Pathway

Hong Kong Top Talent Residence

Hong Kong Residency

Updated October 6, 2026

Pathway overview

At a glance

Certain high earners and eligible-university graduates can move to Hong Kong without a job offer. You must meet an income or degree-and-experience category, and later extensions depend on local work or business activity.

Job offer required?: Not required for the first application
Income option: HKD 2.5 million in qualifying income in the preceding year
Graduate options: An eligible bachelor’s plus three years’ work in the last five; or a degree from the last five years with less experience, subject to quota

Summary

Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme lets certain high earners and graduates of eligible universities move without first finding a Hong Kong job. You must meet one of three sets of requirements, based on income or your degree and work history.

To extend your stay later, you need evidence of suitable employment or business activity in Hong Kong.

Eligibility

Choose the category that fits

Category A: high income. You earned at least HKD 2.5 million from qualifying employment or business activity in the year before applying. Personal investment income does not count.
Category B: degree and experience. You hold a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university and have at least three years of work experience in the past five years.
Category C: recent degree. You earned a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university within the past five years and have less than three years of work experience. This category has an annual quota. Graduates of qualifying local Hong Kong programs use the separate graduate scheme instead.

Requirements for everyone

Your nationality and residence status must be covered by the scheme. You must provide identity and background records, plus the income, degree, and work evidence required for your category.

For Category C, a place must still be available under the annual quota when your application is processed. The Immigration Department makes the final decision in all categories.

Applying for a Top Talent Pass

Choose A, B, or C Use the income category or the graduate category matching your work history.
Prove each requirement Include income or degree records and any required experience evidence.
Plan for a later extension If approved Build the required Hong Kong work or business activity.

The three categories are alternatives. Category C also depends on its annual quota.

What This Route Allows

If approved, you normally receive 36 months under Category A or 24 months under Category B or C, without needing a job offer first. A spouse or qualifying partner and dependent children can generally apply to join you.

You may be able to extend your stay after finding suitable work or establishing a business in Hong Kong. Permanent residence may be possible after seven years of qualifying residence, under separate rules.

What This Route Is Not

This is not an unconditional right to stay long term. Extensions need supporting evidence.

A degree from an eligible university is not enough by itself: you must also meet Category B or C’s timing and experience requirements.

Next Steps

Check the university list, if relevant, and choose the category that fits your records.
Collect the income, degree, employment, identity, and background evidence for that category.
For Category C, check the current quota before relying on a place being available.
Apply online through the Immigration Department and plan how you will meet the later extension requirements.

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Sources

Hong Kong Immigration Department - Top Talent Pass Scheme - official categories, requirements, stay periods, dependents, and extension rules.
Hong Kong Immigration Department - eligible universities - official eligible-university and category guidance.