Hong Kong Residency Options Explained
- Roger Pay
- Apr 11, 2025
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 9, 2025
🌟 Hong Kong Residency: Your Essential Guide to Living, Working, and Investing in the SAR
Hong Kong Residency Options Explained
Hong Kong (HK), a global financial hub and premier gateway to Mainland China, offers a diverse array of residency options for high-calibre professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors. Navigating the different visa schemes is the first step toward securing your future in the Asia-Pacific region.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the primary pathways to obtain residency and, ultimately, the coveted Hong Kong Permanent Resident (PR) status.
🚀 Key Routes to Hong Kong Non-Permanent Residency
Securing temporary or non-permanent residency is the prerequisite to achieving permanent status. Hong Kong offers several competitive schemes designed to attract global talent and capital.
1. General Employment Policy (GEP)
The most common route, the GEP is for non-local professionals seeking to take up employment in Hong Kong.
Who is it for? Foreign nationals with a confirmed job offer in Hong Kong.
Key Requirements:
Possess a good educational background, normally a bachelor's degree.
Have a confirmed offer of employment for a job relevant to your qualifications or experience.
The employment should be one that cannot be readily filled by the local workforce.
The remuneration package must be broadly commensurate with the prevailing market rates in Hong Kong.
Path to PR: Residence under the GEP counts towards the 7-year continuous residence requirement for Permanent Residency.
2. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
The QMAS is a quota-based scheme that attracts highly skilled or talented individuals to settle in Hong Kong without requiring a prior job offer.
Who is it for? Highly educated and skilled professionals.
Assessment: Applicants are assessed under a points-based system:
General Points Test: Assesses age, academic/professional qualifications, work experience (including international exposure and experience in reputable companies), language proficiency, and family background. A minimum passing score is required.
Achievement-based Points Test: For individuals with exceptional achievements (e.g., Olympic medals, Nobel Prizes, or significant contributions to a field). This is an "all-or-nothing" assessment.
Key Advantage: No job offer is required upon application. Successful applicants are granted an initial stay to find employment or establish a business.
Path to PR: Approved QMAS residency leads to Permanent Residency after 7 years of continuous ordinary residence.
3. Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
A new scheme launched to attract high-income earners and graduates from the world's top universities.
Who is it for?
High Earners (Type A): Individuals with an annual income of at least HK$2.5 million in the year preceding the application.
Top University Graduates (Type B/C): Graduates with a bachelor's degree from one of the world's top 100 universities, with specific work experience requirements.
Initial Stay: Successful applicants are typically granted a two-year stay without other conditions, offering significant flexibility.
Path to PR: The TTPS is a direct path to the 7-year residency requirement for Permanent Residency.
4. New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (C-IES)
The C-IES is an investment migration program targeting high-net-worth individuals who wish to make a substantial capital contribution to the Hong Kong economy. (Note: The original CIES was suspended in 2015 and a new enhanced scheme was launched in 2024.)
Investment Threshold: Applicants must invest a minimum of HK$30 million in permissible assets (including financial assets and non-residential real estate, with a mandatory allocation to a government-managed portfolio).
Who is it for? Foreign nationals, Chinese nationals with permanent residence in a foreign country, Macao SAR residents, and Taiwan residents.
Path to PR: Continuous maintenance of the investment and ordinary residence for seven years allows application for Permanent Residency.
🎯 The Ultimate Goal: Hong Kong Permanent Residency (PR)
Permanent Residency grants the Right of Abode, allowing a person to live and work in Hong Kong without any restrictions or conditions of stay.
The "7-Year Rule"
For most non-Chinese nationals, the pathway to PR is governed by the "7-Year Rule":
You must have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years.
You must have taken Hong Kong as your permanent place of residence.
What is "Ordinary Residence"? This goes beyond mere physical presence. The Immigration Department assesses factors like the purpose and duration of your stay, family ties, job, tax payment, and whether you have established your "home" in Hong Kong. Temporary absences for holidays or business travel generally do not break the continuity of residence.
Non-Chinese Nationals: Must submit a declaration that Hong Kong is their permanent place of residence when applying for PR.
Benefits of Permanent Residency
Right to live and work in Hong Kong indefinitely.
Eligibility for an HKSAR Passport, granting visa-free access to numerous countries.
Eligibility for subsidised public healthcare.
Right to vote in local elections.
👨👩👧👦 Bringing Your Family: Dependent Visas
Most major visa schemes allow the principal applicant to bring their immediate family to Hong Kong under a Dependent Visa.
Eligible Dependents: Spouse (or partner in a legally recognised same-sex relationship entered into overseas) and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18.
Key Benefit: Dependents of most work-related visa holders (GEP, QMAS, TTPS, C-IES) are not prohibited from taking up employment or studying in Hong Kong.
📊 QMAS General Points Test vs. TTPS Requirements
Both the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) General Points Test and the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) are pathways to Hong Kong residency that do not require a prior job offer. However, they differ significantly in their assessment approach: QMAS uses a holistic, competitive points system, while TTPS uses strict, objective thresholds with an easier pass/fail mechanism.
Here is a detailed comparison of the scoring criteria and requirements:
Feature | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) General Points Test | Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) |
Assessment Method | Points-Based System: Scores assigned across multiple factors. Competitive, as applications are ranked by score. | Threshold-Based System: Applicants must meet the fixed criteria of one of the three categories. Non-competitive/Objective. |
Minimum Score/Quota | Minimum Passing Mark: Typically 80 points out of a maximum of 225. (Subject to change.) | No Points System: Simply meet the requirements for Category A, B, or C. Category C has an annual quota. |
Key Assessment Factors | Holistic Review of Age, Academic Qualifications, Work Experience, Language Proficiency, and Family Background. | Strictly Defined based on High Income or Top University Degree + Work Experience. |
Initial Stay Grant | Usually 36 months (3 years). | Category A: 36 months; Categories B & C: 24 months. |
⚖️ Detailed Criteria Breakdown
1. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) - General Points Test
The QMAS General Points Test (GPT) is a comprehensive assessment where a higher score increases the chance of selection, as the quota is competitive.
Factor | Maximum Points | Key Criteria for Scoring |
Age | 30 points | Maximum points awarded to the youngest group (typically 18-39). Points decrease as age increases. |
Academic/Professional Qualifications | 70 points | Higher degrees (Master's/PhD) score more. Bonus points awarded if the degree is from a renowned institution recognized internationally. |
Work Experience | 55 points | More years of experience earn more points. Bonus points for senior roles and international work exposure. Additional points for experience in Multinational Corporations (MNCs) or Reputable Enterprises. |
Language Proficiency | 20 points | Proficiency in both written/spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) and English scores the maximum points. |
Family Background | 20 points | Points awarded for an accompanying degree-holding spouse, and for children/immediate family members who are Hong Kong Permanent Residents. |
Talent List | 30 points (Bonus) | Additional points for possessing skills/expertise in a field on Hong Kong's official Talent List. |
Total Maximum Points | 225 points | The minimum passing mark is typically 80 points. |
2. Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
The TTPS has three non-competitive categories. You only need to meet the criteria for one category.
Category | Requirement | Target Group |
Category A: High Earners | Applicant must have an annual income reaching HK$2.5 million or above (or its equivalent in foreign currency) in the year immediately preceding the application date. | High-income professionals regardless of education/university ranking. |
Category B: Experienced Graduates | Applicant must have a bachelor's degree from one of the eligible universities and possess at least 3 years of work experience over the past 5 years. | Experienced graduates from the world's top universities. |
Category C: Recent Graduates | Applicant must have a bachelor's degree from one of the eligible universities in the past 5 years and have less than 3 years of work experience. | Recent top graduates with minimal work experience. |
Notes | - "Eligible Universities" are compiled from a list based on global university rankings (e.g., QS, THE). | - Category C is subject to an annual quota (typically 10,000) and is allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. |
🔑 Key Differences and Strategic Choice
Strategic Difference | QMAS General Points Test | Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) |
Speed/Certainty | Slower & Less Certain: Processing takes longer (months), and passing the minimum score does not guarantee selection (competitive ranking). | Faster & More Certain: Processing is rapid (often weeks). Meeting the criteria means you are generally approved (non-competitive, except for Category C quota). |
Income Focus | Income is not a formal scoring factor, though high salary is often implied by senior work experience. | Category A is exclusively income-driven (HK$2.5M+). |
University Focus | A degree from a "renowned institution" offers a valuable 30 bonus points but is not mandatory to pass. | A degree from an "eligible university" is a mandatory prerequisite for Categories B and C. |
Flexibility | More flexible; can be passed through a combination of diverse strengths (age, language, family ties). | Less flexible; requires meeting a single, very high threshold (income) or a specific university degree. |
The choice depends on your profile:
Choose TTPS if you are a recent graduate from a top global university (Category C), an experienced graduate from a top university (Category B), or a very high earner (Category A). This is the fastest route if you meet the strict criteria.
Choose QMAS if you have a diverse professional profile (e.g., strong work experience, good language skills, senior roles) but do not meet the TTPS's high income or top university requirement.
🌟 Elevating Your Move: How Bestar HR Consulting Streamlines Hong Kong Residency Applications
Hong Kong Residency Options Explained
Securing residency in a dynamic global hub like Hong Kong (HK) requires meticulous planning and expert navigation of complex immigration laws. For individuals, entrepreneurs, and corporations aiming to utilise schemes like the QMAS, TTPS, or GEP, a professional services partner is essential.
Bestar HR Consulting, which offers a comprehensive suite of corporate and HR services in Hong Kong, is positioned to provide end-to-end support, dramatically increasing the chances of a successful visa and residency application.
🎯 Strategic Visa Consulting: Maximizing Your Eligibility
The key to Hong Kong residency is choosing the right visa and presenting a flawless application. Bestar's expertise lies in strategic assessment and application refinement.
1. Initial Eligibility Assessment and Visa Strategy
Tailored Pathway Analysis: Bestar performs a detailed review of your qualifications (education, income, work experience, etc.) and goals to determine the optimal visa route—be it the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) for high earners/top graduates, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) for skilled professionals, or the General Employment Policy (GEP) for hired employees.
QMAS/TTPS Scoring Maximization: For QMAS, they advise on how to present your profile to achieve the highest possible score against the competitive points test. For TTPS, they verify that all strict income or university criteria for Category A, B, or C are met and accurately documented.
"Investment as Entrepreneurs" Guidance: For those establishing a business, Bestar provides crucial guidance on the Investment as Entrepreneurs Visa. They focus on the Immigration Department’s core requirements: demonstrating a genuine business plan, financial viability, and the critical element of creating local employment opportunities in Hong Kong.
2. Professional Document Preparation & Submission
The Hong Kong Immigration Department demands rigorous accuracy and completeness. Errors or omissions are the primary cause of rejection.
Comprehensive Checklist: Bestar provides a precise, exhaustive list of all required documents, ensuring nothing is missed, including statutory declarations, educational proof, and financial records.
Business Plan Development (Entrepreneur Visa): They assist in drafting a robust, compliant, and persuasive business plan that addresses the specific concerns of the Immigration Department, a non-negotiable requirement for the entrepreneur pathway.
Liaison and Query Management: Bestar acts as the professional bridge between you and the Immigration Department, handling all correspondence, responding promptly to queries, and providing supplementary information to resolve any issues quickly.
💼 Comprehensive Corporate and HR Support for Employers
For companies bringing in foreign talent under the General Employment Policy (GEP), or for individuals setting up a new company, Bestar's integrated HR and corporate services are invaluable.
Residency Support Service | Benefit for Visa Application |
Employment Pass Application | Handles the entire GEP (Employment Visa) application process, ensuring the employer meets the local talent market test and that the remuneration is fair, which are mandatory criteria. |
Hong Kong Company Registration | Required for the "Investment as Entrepreneurs" visa and as the sponsoring entity for GEP. Bestar ensures the company is incorporated correctly and legally compliant from day one. |
HR Consulting & Compliance | Drafts legally compliant employment contracts, employee handbooks, and policies. This demonstrates to the Immigration Department that the hiring company is a legitimate, compliant employer in Hong Kong. |
Payroll Outsourcing | Ensures the proper, timely payment of salaries, tax deductions, and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions, providing documented proof of ordinary residence and compliance for future visa renewals and Permanent Residency applications. |
📈 The Long-Term Residency Advantage: Permanent Residence Support
Obtaining the initial visa is only the first step. The goal for most is to achieve Hong Kong Permanent Resident (PR) status after seven years of continuous "ordinary residence."
Visa Renewal Management: Bestar manages the periodic renewal of your non-permanent visa (e.g., QMAS 3-year renewal, TTPS 2-year renewal). They ensure all conditions of stay are met and documented, maintaining the crucial continuity of your residency.
Proof of "Ordinary Residence": They assist in compiling the necessary evidence to satisfy the 7-year rule, which requires more than just physical presence. This includes employment records, tax filings, residential tenancy agreements, and other proof that Hong Kong has been established as your "home."
Permanent Residency Application: After the seven-year period, Bestar guides and manages the final application for the Right of Abode, a process that requires meticulous attention to the Immigration Ordinance criteria.
By offering a seamless, integrated service—from strategic visa planning to mandatory corporate compliance and long-term residency tracking—Bestar HR Consulting reduces the risk and complexity of moving to and setting up in Hong Kong.
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