Three categories of applicant
- Category A: annual income of HKD 2.5 million or more in the year before applying
- Category B: a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university, with at least three years of work experience in the past five years
- Category C: a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university awarded in the past five years, with less than three years of work experience (annual quota)
Eligible universities are those on the government’s published list.
First period of stay
- Category A: 36 months
- Categories B and C: 24 months
There are no other conditions of stay during this time, and no job offer is needed beforehand.
Extensions
To extend, you must show you are employed in Hong Kong at a salary broadly at market level, or have started and are running a business in Hong Kong.
Permanent residence
After seven years of continuous ordinary residence in a recognised status, you can apply for Hong Kong permanent resident status.
TTPS at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Investment | No investment required |
| Job offer | Not required |
| First stay | Category A 36 months; B and C 24 months |
| Family | Spouse and unmarried children under 18 |
TTPS application process and timing
- Category assessment (1 week): We confirm your category and the documents needed.
- Prepare and submit (1–3 weeks): Gather your degree, income or employment evidence and apply online.
- Processing (Usually about four weeks): The Immigration Department processes the application.
- Arrival and extensions (Per your visa period): After arriving, apply for extensions when the conditions are met.
Main TTPS requirements
- Category A: annual income of HKD 2.5 million or more in the year before applying
- Category B: a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university and at least three years of work experience in the past five years
- Category C: a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university awarded in the past five years, with less than three years of work experience (annual quota, first come first served; not open to non-local students who studied a full-time local undergraduate programme in Hong Kong)
- Eligible universities are those on the government’s published list of 200 universities
- No adverse immigration or criminal record
Key benefits of TTPS
- No prior job offer needed
- Relatively fast processing
- Bring your spouse and children to Hong Kong
- Apply for permanent residence after seven years
More questions about TTPS
How long can I stay once approved? Category A applicants are usually granted 36 months and Categories B and C 24 months, with no other conditions of stay during that time.
What is needed to extend my stay? To extend, you must show you are employed in Hong Kong at a salary broadly at market level, or have started and are running a business in Hong Kong.
Next step
Every family’s background, funds and timeline are different. Global Immigrate’s professional consultants can assess, free of charge, whether this programme suits you and compare other options. You can also request the full programme brochure on the programme page.
Learn more: Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)