Facts and Statistics
By region of applicants
| Region | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 872 | 883 |
| Canada | 530 | 645 |
| France | 1 329 | 1 187 |
| India | 2 244 | 1 518 |
| Japan | 3 449 | 3 689 |
| Philippines | 1 133 | 934 |
| South Korea | 5 565 | 5 516 |
| United Kingdom | 2 446 | 2 472 |
| U.S.A. | 2 076 | 2 121 |
| Others | 15 414 | 12 313 |
| Total | 35 058 | 31 278 |
By industry/sector of applicants
| Industry/sector | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Research and Education | 2 551 | 2 670 |
| Arts/Culture | 2 672 | 3 364 |
| Commerce and Trade | 1 811 | 1 499 |
| Engineering and Construction | 1 432 | 1 180 |
| Financial Services | 2 005 | 2 343 |
| Information Technology | 316 | 416 |
| Legal Services | 120 | 125 |
| Recreation and Sports | 1 869 | 4 517 |
| Others | 22 282 | 15 164 |
| Total | 35 058 | 31 278 |
By monthly remuneration of applicants
| Monthly remuneration | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Below $20,000 | 18 145 | 14 850 |
| $20,000 - $39,999 | 9 607 | 8 211 |
| $40,000 - $79,999 | 4 168 | 4 787 |
| $80,000 or above | 3 138 | 3 430 |
| Total | 35 058 | 31 278 |
By academic qualification of applicants
| Academic qualification | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | 2 543 | 2 072 |
| Master’s Degree | 6 190 | 7 377 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent | 22 665 | 19 882 |
| Other Academic Qualifications | 3 660 | 1 947 |
| Total | 35 058 | 31 278 |
By industry/sector of applicants
| Industry/sector | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Research and Education | 4 255 | 3 962 |
| Arts/Culture | 4 618 | 3 556 |
| Commerce and Trade | 4 209 | 4 382 |
| Engineering and Construction | 2 779 | 3 631 |
| Financial Services | 2 458 | 2 624 |
| Information Technology | 1 235 | 1 366 |
| Legal Services | 86 | 147 |
| Recreation and Sports | 2 904 | 1 358 |
| Others | 2 800 | 5 688 |
| Total | 25 344 | 26 714 |
By monthly remuneration of applicants
| Monthly remuneration | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Below $20,000 | 10 789 | 10 183 |
| $20,000 - $39,999 | 8 819 | 9 847 |
| $40,000 - $79,999 | 4 444 | 5 156 |
| $80,000 or above | 1 292 | 1 528 |
| Total | 25 344 | 26 714 |
By academic qualification of applicants
| Academic qualification | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | 2 025 | 1 898 |
| Master’s Degree | 4 080 | 4 337 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent | 8 970 | 9 418 |
| Other Academic Qualifications | 10 269 | 11 061 |
| Total | 25 344 | 26 714 |
By region of applicants
| Region | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 24 | 22 |
| France | 8 | 18 |
| India | 110 | 130 |
| Chinese Mainland | 24 291 | 26 355 |
| Malaysia | 63 | 73 |
| Pakistan | 56 | 55 |
| South Korea | 169 | 176 |
| U.S.A. | 29 | 25 |
| Others | 725 | 776 |
| Total | 25 475 | 27 630 |
By academic qualification of applicants
| Academic qualification | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | 2 108 | 2 367 |
| Master’s Degree | 20 498 | 22 232 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 2 857 | 3 024 |
| Other Academic Qualifications at Degree Level or Equivalent | 12 | 7 |
| Total | 25 475 | 27 630 |
By industry/sector of applicants
| Industry/sector | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture, Surveying, Engineering and Construction | 547 | 196 |
| Arts and Culture | 66 | 55 |
| Commerce and Trade | 1 128 | 558 |
| Financial and Accounting Services | 3 426 | 2 524 |
| Information Technology and Telecommunications | 2 688 | 1 864 |
| Others | 3 993 | 1 904 |
| Total | 11 848 | 7 101 |
Note: The figures refer to the number of successful cases passing the selection exercise.
By region of applicants
| Region | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 61 | 45 |
| Canada | 51 | 56 |
| Chinese Mainland | 11 593 | 6 888 |
| U.S.A. | 46 | 28 |
| Others | 97 | 84 |
| Total | 11 848 | 7 101 |
Note: The figures refer to the number of successful cases passing the selection exercise.
By academic qualification of applicants (Cases processed in accordance with the criteria and procedures after implementation of enhancement measures)
| Academic qualification | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university | 45 | 4 414 |
| Master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university is pertinent to “STEM”, i.e. science, technology, engineering or mathematics | 41 | 3 541 |
Note: The figures refer to the number of successful cases passing the selection exercise.
By region of applicants
| Region | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 4 | 6 |
| Canada | 23 | 17 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 2 |
| Philippines | 0 | 0 |
| Singapore | 2 | 2 |
| United Kingdom | 20 | 18 |
| U.S.A. | 17 | 18 |
| Others | 12 | 5 |
| Total | 80 | 68 |
By academic qualification of applicants
| Academic qualification | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | 0 | 0 |
| Master’s Degree | 2 | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent | 78 | 60 |
| Other Academic Qualifications | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 80 | 68 |
By region of applicants
| Region | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1 | 1 |
| Chinese Mainland | 106 | 143 |
| Malaysia | 0 | 0 |
| South Korea | 0 | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 0 | 1 |
| U.S.A. | 2 | 5 |
| Others | 9 | 10 |
| Total | 118 | 161 |
By industry/sector of applicants
| Industry/sector | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | 33 | 82 |
| Biotechnology | 12 | 24 |
| Cybersecurity | 9 | 11 |
| Data Analytics | 9 | 5 |
| Digital Entertainment | 3 | 0 |
| Financial Technologies | 13 | 1 |
| Green Technology | 7 | 2 |
| Integrated Circuit Design | 5 | 13 |
| Internet-of-Things | 1 | 1 |
| Material Science | 5 | 9 |
| Microelectronics | 9 | 7 |
| Robotics | 7 | 2 |
| Advanced Communication Technologies | 5 | 2 |
| Quantum Technology | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 118 | 161 |
By monthly remuneration of applicants
| Monthly remuneration | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Below $20,000 | 0 | 0 |
| $20,000 - $39,999 | 66 | 76 |
| $40,000 - $79,999 | 44 | 69 |
| $80,000 or above | 8 | 16 |
| Total | 118 | 161 |
By academic qualification of applicants
| Academic qualification | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | 26 | 53 |
| Master’s Degree | 45 | 65 |
| Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent | 47 | 43 |
| Other Academic Qualifications | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 118 | 161 |
By region of applicants
| Region | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 256 | 191 |
| Canada | 393 | 346 |
| Chinese Mainland | 39 010 | 29 638 |
| Singapore | 143 | 118 |
| U.S.A. | 331 | 304 |
| Others | 924 | 911 |
| Total | 41 057 | 31 508 |
By income of applicants in the preceding year
| Income in the preceding year (HK$) | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 million to less than 3 million | 5 065 | 5 355 |
| 3 million to less than 5 million | 4 202 | 2 762 |
| 5 million to less than 10 million | 1 465 | 1 143 |
| 10 million or above | 1 296 | 938 |
| Total | 12 028 | 10 198 |
Note: The figures refer to the number of applications approved for Category A applicants. Categories B and C applicants are not required to submit information on income in the preceding year.
By industry/sector of applicants
| Industry/sector | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Financial services | 5 483 | 3 445 |
| Commerce and trade | 6 860 | 4 311 |
| Innovation and technology | 5 882 | 3 947 |
| Information and communication technology services | 3 894 | 2 154 |
| Manufacturing industries | 2 153 | 1 436 |
| Engineering and Construction | 2 025 | 1 214 |
| Business support and Human resources | 1 774 | 1 220 |
| Academic research and education | 1 427 | 1 035 |
| Others | 9 413 | 7 135 |
| Total | 38 911 | 25 897 |
Note: The Immigration Department adjusted the application procedures on 1 March 2023, requiring applicants with work experience to declare the industry/sector of their occupations. The above figures refer to the statistics on applications approved from 1 March 2023, where applicants with work experience have declared the industry/sector of their previous occupations as required.
30-01-2026
