Staying and working in Hong Kong with Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) aims to attract top talents, high income talents and graduates from the world’s top universities. This expect graduates with rich working experience and good academic qualifications around the world to explore opportunities in Hong Kong.
It does not require to have secured an offer of employment in the HKSAR upon application. Successfully, applicant could receive 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met and only such initial stay once. Determination of each application depends on its individual merits. Their stay may be extendable by submitting an application within 4 weeks before expiry. With subsequent successful extensions, an applicant will normally get permission to stay on a 3-3 years pattern
An extension application may opt for assessment under the top-tier employment stream if the applicant has got permission and working as a professional under the TTPS for not less than two years. Moreover, it has an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of tax assessment. In such case, a successful applicant will normally receive an extension for a period of 6 years.
Effective from 26th February 2025, an application fee of $600 will be charged for various talent and capital investor admission schemes. Additionally, visa fees will be adjusted based on the duration of stay, increasing to either $600 or $1,300.
Eligibility for applying for Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
An applicant should meet normal immigration requirements as well as the relevant specific eligibility criteria detailed. So, it need to consider that the eligibility criteria may be subject to change from time to time without prior notice. An application for a visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR under the TTPS may be favourably considered if there is no security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant and the annual quota is available for allotment (applicable to Category C’s applicants only).
The TTPS does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Nepal and Vietnam.
Applicants may choose to apply for the TTPS under one of the categories as listed below:
Category A
Persons with annual income reaching HK$2.5 million or above, or its equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application. For applicants under Category A , the first visa issued will now be valid for three years, which provides more stability for top talent coming to Hong Kong.
Category B
Degree graduates of the world’s top 100 universities with at least three years of work experience over the past five years immediately preceding the date of application. On October 17th, 2024, this list of universities was extended to a total of 198 universities.
Category C
Degree graduates of the world’s top 198 universities in the past five years immediately preceding the date of application with less than three years of work experience, subject to an annual quota which is to be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
This does not apply to those non-local who have obtained the undergraduate qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in the HKSAR.
2024 Update for TTPS Eligibility
The Scheme had an initial list of universities from where the TTPS-eligible graduates selection. This list is now expand to a total of 198 universities.
Increased pool of eligibility by adding 13 more to the list, which includes other top Mainland and overseas universities.
Family members in a TTPS Application
A Top Talent Pass Scheme visa applicant may apply to bring in his/her spouse or lawful domestic partner (same-sex or opposite-sex) and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to Hong Kong and, after admitted to Hong Kong under the scheme, will be their sponsors.
However, this does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of) and former Mainland Chinese residents residing in Macao who have obtained Macao identity cards for less than seven years, unless they have acquired residence in Macao through the One-way Permit Scheme.
Traveling and returning to Hong Kong after admitted with a Top Talent Pass Scheme Visa
Persons admitted with an Employment as Professionals visa can travel and re-enter Hong Kong within the permitted period of stay without any re-entry visa.
Extending TTPS Visa Validity for High-Income Talents (2024 Update)
For high-income talents, validity has extended from two-to-three years, thus enabling them to stay longer under an initial visa.
In other words, the government is expanding the range of universities whose graduates are eligible for the Top Talent Pass Scheme. And, that offers high-income talents a longer initial visa period.
Becoming a Permanent Resident in Hong Kong
Actually, persons admitted under the TTPS 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.
Required documents for an application for a Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) visa
| Documents to be Uploaded by the Applicant for Entry Application | Category A | Category B | Category C |
| The applicant’s recent photograph |  |
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| The applicant’s valid trave l(if applicable). For an applicant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her valid travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR. A Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document may upload his/her PRC resident identity card | |
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| The applicant’s Hong Kong identity card (if any) | |
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| Official transcript of academic records, graduation certificate or supporting letter from the degree awarding institution showing the applicant’s attainment of a bachelor’s degree at any eligible universities/tertiary institutions which are on the aggregate list of the world’s top 198 universities | |
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| Documentary proof of the applicant’s work experience | |
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| Documentary proof of the applicant having annual income of HK$2.5 million or above in the year immediately preceding the date of application, documentary proof issued by the applicant’s employing company specifying the value of the stock options granted to the applicant, documentary proof of financial standing of the applicant’s self-owned companies(if applicable) | |
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| Letter of consent from the applicant’s present working unit or relevant Mainland authorities(for Mainland residents only) | |
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| The applicant’s Macao identity card(for Macao SAR residents only) | |
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| The applicant’s household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card(for Taiwan residents only) | |
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| Proof of the applicant’s overseas residence(for overseas Chinese holding PRC passports only) | |
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Documents to be Uploaded by Each Accompanying Dependant of an Applicant for Entry under the TTPS
- The dependant’s recent photograph
- The dependant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For a dependant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR. A Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document may upload his/her PRC resident identity card.
- Evidence of the applicant’s relationship with the dependant(if applicable)
- The dependant’s Macao identity card(for Macao SAR residents only)
- The dependant’s household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card(for Taiwan residents only)
- Proof of the dependant’s overseas residence(for overseas Chinese holding PRC passports only)
Processing time for an application of Top Talent Pass Scheme visa
Normally, it takes four weeks to process visa/entry permit applications under the TTPS upon receipt of all the required documents. Immigration Department process and determine all applications. However, approval of applications is entirely discretionary and is subject to changes in government policies. The Director of Immigration reserves absolute discretion to refuse any application even if the application meets all eligibility criteria.
Counting on FastLane HR for assistance in Top Talent Pass Scheme visa applications
Applying for TTPS visas can be complex and time-consuming if you do not know exactly the documents and justifications you need to provide to meet the approval criteria by the Immigration Department. Therefore, 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 a TTPS visa. On top ot that, we also offer renewals for TTPS visas. FastLane HR is the perfect partner for people who need TTPS visa assistance to obtain approval in one go.
Full services offered by FastLane HR to facilitate Top Talent Pass Scheme visa applications
- Understand your situation and needs
- Assist and/or advise preparation of required documents
- Review applicants’ documents
- 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 visa label
- Send the visa label to the applicant