The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) seeks to attract highly skilled or talented persons to settle in Hong Kong in order to enhance Hong Kong's economic competitiveness. Successful applicants are not required to have secured an offer of local employment before their entry to Hong Kong for settlement. As part of the enhancement measures, the annual quota limit has been suspended for a period of 2 years, with effect from January 1, 2023.
Applicants who have met all the prerequisites may choose to be assessed either under two points-based tests:
Applicants who are considered to have met one of the criteria under the Achievement-based Points test will pass the assessment route and be selected for further assessment by the Assessment Panel. Requirement under this test is very high and applications which fail to meet any of the criteria under the Achievement-based Points Test assessment route will be refused immediately.
Assessment Criteria under Both Points Tests:
There are 12 assessment criteria under the General Points Test and 2 assessment criteria under the Achievement-based Points Test. Only applicants meeting at least 6 criteria out of the 12 criteria can submit an application under the General Points Test assessment route. Interested applicants should review the assessment factors and ensure their credentials satisfy the requirements under the scoring system before applying.
For talents who are admitted under the General Points Test, the pattern of limit of stay is “3+3+2” years. Talents admitted through the Achievement-based Points Test under the Scheme will generally be granted a stay of 8 years.
Selection Exercise:
Selection exercises will be done on a regular basis for quota allocation to applicants. During each selection exercise, applicants who satisfy both the prerequisites and the minimum prevailing threshold (under the General Points Test) or one of the assessment criteria (under the Achievement-based Points Test) will undergo further selection by an Assessment Panel. Not all applications that fulfil both the prerequisites and the passing threshold are necessarily approved. Applications that meet additional assessment criteria are likely to be viewed more favourably. Successful applicants will be notified and issued a visa/ entry permit (in the form of “e-Visa”) under the Scheme for staying in Hong Kong.
General Points Test:
The prevailing passing threshold is 6 out of 12 criteria.
|
Aspects |
Assessment Criteria |
|
(A) |
(1) Whether the applicant is aged 50 or below |
|
(B) |
(2) Whether the applicant has a master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university |
|
(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 |
|
|
(C) |
(4) Whether the applicant is proficient in two languages, both written and spoken |
|
(5) Whether the applicant is proficient in written and spoken English |
|
|
(D) |
(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 |
|
|
(E) |
(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 |
|
(F) |
(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 |
|
(12) Whether the applicant currently owns a listed company |
For further enquiries, please contact us at 2868 3780 or email [email protected]
Other Immigration to Hong Kong Programs: