Hong Kong has expanded its Talent List to attract skilled foreign professionals in industries facing local shortages. Starting March 1, the updated list includes 60 professions, making it easier for qualified workers to apply for immigration under various entry schemes.
Foreign professionals meeting the eligibility criteria can benefit from immigration facilitation through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), General Employment Policy (GEP), and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP). Employers hiring through GEP and ASMTP no longer need to prove challenges in local recruitment, streamlining the hiring process.
Since the QMAS revamp on November 1 last year, applicants qualifying under the Talent List receive preferential treatment in the scheme’s General Points Test. The program aims to attract highly skilled individuals to strengthen Hong Kong’s economic competitiveness, allowing successful applicants to settle in the city without needing a job offer. They can also bring their spouse along.
The latest update adds nine new professions in key sectors, including financial services, innovation and technology, legal and dispute resolution, and aviation and shipping. These include accountants, financial professionals with expertise in Islamic markets, commodities trading specialists, systems architects, patent professionals, legal knowledge engineers, ship surveyors, green shipping professionals, and aircraft maintenance engineers.
Applications for these schemes can be submitted via the Immigration Department’s electronic platform. Starting February 26, 2025, a revised fee structure will be introduced, including a new application fee and a two-tiered visa issuance fee to attract top talent and investment.
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