QMAS assessment criteria self-check

General Points Test: tick the criteria you meet

Age (1) Whether the applicant is aged 50 or below

Academic Qualifications (2) Whether the applicant has a master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university ^Note1 (3) Whether the applicant’s master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university is pertinent to “STEM”, i.e. science, technology, engineering or mathematics ^Note1^Note2

Language Proficiency (4) Whether the applicant is proficient in two languages, both written and spoken (5) Whether the applicant is proficient in written and spoken English

Work Experience (6) Whether the applicant has no less than five years’ graduate or specialist level work experience (7) Whether the applicant has no less than three years’ graduate or specialist level work experience in multi-national companies (MNCs) or reputable enterprises, such as listed companies or companies on the lists of The Global 2000 by Forbes, the Fortune Global 500 and the Hurun China 500 (8) Whether the applicant has no less than three years’ graduate or specialist level work experience in one of the specific fields/industries, including “innovation and technology”, “finance” and “international trade” (including cross-boundary marine and aviation transportation, and supply chain management) (9) Whether the applicant has no less than two years’ graduate or specialist level work experience with international exposure ^Note3

Annual Income (10) Whether the applicant has an annual income reaching HK$1 million or above, or its equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application

Business Ownership (11) Whether the applicant currently owns a business entity with an annual profit reaching HK$5 million or above, or its equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application ^Note4 (12) Whether the applicant currently owns a listed company ^Note4

Prevailing passing threshold

The prevailing passing threshold is 6 out of 12.

A passing threshold is set under the General Points Test. Only applicants meeting the passing threshold could submit their applications via the online application system. Interested applicants are advised to assess whether their credentials are adequate to meet the passing threshold before submitting an application. The passing threshold is subject to change from time to time without prior notice.

Prerequisites to meet before applying

Age The applicant must be aged 18 or above when submitting an application under the Scheme.
Financial Requirement The applicant must be able to demonstrate that he/she is capable of supporting and accommodating himself/herself and his/her dependant(s), if any, on his/her own financial resources without relying on public assistance during his/her stay in Hong Kong.
Good Character The applicant must not have any criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
Basic Academic Qualifications The applicant must have a good educational background, normally a first degree from a recognized university or tertiary educational institution. Under special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities, and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be considered.

Achievement-based Points Test

Individuals with exceptional talent or skill and outstanding achievements may choose the Achievement-based Points Test. Its assessment criteria include:

the applicant has received an award of exceptional achievement (e.g. Olympic medal, Nobel prize, national/international award); and
the applicant can show that his/her work has been acknowledged by his/her peers or has contributed significantly to the development of his/her field (e.g. lifetime achievement award from industry).

Official notes

Note 1 The eligible universities refer to those universities/institutions on the aggregate list of eligible universities (the aggregate list), which is compiled by the Labour and Welfare Bureau for the Scheme. The aggregate list is based on: (a) the eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme; and (b) the top 10 universities/institutions in the QS Global MBA Rankings and the Financial Times Business School Rankings in MBA providing only postgraduate programmes in the past five years. For the avoidance of doubt, academic qualifications awarded by the continuing and professional education arms, the branch schools, the extension schools or the subsidiary schools, etc., established by the eligible universities will not be accepted. For the latest aggregate list, please click here. The level of academic qualifications of applicants obtained from the eligible universities must be equivalent to the recognised Hong Kong standard of master’s or doctoral degrees. For the avoidance of doubt, any honourary master’s/honourary doctoral degrees or degrees not awarded by nationally accredited/licensed institutions will not be accepted.

Note 2 For the reference list of STEM subjects, please click here. The list is for reference only. Academic qualifications in a subject not included in the reference list may also be considered subject to the supporting document(s) furnished by the applicant.

Note 3 In respect of the assessment criterion about work experience with international exposure, it refers to graduate or specialist level work experience outside the applicant’s home country/territory.

Note 4 A business entity refers to a legally recognised company/corporation over which the applicant has the right to exercise legal and financial control. Ownership status can generally be established in the following ways: (a) the applicant holds 50% or more of the ownership interests in a non-listed company to which he/she is absolutely beneficially entitled, thereby having a controlling stake and influence over the business; or (b) the applicant holds a significant percentage of a listed company’s shares, normally 10% or more of the ownership interests to which he/she is absolutely beneficially entitled, demonstrating the applicant’s substantial level of ownership, control and influence over the company’s strategic directions, operational decisions and overall governance.

Source: the Immigration Department's Assessment Routes and Quality Migrant Admission Scheme pages, reproduced as published, retrieved 7 October 2026.

The result is for reference only; the Immigration Department's published rules prevail. The passing threshold is subject to change from time to time without prior notice, and meeting it does not mean an application will necessarily be approved.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme pathway guide → Immigration Department: Assessment Routes ↗

Disclaimer

This tool is for reference only and is not legal advice. For an actual application, consult a licensed Hong Kong immigration practitioner or lawyer. The Hong Kong Immigration Department makes the final decision.