TTPS Category C 2026: Eligible Universities List and Application

Introduction

The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) Category C annual quota stands at 10,000 places, and was fully exhausted before mid-year in both 2023 and 2024. Between the end of 2024 and early 2025, the Immigration Department expanded the list of eligible universities twice, lifting the total number of institutions from 185 to 199 — nearly reaching the 200 mark. For fresh graduates holding a bachelor’s degree under mainland China’s 985 or 211 Project, or a certificate from an overseas top-100 university, the expanded list means a wider application window, although the pace at which quotas are consumed has accelerated in parallel. Drawing on primary documents from the Immigration Department and government gazettes, this article offers a full breakdown of Category C eligibility, the distribution of the 199 eligible institutions, the list of supporting documents, and the seven-year roadmap to permanent residency after approval.

What Category C of the TTPS Really Is: A Quota-Based Channel for Fresh Graduates

Category C applications are designed for young graduates with limited work experience. According to the Immigration Department’s “Top Talent Pass Scheme” webpage, an applicant must have been awarded a bachelor’s degree by an eligible university within the five years immediately preceding the application, with cumulative work experience of less than three years. This category is subject to an annual quota of 10,000 places and is granted on a first-come, first-served basis until the quota is filled. It does not apply to degrees obtained through online or distance-learning courses, nor to courses completed on a part-time or mixed-mode basis. Holders of a degree from a mainland branch campus or a collaborative programme run by an eligible university must, before submitting their application, check the Immigration Department’s guidance, which is updated from time to time, to confirm whether that degree falls within the recognised scope. For detailed eligibility, please refer to the Immigration Department’s webpage: https://www.immd.gov.hk/hks/services/visas/TTP.html (Category C application section).

The 2025 Eligible Universities List: An In-Depth Breakdown of the 199 Institutions (Closing in on 200)

The eligible universities list originally covered only universities ranked among the global top 100 in composite rankings. On 1 November 2024, the Immigration Department carried out its first large-scale expansion of the list, adding 13 universities from home and abroad and bringing the total to 198. On 1 January 2025, a further five institutions — including the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences — were added, taking the cumulative total to 199. A government press release (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202410/16/P2024101600711.htm) noted that the expansion aimed to attract more high-potential graduates in support of Hong Kong’s “eight major centres” initiative. The latest “Composite List of Eligible Universities” has been uploaded to the Immigration Department’s website, with the PDF version available at: https://www.immd.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_eligible_universities.pdf .

For mainland institutions, a total of 22 universities currently appear on the list, all of them 985 or 211 Project institutions. They are: Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, Nanjing University, Sun Yat-sen University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Central South University, Renmin University of China, Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Tongji University, Nankai University, Tianjin University, Southeast University, Beijing Normal University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Among the institutions above, some had not previously made the top 100 across all four traditional rankings simultaneously, but following the new mechanism reviewed in 2024, institutions that ranked within the top 100 in a designated ranking at any point over the past five years, or specialised institutions held in high regard by industry, were brought into the list, making coverage of the 985 and 211 institutions more complete.

Overseas institutions span leading universities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France and many more. Eligibility is assessed mainly on whether, within the past five years, the applicant’s graduating institution ranked among the top 100 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the QS World University Rankings, the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings, or the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRanking), or appeared in a designated ranking list over the past five years. Therefore, even if a particular institution has slipped out of the top 100 in the latest annual rankings, an applicant can still benefit provided the institution was on the list in their graduation year.

Strategy for Fresh Graduate Applicants: Securing a Category C Quota and Avoiding the Quota Trap

The annual quota is the scarcest resource for Category C. The Category C quota for 2023 was used up in August, and in 2024 it hit the ceiling even earlier, in June. The Immigration Department issues an announcement when the quota is about to be exhausted and immediately suspends the acceptance of new applications. In other words, the first two months after the quota resets on 1 January each year form the golden application window, and fresh graduates must submit as soon as they obtain their degree certificates. Those who have not yet been issued a formal graduation certificate during their studies may apply with a graduation certificate and a complete academic transcript issued by their school, provided all documents fall within the five-year graduation limit from the application date.

The submission process accepts online applications only. Applicants must complete Form ID(E) 1027 (sample at https://www.immd.gov.hk/hks/forms/hks/ID(E)1027.pdf) and upload documents such as a valid travel document, proof of academic qualifications and relevant work experience (if any). The Immigration Department’s system deducts from the quota in real time, so submitting an application instantly occupies a place; if documents are incomplete and supplementary submission is requested, the place will not be held during that period. Applicants must therefore ensure all supporting documents are complete and uploaded together, to avoid losing the quota due to delays in supplementing documents.

List of Supporting Documents and Common Rejection Traps

The most common reasons for rejecting Category C applications concern proof of academic qualifications and an ineligible mode of study. The Immigration Department requires applicants to provide a bachelor’s degree graduation certificate or graduation proof, and an official academic transcript, issued by an eligible university. Mainland graduates generally obtain an electronic verification through the official academic credentials verification website (學信網) as well, which helps speed up processing. In addition, mainland residents must submit a “Letter of Consent for Working in Hong Kong” issued by their current employer or the relevant mainland authority; those not in employment may have it issued by the unit holding their personnel file.

The Immigration Department also reserves the right to require applicants to provide a “Certificate of No Criminal Conviction” issued by the Hong Kong Police Force. Where the authenticity of academic qualifications is in doubt, the Department will refer the case to an independent assessment body for verification, during which processing time will be substantially extended. Another frequent trap concerns the mode of study: distance-learning, online, mixed-mode and part-time courses do not meet the definition of “awarded by an eligible university”. Note that certain collaborative programmes or non-main-campus courses offered by overseas universities, even if ultimately awarded a degree by the same university, may not be accepted; applicants should carefully check the Immigration Department’s guidance.

Status Transition After Approval and the Seven-Year Roadmap to Permanent Residency

Once a Category C application is approved, the applicant will be issued an entry permit label with a 24-month limit of stay, on the strength of which they may apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card. Within the first two years, the applicant may work, change jobs or start a business in Hong Kong without prior approval from the Immigration Department. Before the limit expires, an extension of stay must be applied for; by then the applicant must already be employed (as an employee or self-employed) with compensation and benefits at market level, otherwise the renewal will be refused. Detailed requirements for extension of stay are set out on the same scheme webpage: https://www.immd.gov.hk/hks/services/visas/TTP.html .

After seven consecutive years of ordinary residence in Hong Kong, the applicant may, in accordance with the law, apply to the Immigration Department to verify eligibility for a permanent resident identity card. The seven years include the entire period of stay in Hong Kong under the TTPS visa, but if the applicant is away from Hong Kong for extended periods during that time, the Immigration Department will require supporting documents explaining the frequency of ties to Hong Kong, such as a Hong Kong residential address, employment records and the residence status of family members in Hong Kong. Once verified, the applicant may apply for a permanent resident identity card and, subject to other provisions of the Immigration Ordinance, apply for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport.

Conclusion

The eligible universities list for the TTPS Category C grew from 185 to 199 institutions within 12 months, almost forming a “200-strong” global talent pass. The comprehensive inclusion of the 22 mainland 985/211 institutions further lowers the threshold for fresh graduates to obtain a Hong Kong work visa on the strength of their qualifications. Yet the pace of quota consumption keeps accelerating — more than 6,000 Category C applications were already recorded in the first quarter of 2025, and quota pressure shows no sign of easing. Fresh graduates intending to come to Hong Kong through this channel must prepare the full set of documents at the start of each year and strive to lock in a quota before it is exhausted.

This article is for information reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Regarding the latest version of the TTPS and its assessment criteria, the official announcements of the Immigration Department shall prevail.