Hong Kong Talent & Work Visas: TTPS vs IANG vs GEP (2026)

Planning to work in Hong Kong or return home? The first step is usually working out which visa route fits you. This guide focuses on the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and lays out IANG, GEP and the other main routes — their eligibility and length of stay — so you can judge which one suits you. Immigration rules change, so always confirm the current details with the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

1. The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS): three routes

TTPS targets high-earning or highly qualified talent. Its defining feature is that you do not need a job offer first — you can apply even without secured employment in Hong Kong, then look for work after you arrive. There are three categories, A, B and C:

1. Category A (high income): annual income of HK$2,500,000 or above (or the equivalent in foreign currency) in the year immediately preceding the application. No quota. Successful applicants are normally granted an initial stay of 36 months.
2. Category B (eligible-university degree + experience): a degree graduate of an eligible university with at least three years of work experience over the past five years. No quota. Normally granted an initial stay of 24 months.
3. Category C (recent eligible-university graduate): a degree graduate of an eligible university within the past five years with less than three years of work experience. This category is subject to an annual quota, allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and does not apply to non-local students who obtained their undergraduate qualification through a full-time, locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong. Normally granted an initial stay of 24 months.

2. Other common talent & work visa schemes

Beyond TTPS, Hong Kong runs several schemes to bring in talent, each aimed at a different group:

• IANG (Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates): for non-local graduates of a full-time, locally-accredited undergraduate (or higher) programme in Hong Kong; you can apply to stay and look for work without an employer sponsor first. The initial period of stay has been relaxed from 1 year to 2 years.
• GEP (General Employment Policy) — Professionals: for overseas, Taiwan and Macao professionals; you must have secured a job relevant to your qualifications or experience that cannot be readily filled by the local workforce, at market-rate pay.
• GEP — Entrepreneurs: for overseas / Taiwan / Macao founders and investors able to make a substantial contribution to the local economy.
• ASMTP (Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals): similar to GEP Professionals but for Mainland talent; likewise you must have a relevant job that cannot be readily filled locally.
• QMAS (Quality Migrant Admission Scheme): for highly skilled or talented individuals, with no job offer required; assessed under a points test (age, qualifications, language, experience, income, etc.).
• TechTAS (Technology Talent Admission Scheme): for R&D talent in designated technology areas, employed by a company holding a valid quota.

The length of stay and renewal patterns under these schemes have generally been relaxed in recent years; the actual arrangements are subject to Immigration Department announcements.

3. Which scheme fits you? (Scenarios)

• Overseas students / new graduates: graduated from a Hong Kong institution → usually IANG; graduated from an eligible overseas university with under three years' experience → consider TTPS Category C (mind the quota and the list).
• Returnees / eligible-university graduates with experience: a degree from an eligible university plus three or more years of work over the past five → TTPS Category B is a common choice.
• High earners: annual income of HK$2.5M+ in the year before applying → TTPS Category A, with a longer initial stay and no quota.
• Already have a Hong Kong offer: depending on background → GEP (overseas / Taiwan / Macao) or ASMTP (Mainland).
• Skilled but no offer yet: consider QMAS or TTPS (if your qualifications / income qualify) — no employment needed first.

4. After the visa: how to actually land a job in Hong Kong

Schemes like TTPS and QMAS let you "arrive first, job-hunt later" — but a visa is not an offer. The real challenge is landing in an unfamiliar local market. A few things matter most:

• Localise your CV: Hong Kong employers' expectations differ from overseas or Mainland norms (wording, format, whether to state expected salary). Reusing an overseas or Mainland CV as-is rarely lands.
• Get past the ATS: many large firms and multinationals screen with an Applicant Tracking System first; the wrong format or keywords get filtered out by the machine. See our CV-vs-ATS guide.
• Application throughput: when you are new and haven't built a network, researching each company and tailoring a CV before applying takes real time. Our apply-on-your-behalf service can shortlist roles, optimise and submit for you.
• Returning home: if you've been away for years and want to re-adapt to the local market, read our returnee job-search guide.