The Short Answer

Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) Category B and Category C both require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university, but the core difference lies in work experience. Category B is for applicants with at least three years of cumulative work experience within the five years preceding the application, with no quota limit; Category C is for those who obtained a bachelor’s degree within the last five years but have less than three years of work experience, with an annual quota of 10,000 places. Both share the same eligible university list, drawn from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s consolidated list. Graduates who completed their studies more than five years ago but have outstanding achievements should instead consider the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS).

Data Scope

All eligibility determinations in this article are based on the latest consolidated list of eligible universities published by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The list is compiled by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, combining institutions that have appeared at least once in the top 100 of any of the QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education World University Rankings, U.S. News Global University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRanking) over the past five years, with additional extensions for the top five in hospitality management and art and design subjects and the top 20 in ShanghaiRanking’s Best Chinese Universities Ranking (Mainland China). The eligible university list does not equate to the current ranking of any single league table. The calculation of Category B’s work experience years and Category C’s five-year graduation window is counted backwards from the date of application submission, not from the date of approval or entry.

Hong Kong TTPS Category B vs Category C: Eligible Universities, Work Experience and the Five-Year Graduation Rule

B Class and C Class Share an Identical Eligible University List

The TTPS Category B and Category C use the same consolidated list issued by the Hong Kong Labour and Welfare Bureau, rather than applicants checking a QS or THE ranking themselves. The list merges institutions that have entered the top 100 of any of the four major world university rankings at least once in the past five years, with additional extensions for the top five in hospitality management and art and design subjects and the Mainland China ARWU top 20.

As of July 2026, the eligible university list contains approximately 200 institutions, covering Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and institutions from multiple countries and regions. Applications must be based on the latest list published on the Immigration Department website, and cannot be substituted with that year’s QS top 100. The list is maintained dynamically; it does not change because an applicant’s alma mater entered or dropped out of a ranking in a particular year, but the Government periodically adds or removes institutions.

Hong Kong TTPS Category B vs Category C: Eligible Universities, Work Experience and the Five-Year Graduation Rule

What the Three Years of Work Experience for Category B Must Meet

Category B requires at least three years of cumulative work experience within the five years preceding the application. Both full-time and part-time work may be counted, but it must occur after the bachelor’s degree was obtained. There is no industry or position restriction on work experience, nor any minimum salary threshold, but the Immigration Department will review the authenticity of the work proof.

In 2026, the Immigration Department strengthened its review of job-position matching for Category B applications: if there is a significant gap between the applicant’s field of study and the position held, they may be asked to provide supplementary job descriptions, responsibility statements and project experience as supporting evidence. Work proof must include job title, responsibility description, period of employment and salary level, and it is advisable to supplement it with social insurance or tax payment records. Applicants with gaps in employment or frequent changes of employer must provide a reasonable written explanation.

Category B has no annual quota cap and is reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, unaffected by Category C’s 10,000-place quota. The initial approved period of stay is 24 months.

Category C’s Five-Year Graduation Rule and Quota Limit

Category C requires the applicant to have obtained a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university within the five years preceding the application. In other words, an applicant who graduated in 2021 must submit the application by 2026 at the latest. Having less than three years of work experience is a prerequisite for Category C — those with three years or more of experience should apply under Category B rather than Category C.

Category C has an annual quota of 10,000 places, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The quota is not divided equally by month, nor allocated by nationality or university; once the annual quota is exhausted, the Immigration Department will stop accepting new Category C applications until the next year. Category C also has an additional exclusion rule: non-local students who obtained a bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong through a full-time, locally recognised programme are not eligible for Category C and must instead apply through the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG).

The initial approved period of stay for Category C is also 24 months, the same as Category B.

What to Do If You Graduated More Than Five Years Ago

If more than five years have passed since the bachelor’s degree was obtained, the work experience window for Category B and the graduation window for Category C no longer apply, and neither of the two TTPS routes may be suitable.

At this point, you may assess the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS): QMAS uses the general points test (GPT), taking into account multiple factors such as age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, income or business, and the Talent List, without the rigid graduation-year threshold of the TTPS. Holders of master’s or doctoral degrees, those with a background in a shortage industry, or those whose annual salary reaches a certain level may all find opportunities through QMAS. The QMAS eligible university list builds on the TTPS list by additionally including graduates with an MBA from institutions ranked among the global top 10 in the QS or Financial Times MBA rankings.

Another alternative is the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), which applies to those who have already been hired by a Hong Kong employer and is applied for with the employer’s sponsorship.

How to Decide from a Job-Seeking Perspective

For those who already have more than three years of work experience and obtained a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university within the last five years, Category B is the most direct choice: there is no quota anxiety, the documents only need to prove academic qualifications and work experience, and after approval you are free to seek employment or change employers.

For those who graduated in the last five years but have limited work experience, Category C is a viable entry point, but you must watch the pace at which the quota is consumed. It is advisable to submit as early as possible and prepare all documents in one go, to avoid missing the quota window due to supplementary document requests.

Whether under Category B or C, the approved stay status allows you to seek employment, be employed or change employers freely in Hong Kong, without needing an employer’s sponsorship. For renewal, you must prove that you are employed or running a business in Hong Kong — this is the key difference between this scheme and the General Employment Policy (GEP).

Dynamic Maintenance of the Eligible University List

The Immigration Department regularly updates the eligible university list. The latest revision, effective in January 2026, added 5 international institutions and removed 4, keeping the total list at approximately 200 institutions. Additions and removals are based on changes in each university’s ranking in designated league tables, and whether some institutions entered the top 100 in any ranking during the past five years.

Applicants should not assume that once their alma mater is included it will always be eligible, nor should they give up checking the Government list just because their alma mater did not appear in a ranking in a particular year. The safest approach is to log on to the Immigration Department website and download the latest version of the consolidated eligible university list before each application, rather than relying on search engine results or outdated screenshots from third-party websites.

Application Documents and Processing Timeline

The application documents for TTPS Category B and C focus on three main areas: proof of academic qualifications, proof of work experience and basic identity documents. Proof of academic qualifications includes degree certificates, transcripts and academic credential reports. Proof of work experience includes employment contracts, proof of employment, salary records and social insurance or tax payment records. Self-employed individuals need to provide business registration, company registration documents and business statements.

In terms of processing time, the Immigration Department usually completes processing within four weeks of receiving all documents. However, peak periods or supplementary document requests may cause delays. Because Category B requires review of work experience proof, its processing time may be slightly longer than Category C’s. Applicants should ensure all materials are submitted in one go, as supplementary documents reset the processing queue position.

Renewal Transition and the Permanent Residency Path

Whether under Category B or C, after the initial 24-month stay period is approved, the holder may apply for renewal. The renewal pattern is typically 3 years plus 3 years — the first renewal is approved for 3 years, and the second renewal is approved for another 3 years. After seven consecutive years of ordinary residence, one may apply to verify permanent resident status.

Category B and C holders are equal in the seven-year permanent residency calculation, and choosing Category B or C does not affect eligibility for permanent residency. However, holders must ensure they continuously meet the employment or business requirements during renewals, and breaks in stay are not permitted. Restarting the seven-year count after a break in stay is highly disadvantageous, especially for those who have already established a work and life foundation in Hong Kong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Category B and Category C Be Applied for at the Same Time?

No. A single entry application can only select one route. Those with three years of work experience should apply directly under Category B, and those with less should apply under Category C. If work experience reaches three years while awaiting approval, the Immigration Department still determines the case based on the status at the time of application submission.

Do Master’s and Doctoral Degrees on the Eligible University List Count?

TTPS Category B and C only accept bachelor’s degrees awarded by eligible universities. Master’s and doctoral degrees do not apply to Category B and C, but can be used as academic scoring items under QMAS.

Can You Still Apply in the Year the Category C Quota Is Exhausted?

No. After the Category C annual quota is exhausted, the Immigration Department will announce and stop accepting new Category C applications until the next annual quota opens. Applicants may wait for the quota to resume, or assess whether they have accumulated sufficient work experience to switch to Category B.

Does Work Experience Need to Be in Hong Kong?

No. The three years of work experience for Category B can be employment or self-employment experience in any country or region worldwide, not limited to Hong Kong. The Immigration Department only reviews the authenticity and completeness of the work proof, and does not require the work experience to have occurred in Hong Kong.

Do Part-Time Work and Internships Count as Work Experience?

The Immigration Department calculates work experience cumulatively; part-time work may be included in the cumulative period, but whether an internship is recognised depends on whether there was a formal employment relationship, remuneration and the nature of the duties. It is advisable to provide employment contracts, salary records and proof of employment for the Immigration Department’s review.

Sources

  • Official webpage of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), Hong Kong Immigration Department
  • Consolidated list of eligible universities, Hong Kong Labour and Welfare Bureau
  • Explanation of the assessment mechanism of the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), Hong Kong Immigration Department

The information in this article is current as of 17 July 2026. The eligible university list, quota arrangements and review criteria may be adjusted in accordance with Government announcements. Before making a formal application, you should log on to the Hong Kong Immigration Department website to verify the latest list and rules. This page provides a compilation of policy information and does not constitute a promise of approval for any individual case.

Further Reading