Settle in Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) is a quota-based entrant scheme to attract highly skilled and talented people to come to add to Hong Kong’s competitiveness.
Except for awardees of exceptional achievement, such as Olympic medals, all applicants will be assessed under a General Points Test which is purely based on their anticipated contribution to Hong Kong through their qualifications, skills, achievements and are not required to first secure an offer of employment in Hong Kong before applying.
A successful applicant will normally be granted an initial stay of 36 months upon entry. After that, he or she will have to make an extension application together with evidence proving that reasonable steps have been taken for settling and residing in Hong Kong and that contribution to Hong Kong has been made through employment at a senior level or establishment of a business. With subsequent successful extensions, an applicant will normally be permitted to stay on a 3-2 years pattern. Where an applicant has been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for not less than two years and has an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment, an extension of 6 years may normally be granted. Those who have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in Hong Kong.
In 2024, Hong Kong government expect to reform a new mechanism under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme for the proactive invitation of top-notch talents for development, and promote Hong Kong as the focal point of international high-calibre talents.
Family Members in a QMAS Application
An applicant may apply to bring in his/her spouse or lawful domestic partner (same-sex or opposite-sex) and unmarried dependant children under the age of 18 to Hong Kong under the same application. However if the applicant has been admitted to Hong Kong, he or she will be the sponsor of their dependants’ application.
Restrictions and Pre-requisites under QMAS
QMAS does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nepal and Vietnam.
To be eligible for making a QMAS application, the applicant must :
- Be aged 18 or above and have proof of financial strength in supporting and accommodating himself/herself and, if any, his/her dependants during his/her stay in Hong Kong, such as assets in the form of bank deposits, real estate, securities or interests in privately owned business
- Not have any criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere
- Be proficient in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English
- Normally possess a first degree from a recognized university or tertiary education institution or, under special circumstances, good technical qualifications and/or proven abilities, experience and achievements
Quota and General Points Test for a QMAS Application
The General Points Test now has a simpler, more objective scoring system. Applicants will complete an assessment questionnaire that covers six key areas: age, education, language skills, work experience, income, and business ownership. To qualify, applicants need to meet at least six out of twelve criteria across these areas and provide supporting documents for each.
High scoring applications will be short-listed for assessment by the Committee. Applicants successfully being allotted a quota will be issued an Approval-in-principle letter. They will then have to come to Hong Kong as a visitor to attend an interview and supply originals of their submitted documents for verification. Approval will be granted after all necessary application procedures are finalized and original documents verified.
The Six Factors General Points Test
Applicants will score points from each of the 6 factors below, with a maximum of 225 points in total.
Factor 1 : Age (Maximum 30 points)
|
Age |
18-39 |
40-44 |
45-50 |
51 or above |
|
Points |
30 |
20 |
15 |
0 |
Factor 2 : Academic / Professional Qualifications (Maximum 70 points)
|
Basic |
||
|
Doctoral degree / Two or more master’s degrees |
40 |
or |
|
Master’s degree / Two or more bachelor’s degrees |
20 |
or |
|
Bachelor’s degree / Professional qualification |
10 |
|
|
Additional (*) |
plus |
|
|
If a degree is awarded by a renowned institution (**) |
30 |
(*) Excluding honorary degrees
(**) Ranked among top 100 universities/institutions by QS, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Times Higher Education or US News and World Report; or among top 30 colleges in the National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings in the US News and World Reports
Factor 3 : Work Experience (Maximum 55 points)
|
Basic |
||
|
Minimum 10 years of graduate/specialist level work experience, including at least 5 years in a senior role |
40 |
or |
|
No less than 5 years of graduate/specialist level work experience, including at least 2 years in a senior role |
30 |
or |
|
At least 5 years of graduate/specialist level work experience |
15 |
|
|
Minimum 2 years of graduate/specialist level work experience |
5 |
|
|
Additional |
plus |
|
|
No less than 2 years of graduate/specialist level work experience with international exposure |
15 |
Factor 4 : Talent List (Maximum 30 points)
An applicant will score 30 points if his/her qualification and work experience meet the specifications of the professions in the Talent List (http://www.talentlist.gov.hk/) published by the Hong Kong Government.
Factor 5 : Language Proficiency (Maximum 20 points)
|
Written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) and English |
20 |
|
At least one foreign language (written and spoken) in addition to written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English |
15 |
|
Written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English |
10 |
Factor 6 : Family Background (Maximum 20 points)
|
At least one immediate family member (married spouse, parents, siblings, children) is a Hong Kong permanent resident residing in Hong Kong |
5 |
|
Accompany married spouse has a recognized degree |
5 |
|
5 points for each accompanying unmarried dependent child under 18 with a maximum of 10 points |
5 or 10 |
Special Consideration for Individuals with Exceptional Talents, Skills or Achievements
Where it is accepted that an applicant has received an award of exceptional achievement (such as Olympic medals, Nobel prize or national/international awards) or he/she has made significant contribution to the development of his/her field (such as lifetime achievement award from the industry), a full 225 points will be given without the need to go through the Six-factor General Points Test.
Counting on FastLane HR for Assistance in QMAS Applications
Applying for QMAS can be complex and time-consuming if you do not know exactly the documents and justifications you need to provide to meet the scoring requirement of QMAS. It is always best to do it right the first time than trial and errors. FastLane HR has a team of experienced professionals familiar with the requirements and processes involved in obtaining approval under the QMAS. We also offer renewals for QMAS. FastLane HR is the perfect partner for people who need QMAS application assistance to obtain approval in one go.
Full Services offered by FastLane HR to Facilitate QMAS Applications
- Understand your situation and needs
- Assist and/or advise preparation of required documents
- Review documents provided by the applicant
- Prepare declarations, application forms and letters of authorisation
- Submit application to the Immigration Department
- Follow-up and communicate with the Immigration Department and provide additional supporting documents when required
- Continuous communications with the applicant
- Arrange payment and collection of approval label
- Send the approval label to the applicant
Information posted on this website in relation to policies by the Hong Kong Government are based on latest announcements and guidelines as published by relevant government departments at the time of posting. FastLane HR will not be responsible for any loss or damages incurred as a result of any inaccuracy of such information.
Date: January 2023