quality Migrant Scheme 2026: Scoring, Approval Data, Application and Renewal Guide
Posted by Uni Immigration on 2026-03-06
Benefits of Hong Kong Talent Scheme: latest number of approved applicants, points system, application and renewal methods. (Attached is talent and document list)
Hong Kong has launched a series of talent-grabbing measures in recent years to attract high-paying, highly-educated, and high-tech talents from all over the world to develop in Hong Kong. Among them, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) launched in 2006 is one of the talent entry schemes with the largest number of applicants in the mainland. According to the Immigration Department (Immigration Department), from 2022 to the end of February 2025, there have been nearly 285,000 applications for the "Highly Talented" and Talented Entry Schemes. However, the approval rate of the former reaches 80%, while the approval rate of the Talents Program is less than 20%. Therefore, before applying, it is recommended to check the number of people who have successfully applied for the Talents Program in recent years, academic qualifications, industry distribution and other data, and understand the latest scoring system, talent list, document list, quotas, benefits, application and renewal methods of the program to see if the Talents Program is suitable for you.
Number of people approved for the Talent Program from 2023 to 2025
First, you can learn about the latest data of Hong Kong Talent Scheme. According to information from the Immigration Department, from its launch at the end of 2022 to February 2025, 161,000 applications for the Talents Program were received, and 27,000 were approved, with an approval rate of approximately 17%. Approvals are mainly from mainland China, accounting for 98%.
For the latest data on the number of people who successfully applied for the Talents Program from 2024 to 2025, please refer to the table below. Although the quota for the Talents Scheme has been canceled starting from January 2023, the number of people who successfully applied for the Hong Kong Talents Scheme in 2023 and 2024 is only 12,969 and 11,848 respectively. The number of successful applicants in the first half of 2025 dropped sharply, more than doubling that in the first half of 2024. It is believed to be related to the reform of the points system at the end of 2024, which further raised the threshold for the Hong Kong Talents Program.
Number of people who successfully applied for the Hong Kong Talents Scheme
| years | first half | second half | total number of people |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7,022 | 5,947 | 12,969* |
| 2024 | 5,614 | 6,234 | 11,848* |
| 2025 | 2,771* | To be announced | To be announced |
Regional distribution of Hong Kong Talents Program
Among the areas that successfully applied for the Talents Program in 2024, Chinese accounted for 98%, and in the first half of 2025, they also accounted for 97%.
| area | 2024 | 2025 (January to June) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 61 | 15 |
| Canada | 51 | 15 |
| Mainland China | 11,593 | 2,695 |
| USA | 46 | 11 |
| other | 97 | 35 |
| total | 11,848 | 2,771 |
Academic qualifications and industry distribution of the Talents Program 2024 to 2025
Number of people approved for the Talent Program from 2023 to 2025
The main applicants for the Hong Kong Talents Program have at least a master's degree or two or more bachelor's degrees. It can be seen that the Talents Program has certain requirements for academic qualifications. In the first half of 2025, the proportion of applicants with a doctorate/two or more master's degrees has increased from 28.1% to 37.2%.
| Educational qualifications | 2024 | 2025 (January to June) |
|---|---|---|
| PhD/2 or more master's degrees | 3,314（28.1%） | 493（37.2%） |
| Master's degree/2 or more bachelor's degrees | 8,065（68.5%） | 772（58.2%） |
| Bachelor's degree or equivalent | 327(2.8%) | 44(3.3%) |
| Other qualifications | 75（0.6%） | 17(1.3%) |
| total | 11,781 | 1,326 |
The above table is based on the classification of the applicants’ academic qualifications by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (cases handled according to the original criteria and procedures before the implementation of the optimization measures). Therefore, the total number in 2025 is less than the 2,771 successful applications.
Hong Kong Talents Scheme Industry or Sector
The distribution of industries or sectors in the Talent Scheme in 2024 and 2025 is roughly the same, with "Financial and Accounting Services", "Information Technology and Telecommunications" and "Other" industries accounting for the majority. Mainland Chinese working in these industries deserve attention.
| Industry or sector | 2024 | 2025 (January to June) |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture, surveying, engineering and construction | 547 | 82 |
| Arts and Culture | 66 | 39 |
| Business and Trade | 1,128 | 223 |
| Financial and accounting services | 3,426 | 913 |
| Information Technology and Telecommunications | 2,688 | 646 |
| other | 3,993 | 888 |
| total | 11,781 | 2,771 |
Hong Kong Talents Scheme Talent List
In addition to the above-mentioned industry distribution, applicants can directly check the "Talent List" regularly updated by the Hong Kong government to understand whether their industry has advantages. The "Talent List" can be applied to the "Quality Talents Admission Scheme" ("Quality Talents Scheme"), "General Employment Policies" and "Mainland Talent Admission Scheme". If your major is on the talent list, applicants from the Hong Kong Talents Scheme will be given priority.
The first talent list was formulated in 2018 and will be reviewed in 2025. It currently covers 60 majors in 9 industry fields. The nine industry areas include "Business Support", "Creative Industries, Arts and Culture, Performing Arts", "Development and Construction", "Environmental Technical Services", "Financial Services", "Medical Services", "Innovative Technology", "Legal and Dispute Resolution Services" and "Aviation and Shipping". The professions or positions listed in the "Talent List" that are in short supply of local talents are exempt from the market supply test. Employers can apply directly without proving local recruitment difficulties, shortening the time for recruiting or applying for the Talent Entry Scheme.
Generally speaking, the academic qualifications required for these positions are no less than a bachelor's degree, and specific professional sectors may have relevant professional qualification requirements; the vacancies should be for "supervisory, managerial or professional level" relevant work experience, with a monthly salary of more than HK$30,000.
Applications for the Talent Scheme are not limited to positions on the "Talent List". If you are interested in learning more, it is recommended to contact Uni Immigration's Hong Kong immigration consultants.
Two major points system for applying for the Talents Program
The above data gives applicants a preliminary glimpse into the profile of those who successfully apply for the Talents Program. The actual application requirements for the Talents Program will be explained below. Excellent talents must first meet the basic qualifications and then be selected by two sets of assessment mechanisms, namely the "Comprehensive Points System" and the "Achievement Points System". The former is suitable for masters and doctoral students from prestigious universities, overseas students, high-tech talents, scientific research and academic talents, entrepreneurs or international talents with strong English proficiency, while the latter is suitable for cultural, artistic or sports talents with outstanding achievements. Applicants must ensure that all statements and information are true and complete.
Basic qualifications for applying for the Hong Kong Talent Scheme
The latest change in the basic qualifications of the Talents Program is from 5 items to 4 items, minus language ability.
age
Be 18 years or older at the time of application.
financial requirements
Demonstrate the ability to cover the living and accommodation expenses of the applicant and dependents (if any) while living in Hong Kong without relying on public assistance.
good character
The applicant has no criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
Basic education
Applicants must have good academic qualifications, generally a university degree awarded by a recognized university. In special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities or experience and achievements that can be supported by supporting documentation may also be considered.
If applicants of the Hong Kong Talents Scheme fail to provide supporting documents to prove that they meet the above basic qualifications, their applications will be immediately rejected by the Immigration Department and will not be processed further.
Hong Kong Talents Scheme Comprehensive Points System
The "comprehensive scoring system" will use a "yes/no" assessment questionnaire from November 2024, replacing the original item-by-item scoring method of "245 points for full score, 80 points for passing", and the evaluation method is simpler than before. There are now 12 criteria covering six major areas, including age, education, language proficiency, work experience, annual income and business ownership, which can also be used as a preliminary self-assessment or self-test method. The latest applicable application eligibility threshold is to meet 6 of the 12 assessment criteria. The threshold may be changed from time to time without prior notice.
| Comprehensive scoring system category | Assessment criteria |
|---|---|
| age | (1) Whether the applicant is 50 years old or younger |
| Educational qualifications | (2) Whether the applicant holds a master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university |
| (3) Whether the master's or doctoral degree held by the applicant is related to "STEM" subjects, i.e. "science", "technology", "engineering" or "mathematics" awarded by an eligible university | |
| language proficiency | (4) Whether the applicant has good writing and speaking skills in two languages |
| (5) Whether the applicant has good English writing and speaking skills | |
| work experience | (6) Whether the applicant has no less than five years of work experience equivalent to degree level or expert level |
| (7) Whether the applicant has no less than three years of work experience equivalent to a degree or expert level in a multinational company or a well-known enterprise, such as a listed company or one of the Forbes Global 2000, Fortune Global 500 and Hurun China Top 500 companies | |
| (8) Whether the applicant has no less than three years of work experience equivalent to degree level or expert level in specific fields/industries, including "innovation and technology", "finance" and "international trade" (including cross-border shipping and air transport, and supply chain management) | |
| (9) Whether the applicant has no less than two years of international work experience equivalent to degree level or expert level | |
| full year income | (10) Whether the applicant’s annual income in the year immediately before application reached HK$1 million or more (or the equivalent in foreign currency) |
| Business rights | (11) Whether the applicant currently owns a business entity with an annual profit of HK$5 million or more (or the equivalent in foreign currency) in the year immediately preceding the application |
| (12) Whether the applicant currently owns a listed company |
Educational qualifications and qualifying universities mean:
Eligible universities refer to the universities/institutions included in the comprehensive list of eligible universities (hereinafter referred to as the “Consolidated List”) prepared by the Labor and Welfare Bureau for this programme. This "consolidated list" is based on the following two criteria:
(a) Eligible universities under the Talent Pass Scheme; and
(b) Universities/schools that have been ranked among the top ten in the QS Global MBA Program Rankings and the Financial Times Global Business School MBA Program Rankings in the past five years and specialize in providing postgraduate courses.
Document requirements for proof of English language proficiency:
The following English proficiency test scores are acceptable: IELTS total score is no less than 7, TOEFL online test is no less than 94, and the National College English Test Band-6 (CET-6) supervised by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China is no less than 520.
Most customers who apply for the Hong Kong Talent Scheme can obtain a Hong Kong residence visa in just 3 to 9 months after Uni Immigration processes the application.
Hong Kong Talents Scheme Achievement Points System
There are no major changes to the "Achievement Points System", which still has two evaluation criteria: whether they have received outstanding achievements, such as Olympic medals, Nobel Prizes, national or international awards, etc., or whether they have proven that their work has been recognized by their peers and made significant contributions to the development of their industry, such as receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the industry. Examples of celebrities who have successfully applied for the Hong Kong Talents Program through the achievement points system include film and television stars, athletes, and artists, including singer Zhang Jingxuan, movie stars and artists Li Bingbing, Huang Xiaoming, Hu Jun, Tang Wei, Zhou Xun, Zhang Ziyi, Fu Mingxia, pianist Lang Lang, Li Yundi, athletes Liu Xuan, Guo Jingjing, Wang Junxia, O'Sullivan, Zhuo Linpu, Li Ning, etc. The Immigration Department pointed out that the requirements of this points system are extremely high. If the above requirements are not met, the application will be rejected immediately.
Most people apply to become talents through the "Comprehensive Points System". According to data from the government's Talent Entry Scheme, from January to November 2023, among 12,336 successful applicants, 12,313 applied under the "Comprehensive Points System", while only 23 people applied under the "Achievement Points System". The Immigration Department regularly selects outstanding candidates and selects the best through the process. Even if you meet all the basic qualifications and the points-based assessment is conducted, you may not be approved. However, the more criteria you meet, the more priority you will give. The final decision will be made based on the individual circumstances of each application.
Benefits of Hong Kong Talent Scheme
Although it is difficult to apply for the Hong Kong Talents Program, it is still so popular, of course because of its many benefits. The Hong Kong Talent Scheme provides a highly independent platform for mainland elites from all walks of life to freely work, start a business or study in Hong Kong. It allows them to plan their residence and career development in Hong Kong, which has excellent rule of law, low tax rates, simple tax system, abundant opportunities and an international environment.
- Suitable for all walks of life
- No need to be hired in advance
- High degree of freedom in life
- Low application cost
- High flexibility in renewal
Talent Program Application Process
- Applicants to the Hong Kong Gifted Talent Scheme and their dependents must submit an online application and upload all supporting documents, and pay a non-refundable application fee
- After receiving the application, the Immigration Department will issue an application confirmation notice to the applicant.
- The Immigration Department regularly selects talented individuals
- Applicants will be notified of the result by the Immigration Department
- If approved, the applicant will be allowed to issue a visa or entry permit to stay in Hong Kong in the form of "e-visa"
- The main applicant of the Hong Kong Talents Program and each dependent are required to pay an additional visa issuance fee.
If you want to learn more about the detailed selection procedures and procedures of the "Quality Talents Entry Scheme" and finally immigrate to Hong Kong, please contact Uni Immigration's Hong Kong immigration consultant immediately.
List of documents required for the Hong Kong Talents Scheme (omitted)
applicant
- Complete the online form
- recent photo
- Valid travel documents
- Hong Kong identity card (if any)
- Documentation proving personal net worth
- Documentary evidence of academic/professional qualifications: academic qualifications and adult certificates, professional qualifications/training/membership certificates (if any)
- Proof of work experience: letters of recommendation from each employer and work visa (if applicable)
- Proof of company business: corporate documents or self-employment certificates for each individually owned business, official company registration documents, recent financial reports and legal documents stating the percentage of shares held by the applicant, operating profit and loss statement or profits tax return
- Proof of income record: Salaries tax assessment notice, documents proving the value of stock options specified by the employing company, or documents proving the financial status of the applicant company
- Proof of language proficiency
- Documentation of career achievements or future plans
- Proof of achievement (applicable to the "Achievement Points System")
- Other supporting documents: such as overseas residence certificate, example: official document showing the applicant’s conditions of stay and period of stay approved by the relevant overseas authorities [only applicable to Chinese citizens holding a passport of the People’s Republic of China and living overseas] Macau Identity Card [only applicable to Macau SAR residents]
Each dependent who comes to Hong Kong with the applicant
- Complete the online dependent form
- Recent photos of dependents
- Valid travel documents
- Documents proving the relationship between the dependent and the applicant: such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, household register and only child preferential treatment certificate (if applicable)
- Other supporting documents, such as: Macau Identity Card [only applicable to Macau SAR residents], Taiwan household registration and Taiwan Identity Card [only applicable to Taiwan residents]
The Immigration Department recommends that applicants of the Hong Kong Talents Scheme fill in the accompanying dependents section during the online application process. If the dependent is a person under the age of 16 (child dependent), the online application form must be signed by his/her parent or legal guardian.
Even if the applicant has provided all the documents related to the Hong Kong Talents Scheme noted above, the Immigration Department may still require the applicant to submit more supporting documents and information.
The process of applying for the Hong Kong Talents Scheme is complex, complicated and time-consuming with steps and documents. In addition, under the circumstances of the substantial reform of the Talents Scheme in November 2024, you need to pay close attention to the latest policies or thresholds. Applying by yourself consumes a lot of time and energy. It would be much more efficient with the help of a professional immigration consultant.
Choosing the right professional immigration consultant is the key to successfully applying for the Talent Program. Uni Immigration has many years of experience and has successfully helped many clients become talents. Therefore, it maintains good communication with the Immigration Department, understands the latest requirements and the Immigration Department's preferences, effectively promotes the application, and highlights the applicant's strengths to increase the approval rate. Finally, we plan every step for customers from applying for the program to becoming a permanent resident of Hong Kong, so that customers and dependents can obtain Hong Kong identity. Contact Uni Immigration’s Hong Kong immigration consultants immediately to learn more.
Duration of stay (number of years) and renewal conditions of Hong Kong Talents Scheme
According to the number of applications and approvals for extension of stay under the Hong Kong Talents Program from 2023 to 2024, the success rate of renewal approval is high. Therefore, cherish the hard-won talent visa, prepare for the renewal in advance, and plan carefully to obtain Hong Kong permanent residence status step by step.
| Talent Plan extension of stay |
2023 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applications | Number of approvals | Number of applications | Number of approvals | |
| 1,351 | 1,309 | 2,313 | 2,113 | |
Comprehensive points system renewal: "3+3+2"
Generally, applicants who successfully apply for the Hong Kong Talents Scheme through the comprehensive points system for the first time will be granted a 36-month period of stay. You must apply for extension or renewal at least 4 weeks before expiration. You must prove that you have settled in Hong Kong and contributed to society. If you are employed in a professional position or establish a business of reasonable scale, the renewal model is usually "3+2" years.
If the salary tax assessable income in the previous assessment year reaches HK$2 million or more, a five-year extension will generally be granted, which is the "3+5" year extension model.
Achievement Points System Renewal
Applicants who become talents through the achievement points system for the first time can generally stay in Hong Kong for 8 years. When extending or renewing their visa, they must prove that they have sufficient financial ability to cover the expenses of living in Hong Kong for themselves and their dependents (if any).
Length of stay of dependents (spouse and children)
Applicants can immigrate to Hong Kong with their spouses and unmarried and dependent children under the age of 18, but their parents and children over the age of 18 cannot accompany them. The dependent's extension application must be linked to the applicant's qualifications and living status in Hong Kong. The general period of stay is the same as the applicant's.
After the applicant meets the 7-year residence requirement, he or she can apply for Hong Kong permanent resident status and enjoy Hong Kong's conveniences in education, medical care and international travel with his dependents.
Talent Scheme Renewal and Hong Kong Permanent Residence Benefits
- One person applies, with spouse and children traveling together
- Spouses can work in Hong Kong and change jobs freely
- You can get a Hong Kong ID card when your child is born, and you can even deduct taxes when you give birth to a child.
- Children can receive education in Hong Kong, including public, private or international schools, with the same treatment as locals
- Hong Kong is an international financial center
- Hong Kong is a low-tax paradise with a simple tax system, which benefits both bosses and office workers and can avoid global taxation.
- Hong Kong’s property transaction tax rate is low
- Many well-known multinational companies, with many high-paying job opportunities
- Hong Kong has a high education level and enjoys 15 years of free education. You can freely choose your children to study in Hong Kong, the Mainland or overseas.
- It has the world's top medical standards. Children studying in Hong Kong are vaccinated for free, and imported drugs are also launched on the market faster.
- The Hong Kong passport is globally accepted and is visa-free for 173 countries and regions.
In order to help customers become talents and successfully renew their visas, Uni Immigration’s professional team fully cooperates with the high requirements of the Immigration Department to reduce the chance of visa rejection. With more than 17 years of experience, we will ensure that you successfully immigrate to Hong Kong. Contact Uni Immigration’s Hong Kong immigration consultants immediately for enquiries!