Global Talent War and Hong Kong's QMAS, TTPS and ASMTP

Introduction: A Turning Point in the Global Talent War

Early in 2026, the United States announced a further tightening of its immigration quotas, particularly the approval criteria for H-1B work visas and EB-category employment-based immigration, triggering a chain reaction across the global talent market. This policy shift has affected tens of thousands of high-calibre professionals planning to develop their careers in the US, and prompted other countries and regions — including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong — to swiftly adjust their own talent recruitment strategies.

In this “talent grab” contest, Hong Kong — as an international financial and innovation and technology hub — faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, high-calibre professionals lost by the US may turn to the Asian market; on the other, Hong Kong’s own brain drain needs to be addressed through more flexible immigration policies. This article takes a two-way perspective — “attracting overseas talent to Hong Kong” and “Hongkongers developing abroad” — to provide you with a comprehensive Hong Kong migration guide, and, combining the latest policy changes with data analysis, helps you grasp the key decision points amid intensifying global talent competition.

The Impact of US Immigration Cuts and the Global Response

Key Contents of the US Policy Changes

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a series of new rules between the end of 2025 and early 2026, mainly including: raising the H-1B visa salary threshold to the 65th percentile of the industry, tightening the country quota caps for EB-2/EB-3, and lengthening the approval cycle for STEM-field applicants. These measures directly drove the H-1B selection rate for fiscal year 2026 down to about 18%, a ten-year low.

Response Strategies of Other Countries

Facing the US “closing the door” effect, major competitors quickly stepped in:

• Canada: Expanded the Express Entry quota to 550,000, added a “tech talent stream” · Technology, engineering, healthcare · 6–12 months
• United Kingdom: Relaxed the Global Talent visa, removed the annual cap on places · Academic research, digital technology · 3–8 weeks
• Australia: Launched the “Global Talent Independent” (GTI 858) stream, quota increased to 15,000 · Resources, energy, health · 2–6 months
• Singapore: Added the “Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass” (ONE Pass) under the COMPASS framework · Finance, technology, entrepreneurship · 4–8 weeks
• Hong Kong: The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) adopts the General Points Test (GPT) (applicants must meet 6 of the 12 assessment criteria) or the Achievement-based Points Test (APT), and a new “Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)” has been introduced · Finance, technology, law, academia · No processing time specified by the authorities

A Full Analysis of Hong Kong’s Talent Admission Policies

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

The QMAS is Hong Kong’s core route for attracting highly skilled talent or outstanding professionals to settle in the city and enhance its economic competitiveness, and applicants need not first secure a local employer. The current assessment mechanism is divided into the “General Points Test (GPT)” and the “Achievement-based Points Test (APT)”; the GPT comprises 12 assessment criteria spanning six areas — age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, annual income and business ownership — and the eligibility threshold requires meeting 6 of them before an application may be submitted.

Basic eligibility:

• Age: must be 18 or above at the time of application
• Financial: able to support independently the living and accommodation expenses of yourself and your dependants (if any) during your stay in Hong Kong, without relying on public assistance; and must demonstrate that your net personal assets are sufficient to cover living and accommodation expenses for your first 12 months in Hong Kong
• Character: must not have any criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere
• Academic qualifications: hold a degree awarded by a recognised university or tertiary education institution; in exceptional cases, a good technical qualification supported by documentary evidence, proven professional abilities and/or experience and accomplishments may also be considered

The 12 assessment criteria under the General Points Test (GPT) (must meet 6 of them):

• Age: 50 or below
• Academic qualifications: hold a master’s or doctoral degree awarded by a qualifying university; the degree is in a STEM discipline
• Language ability: good written and spoken ability in two languages; good written and spoken English
• Work experience: no less than five years of degree-level or expert-level work experience; no less than three years of relevant experience in a multinational corporation or renowned enterprise; no less than three years of relevant experience in innovation and technology, finance or international trade (including cross-boundary shipping and air freight, supply chain management); no less than two years of international work experience
• Annual income: annual income of HK$1,000,000 or above in the year immediately preceding the application
• Business ownership: currently own a business entity whose prior-year profit reached HK$5,000,000 or above; or currently own a listed company

Achievement-based Points Test (APT): for individuals with exceptional talent or skills and outstanding accomplishments, with extremely demanding requirements; having won an outstanding achievement award (such as an Olympic medal, a Nobel Prize, or a national/international award), or having work recognised by peers and making a major contribution to the development of the field (such as a lifetime achievement award in the industry), is regarded as meeting the eligibility and is further assessed by the assessment committee. Applicants who meet the Talent List requirements may be given priority consideration under the GPT.

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

Launched at the end of 2022, the TTPS is designed for top talent earning an annual salary of HK$2,500,000 or above, or graduating from a top-100 university worldwide. In 2026, the scheme was further expanded to graduates of the world’s top 200 universities, and renewal requirements were simplified.

Application categories:

• Category A: annual income of HK$2,500,000 or above (or equivalent in foreign currency) in the year preceding the application
• Category B: a bachelor’s degree from a top-100 university worldwide, with three or more years of work experience
• Category C: a bachelor’s degree from a top-100 university worldwide, but with less than three years of work experience (annual quota of 10,000)

Latest changes: From 2026, the list of qualifying institutions for Category B and C applicants has expanded from the original top 100 to the world’s top 200, covering more renowned universities in the Mainland and overseas. The asset-proof requirement for Category A applications has also been adjusted from “no proof required” to requiring tax documents, so as to prevent false reporting.

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)

This scheme targets Mainland professionals, with no quota restriction, but requires sponsorship by a Hong Kong employer. The approval time in 2026 has been shortened to 4–8 weeks, about 30% faster than in 2024. Applicants must demonstrate that their position cannot be filled by local recruitment and possess the professional skills Hong Kong needs.

Two-way Migration Strategies: From Hong Kong Outward and Back

Popular Pathways for Hongkongers Developing Overseas

Against the backdrop of intensifying global talent competition, some Hongkongers still choose to develop in the UK, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. The UK’s BN(O) visa (launched in 2021) has to date attracted about 150,000 Hongkongers to apply; Canada’s Stream A and Stream B programmes also offer Hongkongers a fast-track route to permanent residency. Note, however, that in 2026 the approval criteria of these countries have tightened compared with the early period: the UK BN(O) visa requires applicants to have lived in the UK for a full five years before applying for permanent residency, and must not have been outside the country for more than 180 days during that period; Canada requires Stream B applicants to have held a valid work visa for a full one year, and the job category must fall within NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

The Trend of Overseas Talent Returning to Hong Kong

As US visa thresholds rise and the Hong Kong government steps up its talent recruitment efforts, since the second half of 2025 there have been signs of overseas Chinese and international professionals returning to Hong Kong. These returning professionals are concentrated mainly in the fields of fintech, artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

Practical Steps for Applying for Hong Kong Migration

Step 1: Assess Your Own Profile

Based on your age, academic qualifications, work experience, language ability and industry background, compare against the QMAS General Points Test (GPT) (must meet 6 of 12 assessment criteria) or the TTPS application categories, and check whether you meet the relevant conditions. It is advisable to use the Immigration Department’s online assessment tool, or consult a professional immigration adviser.

Step 2: Prepare Application Documents

Core documents include:

• Valid travel documents (passport, identity card)
• Proof of academic qualifications (degree certificate, academic transcript, and an authentication document issued by a third-party certifying body or the awarding institution)
• Proof of employment (employer’s reference letter, etc.)
• Proof of language ability (language test results listed in the application guide, or a degree certificate in a language-related discipline)

Step 3: Submit the Application and Await Approval

The QMAS application must be submitted online; the official website does not state a processing time for entry applications. The Immigration Department conducts periodic selection according to the assessment mechanism, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee approval. For the TTPS, the Immigration Department generally takes four weeks to process once it has received all required documents and the relevant application fee.

Step 4: Follow-up Arrangements After Approval

After approval, QMAS GPT successful applicants are generally granted an initial stay of 36 months, while APT successful applicants are generally granted an initial stay of eight years; under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), Category A is generally granted an initial stay of 36 months, and Categories B and C 24 months. New arrivals granted a stay of more than 180 days must register for and collect a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) within 30 days of arrival; and must apply for an extension before the limit of stay expires. When a GPT successful applicant applies for an extension, they must provide documentary proof showing that they have taken steps to settle in Hong Kong and are residing in the city (for example, being employed in a salaried position or having established a business); those permitted to come to Hong Kong for at least two years whose assessable income for salaries tax in the preceding tax assessment year reached HK$2,000,000 or above are generally granted an extension of five years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: After the US cuts immigration, will Hong Kong’s QMAS become harder to apply for?

A1: The QMAS now adopts the “General Points Test (GPT)” (must meet 6 of 12 assessment criteria) or the “Achievement-based Points Test (APT)”. Applicants can check whether they meet more assessment criteria, so as to improve their chance of being given priority consideration.

Q2: What are the renewal conditions for the Top Talent Pass Scheme?

A2: The TTPS renewal requirements are relatively flexible. Category A applicants must prove that their income while in Hong Kong has consistently met the threshold (annual income of HK$2,500,000 or above); Category B and C applicants need to provide proof of employment or business establishment in Hong Kong. If the income requirement cannot be met, a detailed business plan or employment contract may be provided as an alternative.

Q3: I currently hold an H-1B visa in the US; can I apply for Hong Kong’s QMAS at the same time?

A3: Yes. The US H-1B visa and Hong Kong’s QMAS do not conflict. You may submit a Hong Kong migration application while holding an H-1B, and decide whether to come to Hong Kong after approval. Note, however, that if you have already applied for a US green card (with I-140 approved), you should confirm whether the Hong Kong Immigration Department will require you to abandon your US immigration application (it generally will not, but consulting a professional adviser is recommended).

Q4: If my academic qualifications are not on the top-100 universities list, do I still have a chance to apply for the TTPS?

A4: You may apply under Category A of the TTPS (high-income category), or turn to the QMAS instead. The QMAS GPT comprises 12 assessment criteria, and you must meet 6 of them before you may submit an application; the academic criterion requires a master’s or doctoral degree awarded by a qualifying university. If you have outstanding accomplishments (such as an Olympic medal, a Nobel Prize, a national/international award, or work recognised by peers and making a major contribution to the development of the field), you may apply through the “Achievement-based Points Test (APT)”.

Conclusion: Seizing the Opportunities in Global Talent Mobility

The United States’ reduction of its immigration intake has undoubtedly created an opportunity to reshuffle the global talent market.