Non-Hong Kong permanent residents who wish to work in Hong Kong must apply for and obtain an appropriate work visa or entry permit from the Hong Kong Immigration Department in advance.

Here are the main entry schemes and requirements for foreigners to work in Hong Kong:

Major work visa/entry program

Foreign professionals can usually apply to work in Hong Kong through the following main channels:

1.General Employment Policy, GEP

This is the most common route for expatriate professionals who possess the professional skills, knowledge or experience required but lacking in Hong Kong.

  • Basic requirements:
    • Employment has been secured: Applicants must have been offered a genuine employment contract.
    • Job Relevance: The job must match the applicant’s academic qualifications or work experience.
    • Difficulty in finding locals: The employer must demonstrate that the position is difficult to fill by local workers.
    • Salary is in line with the market: Salary and benefits (including wages, medical care, accommodation, etc.) must be roughly the same as the market salary in Hong Kong at that time.
    • Education: Applicants usually need to hold a bachelor’s degree or above, or possess good technical qualifications, proven professional competence and relevant experience.

2. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, QMAS

The Scheme aims to attract highly skilled talents or talents to settle in Hong Kong without the need for a local employer to take up an offer prior to arrival. Applicants are graded using the Composite Points System or the Achievement Points System.

  • Basic requirements:
    • Be at least 18 years old.
    • Good command of Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin) or English.
    • A good educational background (bachelor’s degree is usually required).
    • Able to independently afford the living and accommodation of myself and my dependants (if any) during their stay in Hong Kong.
    • No criminal record or adverse immigration record.

3.  Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS).

This is a new programme designed to attract high-income earners and top university graduates from all over the world to come to Hong Kong.

  • Main categories:
    • Category A: Persons with an annual income of HK$2.5 million or above in the past year.
    • Category B: Those who have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a top 100 university in the world and have accumulated at least three years of work experience in the past five years.
    • Category C: Those who have received a bachelor’s degree from a top 100 university in the world in the past five years but have less than three years of work experience (annual quota limit applies).

4. Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG).

It is suitable for non-local students who are studying full-time locally-accredited programmes in Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree or higher.

  • Fresh graduates: Apply within six months from the date of graduation and are allowed to stay in Hong Kong for 24 months without having already found a job.
  • Non-recent graduates: Applicants who apply after six months from the date of graduation must first be appointed, and the job must be related to academic qualifications or work experience, and the salary and benefits must be at market level.
 Application Process and Considerations
  • Approval Time:  The processing time for the General Employment Policy (GEP) is typically around four weeks, but it can vary depending on individual circumstances and the level of documentation. Other programs have different approval times, such as the Talent Scheme, which may take longer.
  • Dependent: Persons who have been approved to work in Hong Kong through most of the above schemes can apply to bring their spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to stay in Hong Kong at the same time.
  • Limit of stay: The first granted period of stay is normally 2 to 3 years, after which an extension of stay can be applied. After seven consecutive years of ordinary residence in Hong Kong, you will have the opportunity to apply for a Hong Kong permanent identity card.

It is recommended that you choose the most suitable visa type based on your academic qualifications, work experience and whether you have been offered a position in Hong Kong, and check the official website of the Hong Kong Immigration Department for the latest details and application guidelines.