2025 Hong Kong Migration Policy Updates Across Five Schemes

In 2025, Hong Kong’s migration policy saw its largest-scale adjustment in recent years. According to third-quarter 2025 data from the Immigration Department, applications received under various talent admission schemes rose by 23% compared with the same period in 2024, with the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) accounting for the largest share at 38%. Following the Hong Kong SAR Government’s release of the 2025 Policy Address in August 2025, a number of talent admission policies were formally implemented. This article breaks down the five core changes in turn and analyses their practical impact on applicants from different backgrounds.

I. Latest Policy Developments (2025 Update)

1. Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS): Eligible University List Expanded to 198 Institutions

In September 2025, the Labour and Welfare Bureau announced that the TTPS eligible university list had been expanded from the original 176 institutions to 198. The newly added institutions include 22 ‘Double First-Class’ universities on the Mainland (such as Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine) as well as leading overseas art and design colleges (such as the Royal College of Art in the UK and Parsons School of Design in the US). The move was based on a comprehensive assessment of the 2025 QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and marks the first time that specialist arts institutions have been included on the list. Immigration Department data shows that between January and September 2025, the TTPS approved a total of 32,700 applications, an 18% increase on the same period in 2024. The average processing time remained at 4 to 6 weeks.

2. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS): General Points Test Now Has 12 Assessment Criteria

The QMAS currently operates two assessment mechanisms: the General Points Test (GPT) and the Achievement-based Points Test (APT). The GPT comprises 12 assessment criteria, covering six areas: age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, annual income and business ownership. The current eligibility threshold requires an applicant to meet 6 of these criteria before an application can be submitted; the official webpage contains no points table or pass mark. The APT is for persons with exceptional talent or outstanding achievements. Those approved under the GPT are generally granted an initial stay of 36 months, while those approved under the APT are generally granted a stay of eight years.

3. New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES): Relaunched After 8 Years

In March 2025, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) officially began accepting applications. The minimum investment threshold is HK$30 million, of which at least HK$27 million must be placed in permissible financial assets (stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit), with the remaining HK$3 million investable in non-residential real estate (capped at HK$10 million) or designated capital investment funds. As of the end of October 2025, the Immigration Department had received over 2,100 applications and approved approximately 860. The scheme has no quota restriction, and applicants are not required to have resided in Hong Kong for seven years to apply for unconditional stay, but they must demonstrate net assets exceeding HK$30 million and maintain the investment for at least seven years.

4. Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP, also known as the professionals’ scheme): Faster Processing, New ‘Fast Track’

From July 2025, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP, also known as the professionals’ scheme) introduced a new ‘Fast Track’ category. Applicants holding a job offer from a Hong Kong-listed company or a leading enterprise in a specified industry (a list published annually by the Labour and Welfare Bureau) may be issued a work visa within one week. The average processing time for the standard category was also shortened from 8 weeks to 6 weeks. Immigration Department third-quarter 2025 data shows that the professionals’ scheme (ASMTP) approved approximately 8,900 applications, an increase of 12% compared with the same period in 2024.

5. Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG): IANG Visa Extended to Two Years

From August 2025, the limit of stay under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) was extended from one year to two years. The change applies to all non-local graduates who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or above in Hong Kong, covering visas approved in 2025 or thereafter. The Immigration Department stated that the extension is intended to give graduates more time to find suitable employment, without the need to renew in haste. For the 2024/25 academic year, the IANG visa approval rate was approximately 93%, with around 68% of applicants successfully employed within the validity period of their visa.

II. The Ripple Effects of Policy Changes

Taken together, these five adjustments broadly reflect the Hong Kong Government striking a balance between ‘attracting talent’ and ‘controlling quality’. Expanding the TTPS list directly lowers the entry threshold, benefiting in particular graduates from some non-traditional prestigious universities whose field of study matches demand. The QMAS now assesses applications under 12 assessment criteria; an applicant must meet 6 of them before an application can be submitted, and must submit supporting documents for each criterion; applications meeting more criteria will be given priority consideration. The relaunch of the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) provides high-net-worth individuals with a clear migration pathway, but the HK$30 million threshold is three times higher than the old scheme (HK$10 million).

At the same time, the assessment criteria of the various schemes have not been significantly relaxed, and applicants must still submit persuasive supporting documents regarding their academic qualifications, work experience and so on.

III. Strategies for Applicants from Different Backgrounds

1. Highly Educated Recent Graduates (from the Mainland or Overseas)

• Prioritise the TTPS (if your graduating institution is on the list of 198), which requires no prior job offer and can be submitted directly.
• If your institution is not on the list, you may apply through IANG (if you completed your degree in Hong Kong) or the QMAS (where you must meet 6 of the 12 assessment criteria before submitting).
• It is advisable to apply for both the TTPS and QMAS at the same time, using parallel processing to improve the success rate.

2. Professionals with Management Experience

• The QMAS is more suitable: you can check whether you meet the assessment criteria in respect of international work experience (criterion (9) requires no less than two years) and whether you have at least three years’ work experience in innovation and technology, finance or international trade (criterion (8)).
• You may also apply concurrently for the professionals’ scheme (ASMTP) ‘Fast Track’ if you already have a Hong Kong employer.

3. High-Net-Worth Individuals (liquid assets ≥ HK$30 million)

• The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) is a direct route — no employment or residence requirement — but you must demonstrate the source of funds and maintain the investment.
• If you have a business background, you may also consider an entrepreneur’s investment visa for Hong Kong, which has a lower threshold (no explicit monetary cap, but you must show that the business will bring economic benefits to Hong Kong).

IV. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: How do the application requirements differ between TTPS Category A, B and C?

Category A: annual income in the year preceding the application reaching HK$2.5 million or above (tax returns and proof of income required), with no restriction on academic qualifications. Category B: a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university, with at least 3 years’ work experience accumulated within the five years preceding the application. Category C: a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university but with less than 3 years’ work experience, subject to an annual quota of 10,000 places on a first-come, first-served basis. Categories A and B are not subject to any quota limit.

Q2: What is the eligibility threshold for the QMAS General Points Test, and how many criteria must be met to submit?

The General Points Test (GPT) comprises 12 assessment criteria, covering six areas: age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, annual income and business ownership. The current eligibility threshold requires 6 of them to be met before an application can be submitted. Meeting the threshold does not guarantee approval; applications meeting more assessment criteria will be given priority consideration.

Q3: How do you prove the HK$30 million assets required under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)?

Applicants must provide an asset certificate issued by a qualifying financial institution (such as a bank or trust company), covering records showing net assets of no less than HK$30 million over the past two years. The source of funds must be clear — for example salary, company dividends, stock realisation or gifts — and relevant supporting documents must be attached (such as bank statements, tax returns and company audit reports).

Q4: With the IANG visa extended to two years, is it easier for students to obtain permanent residency?

Extending the limit of stay does not directly affect the permanent residency requirement of having ordinarily resided in Hong Kong continuously for seven years. However, the two-year buffer gives graduates more time to find work and avoid interrupting their residence when the visa expires. As long as one has resided continuously in Hong Kong for seven years (including periods holding a work visa or IANG), they may apply for permanent residency.

Q5: Which companies are covered by the professionals’ scheme (ASMTP) ‘Fast Track’?

The Labour and Welfare Bureau publishes a list of qualifying employers each year. Currently it includes Hang Seng Index constituent companies, technology enterprises certified by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation or Cyberport, and some multinational financial institutions. Applicants need to provide proof of employment and an employment contract issued by the company, and the Immigration Department will process the application on a priority basis.

V. Conclusion and Action Recommendations

In 2025, Hong Kong’s migration policy showed a threefold bias towards ‘high academic qualifications, high income and high assets’, while also drawing in diverse talent through measures such as expanding the list of eligible universities and the QMAS’s current assessment under 12 criteria. Applicants should clarify as soon as possible which pathway suits their circumstances and prepare documents promptly, to avoid missing the opportunity as policy windows narrow. It is recommended to consult a recognised migration adviser (holding a licence from the Travel Agents Registry or recognised by the Law Society of Hong Kong) before submitting an application, to ensure compliance and a precise strategy.

References

• Hong Kong Immigration Department: Visa statistics by category (first to third quarter 2025 quarterly reports)
• Labour and Welfare Bureau: Talent policy chapter of the 2025 Policy Address (August 2025)
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Press Release: TTPS eligible university list update (September 2025)
• Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA): New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme frequently asked questions (March 2025 edition)
• Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ): Qualifications Recognition Guidelines (2025 revised edition)