Hong Kong (China)Talent visa

Points-based visa for professionals in Hong Kong (China)

The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) is a points-based Hong Kong programme for the settlement of highly qualified professionals and people with outstanding achievements. A job offer is not required at the time of application: the candidate is assessed on education, professional experience, income or personal merit, and the final admission decision is taken by the immigration service on the results of a competitive selection exercise.

Source: Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department (immd.gov.hk)

How selection under the QMAS works

The applicant first satisfies the basic prerequisites (age, education, financial standing, a clean record) and then takes one of the two tests.

General Points Test

At least 6 of the 12 criteria on age, education, language, work experience, income and business ownership must be met
A job offer is not required at the time of application
The initial permission to stay is 36 months with no additional conditions

Achievement-based Points Test

Suitable for holders of an exceptional award (for example, an Olympic medal or a Nobel Prize) or of recognised professional achievement
Of the two criteria of the test, meeting one is enough to be referred to the advisory committee
The initial permission to stay is 8 years

What it costs

Fee for considering the application (not refunded)	600 HKD
Issue of the visa — where the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days	1 300 HKD
Issue of the visa — where the permitted period of stay is 180 days or less	600 HKD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Issue of the visa — where the permitted period of stay is 180 days or less” branch replaces the “Issue of the visa — where the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days” line — 1 200 HKD.	1 900 HKD

The fee for considering the application and the visa fee are paid separately for the applicant and for each dependant.

Documents to gather

The full checklist is in the Guidance Notes (form ID(E)982); below are the categories of document that follow directly from the requirements of the scheme.

A valid travel document
Education documents: a first degree certificate from a recognised university, or proof of technical qualifications and professional experience
Proof of financial standing — the ability to support oneself and one's dependants without public assistance in Hong Kong
Documents showing the absence of a criminal record and of immigration offences
For the Achievement-based Points Test — documents on the outstanding achievement or professional recognition

How the process runs

Selection takes place in four stages.

1
Checking the mandatory prerequisites
The applicant confirms that they are aged 18 or over, financially able to support themselves without public assistance, free of a criminal record and well educated — as a rule with a first degree from a recognised university. Without supporting documents the application is refused straight away and is taken no further.
2
Choosing a test and applying online
The application is made through an online form with payment of the fee for considering it. The applicant chooses the General Points Test (12 criteria with a passing threshold) or the Achievement-based Points Test (2 criteria).
3
The selection exercise
The Immigration Department holds selection exercises regularly. Reaching the points threshold does not guarantee approval: the decision takes account of the recommendations of the advisory committee to the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, which assesses Hong Kong's manpower needs and the applicant's profile.
4
Paying the visa fee and receiving the e-Visa
Once the application is approved, the applicant pays the visa fee and receives an electronic visa (e-Visa), which is used at immigration control on entry to Hong Kong.

Who you can bring with you

The applicant may bring a partner and minor children.

A spouse or a partner in a marriage or civil union (including a same-sex one) recognised in the place where it was entered into

May accompany the applicant provided that the applicant is able to support the dependants out of their own resources without public assistance; the dependant's period of stay normally coincides with that of the principal applicant

Unmarried children under 18

Included in the application as dependants on the same conditions as the partner

Renewal and the grace period

Under the General Points Test the initial permission to stay is 36 months. To extend it, the applicant must show that they have settled in Hong Kong: taken up employment or started a business. Subsequent extensions normally follow the 3+2 years pattern. If, after at least 2 years of stay, the assessable annual income has reached HK$2,000,000, the extension is granted for 5 years at once. Under the Achievement-based Points Test the initial period is 8 years, and to extend it, confirming financial self-sufficiency is enough. The application for extension is lodged no earlier than 3 months and no later than 6 weeks before the status expires; processing usually takes 2–3 weeks.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After at least 7 years of continuous ordinary residence in the Hong Kong SAR one may apply for the right of abode.

Frequently asked questions about Points-based visa for professionals

Who can apply under the QMAS?

The applicant must be at least 18 years old, have a good education (as a rule a first degree from a recognised university), have no criminal record and no immigration offences, and show the ability to support themselves and their dependants without public assistance. The scheme is not available to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea.

Is a job offer in Hong Kong needed in order to apply under the QMAS?

No. The QMAS is designed for moving without a job offer — the applicant is assessed on points or on personal achievements, not on a particular vacancy.

How much does it cost to apply and obtain a visa under the QMAS?

The fee for considering the application is HK$600, and it is not refunded if the application is refused. Issue of the visa costs HK$1,300 if the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days, and HK$600 if it is 180 days or less. The fees are paid separately for the applicant and for each dependant.

How do the General Points Test and the Achievement-based Points Test differ?

The General Points Test has 12 criteria on age, education, language, work experience, income and business ownership — at least 6 must be met. The Achievement-based Points Test has only 2 criteria: an exceptional award (for example, an Olympic medal or a Nobel Prize) or a recognised contribution to the profession — meeting one is enough to be referred to the advisory committee.

Can the family be brought under the QMAS?

Yes. The applicant may bring a spouse or a partner in a marriage or civil union recognised abroad, and unmarried children under 18, provided the applicant is able to support them out of their own resources. The dependants' period of stay normally coincides with that of the applicant.

What is needed to extend the status after the first period of stay?

Under the General Points Test, after the first 36 months the applicant must show that they have settled in Hong Kong — taken up employment or started a business; subsequent extensions follow the 3+2 years pattern. Under the Achievement-based Points Test the initial period is 8 years straight away, and to extend it, confirming financial self-sufficiency is enough.

Other ways to move to Hong Kong (China)

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Hong Kong (China).

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.