Find visa optionsFind visas
Menu

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China · work unsponsored · Leads to settlement

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Source check: all 9 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Talent route for high earners and graduates of top-ranked universities to enter Hong Kong without a prior job offer.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyInitial stay of 36 months (Category A) or 24 months (Categories B and C); renewable on meeting the criteria.
Processing time
The Immigration Department indicates processing of about four weeks for a complete application; confirm current timing on the official page.
Government fees
A visa/entry permit fee applies on issuance. Refer to the Immigration Department fee schedule on the official page.
Typical duration
Initial stay of 36 months (Category A) or 24 months (Categories B and C); renewable on meeting the criteria.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗

In short

Talent route for high earners and graduates of top-ranked universities to enter Hong Kong without a prior job offer. Guidance updated 10 September 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/hong-kong/top-talent-pass-scheme#answer

Which TTPS category should you check?

Start with your evidence, not your job title. A category match is a screening step, not an approval.

A: income

At least HK$2.5 million in qualifying annual income in the preceding year. Personal investment income does not count. Prepare tax and employment or business evidence.

Normal initial stay: 36 months.

B: degree and experience

An eligible bachelor-level qualification and at least three years of post-graduation full-time employment or self-employment within the past five years.

Normal initial stay: 24 months.

C: recent graduate

An eligible bachelor-level qualification obtained within the past five years, counted by graduation year, and less than three years of work experience. Annual quota applies. Specified non-local Hong Kong undergraduate graduates are excluded.

Normal initial stay: 24 months.

For B/C, obtain qualification authentication and check the awarding institution on the official university list. A similar name, branch or continuing-education school is not enough. Full category conditions.

Already held a Hong Kong talent permission?

If you hold a talent-scheme permission now or held one within the previous six months, including as a dependant, the guidebook requires both entry and extension eligibility, including qualifying Hong Kong employment or business. Separately, anyone previously granted an initial TTPS stay, as principal or dependant, cannot assume a fresh ordinary initial allowance—even after six months. Check paragraphs 5 and 7 before relying on “no job offer required”. Official guidebook.

Budget for your household

For initial visas with a fixed stay period, each principal applicant and dependant pays separately. Application charges are non-refundable; issuance charges are paid after approval. This estimate assumes everyone receives the same stay period, not an extension or end-date-only grant.

Enter 1–20 people. This is a calculator limit, not a rule about permitted family size. For a stated period of six months, use the higher tier under the official fee guidance.

Applications: 3 × HK$600
HK$1,800
Issuance if all approved: 3 × HK$1,300
HK$3,900
Government-charge total
HK$5,700

Excludes qualification verification, translations, travel and living costs. Official fee rules and exceptions.

Bring evidence for the next stage

Use the guidebook's applicant and dependant checklists. Keep relationship, financial-support and accommodation evidence together. The standard processing clock starts after the required documents and application fee arrive, not when you begin gathering them.

Plan beyond the first grant

Extension normally needs qualifying Hong Kong employment or business evidence. Applying does not itself extend your permission to stay. Use the guidebook's extension instructions and your actual expiry date.

Apply through GovHKHong Kong graduate alternativeEmployer-sponsored alternative

This decision guide and fee model were checked against the linked official sources on . Nationality and general immigration conditions still apply; read the full requirements before applying.

What is the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China?

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) is an unsponsored Hong Kong route. Indicative government fees are A visa/entry permit fee applies on issuance. Refer to the Immigration Department fee schedule on the official page; indicative processing time is The Immigration Department indicates processing of about four weeks for a complete application; confirm current timing on the official page; typical duration is Initial stay of 36 months (Category A) or 24 months (Categories B and C); renewable on meeting the criteria. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Top Talent Pass Scheme admits high-income earners and graduates of the world's top universities to explore opportunities in Hong Kong without first securing employment. It has three categories: Category A for those who earned a high annual income in the preceding year, and Categories B and C for degree-holders from eligible top-ranked universities, differentiated by years of work experience. Categories B and C carry conditions and, for recent graduates, an annual quota. The pass is granted on time limitation only without other conditions of stay.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Identify which category (A, B or C) you qualify under based on income, degree and experience.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather income or degree evidence and confirm your university is on the eligible list.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Submit the TTPS application to the Immigration Department.

  4. After approval

    After approval, relocate, seek or take up work, and renew toward seven-year residence.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Hong Kong

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Hong Kong. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS).

    Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) · verified

Matches these professions

DoctorResearcherEntrepreneurInvestor

Also explored by

Indian Filipino Nigerian

Compare Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China with

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer for the Top Talent Pass Scheme?+

Normally not for a first application. But current or recent Hong Kong talent-scheme holders, including dependants, must meet both entry and extension requirements, including qualifying employment or business. The guidebook also separately restricts a new initial allowance for anyone previously granted initial TTPS stay. Check paragraphs 5 and 7; admission is discretionary.

Which universities qualify under Categories B and C?+

Categories B and C require a degree from a university on the Immigration Department's eligible list of top-ranked universities, which it compiles from recognised global ranking tables. Check the current eligible-university list on the official scheme page, as it is updated from time to time.

How long can I stay in Hong Kong on the Top Talent Pass?+

The initial stay is 36 months under Category A (high-income earners) and 24 months under Categories B and C (degree-holders from top-ranked universities). Each is renewable on meeting the criteria.

Is there a quota or cap on the Top Talent Pass Scheme?+

An annual quota applies only to Category C, which covers recent graduates with less than three years of work experience over the past five years. Category A (high earners) and Category B (degree-holders with at least three years of experience) are not stated to be subject to that quota.

How long does the Top Talent Pass Scheme take to process?+

The Immigration Department indicates it normally takes about four weeks to process a complete TTPS application. Confirm current timing on the official scheme page before you rely on it.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Hong Kong

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

CompareFind visa options