Top Talent Pass Scheme

Persons who wish to apply to enter the HKSAR under the TTPS are not required to have secured an offer of employment in the HKSAR upon application. They may be granted 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met. Applicants may choose to apply for the TTPS under one of the categories as listed in paragraphs (a) to (c) below:

persons with annual income^{Note 1} reaching HK$2.5 million or above, or its equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application (Category A);
degree graduates^{Note 2} of the eligible universities^{Note 3} with at least three years of work experience^{Note 4} over the past five years immediately preceding the date of application (Category B); or
degree graduates^{Note 2} of the eligible universities^{Note 3} in the past five years immediately preceding the date of application^{Note 5} with less than three years of work experience, subject to an annual quota which is to be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis (Category C); however, Category C does not apply to those non-local students^{Note 6} who have obtained the undergraduate qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in the HKSAR.

An application for a visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR under the TTPS may be favourably considered if:

there is no security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant; and
the annual quota is available for allotment (applicable to Category C’s applicants only).

Successful TTPS applicant will normally be granted an initial stay of 24 months on time limitation only without other conditions of stay. Each applicant can only be granted such initial stay once.

Overseas Chinese nationals holding People's Republic of China (PRC) passports who meet the eligibility criteria stipulated above and normal immigration requirements may apply to enter the HKSAR for employment under the TTPS if:

the applicant has permanent residence overseas; or
the applicant has been residing overseas for at least one year immediately before the submission of application ("overseas" means countries or territories outside the Mainland, the HKSAR, the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) and Taiwan) and that the application is submitted from overseas.

In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, he/she requires a visa/entry permit to work in the HKSAR. While each application is determined on its individual merits, an applicant should meet normal immigration requirements (such as holding a valid travel document with adequate returnability to his/her country of residence or citizenship; be of clear criminal record and raise no security or criminal concerns to the HKSAR; have no likelihood of becoming a burden on the HKSAR, etc.) as well as the relevant specific eligibility criteria detailed above before he/she may be considered for the grant of a visa/entry permit. It should be noted that the eligibility criteria may be subject to change from time to time without prior notice.

Note 1:
Annual income means taxable employment or business income including salary, allowances, stock options and profits from self-owned companies. Income generated from personal investment will not be taken into consideration.

Note 2:

The level of academic qualifications of applicants obtained from the eligible universities must be equivalent to the recognised Hong Kong standard of bachelor’s degrees. For the avoidance of doubt, honourary bachelor’s degrees will not be accepted.

Note 3:
The eligible universities refer to those universities/institutions on the aggregate list of eligible universities (hereafter “the aggregate list”), which is compiled by the Labour and Welfare Bureau. The aggregate list is based on (i) the top 100 universities/institutions in four designated world university rankings in the past 5 years, namely Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings and Shanghai Jiao Tong University Academic Ranking of World Universities; (ii) the top five universities/institutions providing specialised hotel programmes on the QS World University Rankings in the discipline of “hospitality and leisure management” in the past five years; and (iii) the top 10 Mainland universities under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Best Chinese Universities Ranking in the past five years. For the avoidance of doubt, the academic qualifications obtained from the continuing and professional education arms, the branch schools, the extension schools or the subsidiary schools, etc., established by the eligible universities will not be accepted. For the latest aggregate list, please click here.

Note 4:
The relevant work experience shall be accumulated from full-time employment, or else self-employment, after graduation.

Note 5:
Graduation in the past five years is counted by “year of graduation”.

Note 6:
Non-local students refer to persons entering the HKSAR for the purpose of education with a student visa / entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration.

Entry of Dependants

Persons admitted or seeking admission under the TTPS may apply, under their sponsorship, to bring their spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union outside Hong Kong with an eligible sponsor in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration^{Note 7} and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to the HKSAR under the prevailing dependant policy. Persons admitted or applying for admission under the respective arrangements will be the sponsors of their accompanying dependants to the HKSAR. An application for admission of a dependant may be favourably considered if normal immigration requirements and the following criteria are met:

there is reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the dependant and the sponsor;
there is no known record to the detriment of the dependant; and
the sponsor is able to support the dependant’s living at a standard well above the subsistence level and provide him/her with suitable accommodation in the HKSAR.

This entry arrangement does not apply to:

former Mainland Chinese residents residing in the Macao SAR who have obtained Macao identity cards for less than seven years, unless they have acquired residence in the Macao SAR through the One-way Permit Scheme; and
nationals of Afghanistan and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of).

The length of stay of such dependants will normally be linked to that of their sponsors. Any subsequent applications for extension of stay will be considered only when the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria for entry for residence as dependants (including that there is no change in circumstances which would have otherwise resulted in loss of sponsorship for the applicant, e.g. change in marriage relationship between the dependent spouse and the sponsor, or death of sponsor) and the sponsor remains a bona fide Hong Kong resident living in the HKSAR. These dependants are not prohibited from taking up employment or studies in the HKSAR under the existing policy.

Note 7:
For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “civil partnership” and “civil union” above mean a legal institution of a nature which is akin to spousal relationship in a marriage. The same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership and opposite-sex civil union entered into in accordance with laws outside Hong Kong are limited to only relationships which are legally and officially recognised in the places of celebration. Such relationships normally have the following features: (a) the entering into and dissolution of the relationship are governed by legislation of the place where it is entered into; (b) the relationship requires registration by the competent authority specified by the legislation of the place where it is entered into; (c) the registration is evidenced in a written instrument issued by the competent authority; and (d) parties to the relationship have a mutual commitment to a shared life akin to spouses to the exclusion of others on a permanent basis. Such relationships do not include de facto spouse, partners in cohabitation, fiancé/fiancée, etc.

Processing Time

Top Talent Pass Scheme

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Supporting Documents

A.	Documents to be Uploaded by the Applicant for Entry Application

Please Select Item:

Documents Required (in softcopy)	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
Documents Required (in softcopy)	Category A	Category B	Category C
The applicant’s recent photograph	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
The applicant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For an applicant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her valid travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR. A Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document may upload his/her PRC resident identity card.	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
The applicant’s Hong Kong identity card (if any)	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
Official transcript of academic records, graduation certificate or supporting letter from the degree awarding institution showing the applicant’s attainment of a bachelor’s degree at any eligible universities/tertiary institutions which are listed on the aggregate list of eligible universities	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
Documentary proof of the applicant’s work experience	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
Documentary proof of the applicant having annual income of HK$2.5 million or above in the year immediately preceding the date of application, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous assessment year issued by a local competent authority (e.g. taxation office or revenue department etc.), documentary proof issued by the applicant’s employing company specifying the value of the stock options granted to the applicant, documentary proof of financial standing of the applicant’s self-owned companies (e.g. the latest audited financial report, trading profit and loss account, or profit tax return, etc.) (if applicable)	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
Letter of consent from the applicant’s present working unit or relevant Mainland authorities (Annex of the Guidebook for TTPS) [for Mainland residents only]	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
The applicant’s Macao identity card [for Macao SAR residents only]	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
The applicant’s household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only]	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under
Proof of the applicant’s overseas residence, such as official documents showing the applicant’s conditions of stay and limit of stay endorsed by overseas authorities [for overseas Chinese holding PRC passports only]	TTPS applicants applying for an entry visa / entry permit under

B.	Documents to be Uploaded by Each Accompanying Dependant of an Applicant for Entry under the TTPS

Documents Required (in softcopy)
The dependant’s recent photograph
The dependant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For a dependant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR. A Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document may upload his/her PRC resident identity card.
Evidence of the applicant’s relationship with the dependant e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, family photographs, family letters (with envelopes), census record book and Privilege Card for Single Child (if applicable)
The dependant’s Macao identity card [for Macao SAR residents only]
The dependant’s household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only]
Proof of the dependant’s overseas residence, such as official documents showing the dependant’s conditions of stay and limit of stay endorsed by overseas authorities [for overseas Chinese holding PRC passports only]

C.	Forms and Documents to be Uploaded by the Applicant for Extension of Stay Application

Documents Required (in softcopy)
The applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document showing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR
The applicant’s Hong Kong identity card
Supporting documents listed in Part (D) below [for first time extension of stay application or subsequent extension of stay application with change of employment]
Supporting letter from the current employing company stating the applicant’s position, total monthly remuneration and period of employment [for subsequent extension of stay application without change of employment]
Documentary proof of the applicant having an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous assessment year issued by the Inland Revenue Department or relevant tax documents [only applicable to those who apply for assessment under the top-tier employment stream]

D.	Documents to be Uploaded by Employing Company (for Applicant’s First Time Application for Extension of Stay and Subsequent Application for Extension of Stay with Change of Employment)

Documents Required (in softcopy)
The company’s employment contract with or letter of appointment to the applicant containing information about post, salary, other fringe benefits and employment period
Business Registration Certificate^
Proof of financial standing (e.g. the latest audited financial report, trading profit and loss account, or profit tax return)^
Documents with details of company background such as business activities, mode of operation, background/ connection of company, product ranges, sources and markets, membership of chamber of commerce (if any), etc. (supported with catalogues, brochures, etc.) ^
Detailed business plan (e.g. information on source of funds, estimated capital injection, nature/mode of business activities, expected turnover, sales volume, gross and net profit in the coming years, and proposed creation of local job posts, etc.) [for companies newly set up within 12 months only]^

^ Submission of the documents is not required if the employing company is listed on the Main Board or the Growth Enterprise Market of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, or has successfully obtained an employment or training visa/entry permit for a non-local staff in the past 24 months immediately before submission of the application.

Notwithstanding that the documents and information required have been furnished, applicants, accompanying dependants and employing companies may still be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with the application(s) when necessary.

Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.

Warning

Submission of Application

Processing Time

Payment of Fees

A.	Forms and Documents to be Uploaded by the Applicant for Extension of Stay Application

Persons granted with an initial stay of less than 24 months upon the first entry due to the validity of passports / travel documents, etc.

Documents Required (in softcopy)
The applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document showing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR
The applicant’s Hong Kong identity card

Persons granted with an initial stay of 24 months upon the first entry and the limit of stay going to expire

Documents Required (in softcopy)
The applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document showing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR
The applicant’s Hong Kong identity card
Supporting documents listed in Part (B) below [for first time extension of stay application or subsequent extension of stay application with change of employment]
Supporting letter from the current employer stating the applicant’s position, total monthly remuneration and period of employment [for subsequent extension of stay application without change of employment]
Documentary proof of the applicant having an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous assessment year issued by the Inland Revenue Department or relevant tax documents [only applicable to those who apply for assessment under the top-tier employment stream]

B.	Documents to be Uploaded by Employing Company (for Applicant’s First Time Application for Extension of Stay and Subsequent Application for Extension of Stay with Change of Employment)

Documents Required (in softcopy)
The company’s employment contract with or letter of appointment to the applicant containing information about post, salary, other fringe benefits and employment period
Business Registration Certificate^
Proof of financial standing (e.g. latest audited financial report, trading profit and loss account, or profit tax return)^
Documents with details of company background such as business activities, mode of operation, background/ connection of company, product ranges, sources and markets, membership of chamber of commerce (if any), etc. (supported with catalogues, brochures, etc.)^
Detailed business plan (e.g. information on source of funds, estimated capital injection, nature/mode of business activities, expected turnover, sales volume, gross and net profit in the coming years, and proposed creation of local job posts, etc.) [for companies newly set up within 12 months only]^