The latest figures from the Hong Kong Immigration Department show that in 2025, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) received over 82,000 applications, an increase of about 17% compared with the same period in 2024, but the approval rate fell to 38%, with competition intensifying markedly. Another noteworthy set of figures comes from the Labour and Welfare Bureau: as of the first quarter of 2026, the number of people who actually relocated to Hong Kong under the QMAS accounted for only 61% of the total approved, and the visa renewal success rate was approximately 73%. These two sets of figures reveal a key fact — obtaining approval-in-principle is only the starting point; whether one can genuinely settle in Hong Kong and maintain their status is the core proposition that applicants need to plan for systematically.
Three Major Changes to the QMAS Policy in 2026
In 2026, the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) continues the adjustment direction set at the end of 2025, and the Immigration Department has undertaken more refined optimisation of its talent screening mechanism. The most significant change is that the minimum passing mark under the General Points Test (GPT) has been raised from 80 points to 100 points, which means that relying solely on a bachelor’s degree plus a few years of work experience makes it very difficult to meet the application threshold. According to internal Immigration Department guidance, the new policy aims to prioritise applicants with a master’s degree or above, international work experience, or those working in shortage industries.
The second important adjustment is that the Talent List has been expanded from 51 items to 60 items. The newly added fields concentrate on emerging interdisciplinary areas such as green finance, carbon management, AI ethics governance, and cultural heritage restoration. The recognition criteria for the Talent List have also become stricter, requiring applicants not only to be in the right field, but also to provide industry association certification or international professional qualifications as supporting evidence. When reviewing, the Immigration Department will focus on verifying the actual match between the applicant’s past project experience and the description in the List, rather than merely looking at the name of their academic major.
The third change concerns the structural compression of the application cycle. The Immigration Department has committed to shortening the standard processing time to within 5 months, but on the condition that the completeness of the documents submitted by the applicant reaches over 95%. In practice, once a document supplementation notice is issued, the entire process may be extended to 8–10 months. Data from the first quarter of 2026 shows that only 42% of applications passed document review on the first attempt, and more than half of applicants went through at least one round of document supplementation. This reminds us that the rigour of the document preparation stage directly determines application efficiency.
A Detailed Breakdown of the General Points Test (GPT) Scoring Rules
The General Points Test comprises six scoring dimensions, with a total of 245 points, and the minimum application threshold for 2026 is 100 points. The calculation method for age points remains unchanged: those aged 18–39 can obtain 30 points, 40–44 receive 20 points, and 45–50 receive 10 points. It should be noted that age is determined by the date the application is submitted, not the date the file reference number is received. There have been cases where an applicant passed their 40th birthday while waiting for documents to be prepared, resulting in a 10-point reduction and ultimately rejection because the total score fell short of the requirement.
Education scoring is the key section for creating a points gap. A doctoral degree or two master’s degrees earns 40 points, a single master’s degree 20 points, and a bachelor’s degree only 10 points. Holding a STEM degree awarded by an internationally recognised institution can earn an additional 10 points, but third-party authentication of the transcript and degree certificate must be provided. From 2026, the Immigration Department accepts the English certification report from the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHSI) as supporting documentation for Mainland China academic qualifications, and no longer mandatorily requires Tsinghua certification, saving Mainland applicants about two weeks.
The assessment criteria for work experience points are the most complex. No fewer than 10 years of work experience including 5 years of senior management experience earns 40 points; 5–10 years of experience including 2 years of senior management earns 30 points; and fewer than 5 years earns 10 points. Work experience at a multinational corporation or a well-known enterprise can earn an additional 15 points; the recognised scope of well-known enterprises includes listed companies, the Forbes Global 2000, the Fortune Global 500, and the Hurun China 500. International work experience of 2 years or more can add 15 points, but an overseas work visa and tax returns must be provided as proof. A new clause in 2026 clarifies that experience of working remotely for an overseas company while physically based in the Mainland does not count as international work experience.
The language ability section has a maximum of 20 points. Possessing good Chinese and English writing and oral ability earns 20 points, while being proficient in only Chinese or only English earns 10 points. An IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or a TOEFL iBT score of 93 are the main ways to prove English ability, and the validity of the score report is two years. From 2026, the Immigration Department began accepting Duolingo English Test scores, requiring a total score of no less than 115, providing a new option for applicants who cannot conveniently take an in-person exam.
Strategies for Precisely Matching the 60 Talent List Items
The Talent List is the scoring item with the greatest leverage in a QMAS application; meeting the criteria can directly add 30 points. The 2026 List covers 60 professions across eight major fields: financial services, innovation and technology, creative industries, legal and dispute resolution, shipping and logistics, medical and health, environmental technology, and construction engineering. The Immigration Department applies a “reversal of the burden of proof” principle when reviewing the Talent List; applicants must proactively provide a detailed evidence chain proving they possess the core competencies of the listed profession.
Taking fintech professionals as an example, merely holding a computing or finance degree is far from enough. Applicants need to provide specific supporting evidence such as blockchain project development cases, regtech solution design documents, or experience building digital currency compliance frameworks. Having served as a technical lead at a leading fintech company, holding professional qualifications such as CFA or FRM, and having published papers in related fields — only the combination of these elements can constitute a persuasive application.
For the newly added category of environmental, social and governance (ESG) professionals, applicants need to demonstrate practical experience in areas such as carbon auditing, ESG report preparation, and green bond rating. Qualifications such as a registered carbon auditor certified by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and a Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) certified professional will be key加分 items. The Immigration Department pays particular attention to whether the applicant’s past projects have produced quantifiable environmental benefits, such as tonnes of emission reduction and percentage of energy efficiency improvement — concrete metrics.
It should be noted that Talent List scoring falls within the realm of subjective assessment, and Immigration Officers have considerable discretion. The same set of documents may yield different conclusions in the hands of different reviewing officers. It is recommended that when explaining Talent List match, applicants adopt a three-tier argumentation structure of “matching the profession name + echoing the job responsibilities + quantifying the outcomes” to minimise the scope for subjective judgement.
Key Points for Preparing Application Documents
Document preparation is the most time-consuming and patience-testing part of a QMAS application. In 2026, the Immigration Department introduced a paperless application system, requiring all documents to be scanned and uploaded in PDF format, with each individual file not exceeding 5MB. This means the traditional approach of submitting a thick stack of paper documents has become history, but it also brings new challenges — non-standard file naming, insufficient scan clarity, and missing translations have become the main reasons for document supplementation requests.
Employment proof documents are of paramount importance. Each period of work experience requires an employer’s reference letter, the content of which must include the job title, the start and end dates of employment, main responsibilities, and an appraisal of work performance. The reference letter must be printed on company letterhead, signed by the immediate supervisor or the head of the human resources department, and stamped with the company chop. If a former employer has been deregistered or cannot be contacted, a labour contract, social insurance contribution record, and individual income tax payment certificate may be provided as alternative proof, but a covering letter explaining the reason must be attached.
Regarding academic documents, in addition to the degree certificate and graduation certificate, the transcript is essential. Some overseas institutions only provide electronic transcripts, which must be sent directly from the school’s official email to the designated Immigration Department mailbox, or an online-verifiable encrypted link must be provided. Mainland academic qualifications require uploading both the CHSI “Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificates” and the “Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degrees”; both reports have a validity period of 6 months, so be sure to confirm they are still valid before submission.
The requirements for asset proof are relatively relaxed; personal bank deposits, property, stocks, and funds can all serve as proof. The Immigration Department has not set a hard monetary threshold, but referring to past cases, for a single applicant it is advisable to provide asset proof equivalent to no less than HK$300,000, and for a family of three no less than HK$600,000. Bank statements need to cover the most recent 6 months, and the fixed deposit certificate should be issued within 1 month before submitting the application.
Visa Renewal Planning and Preparation for Settling in Hong Kong
After a QMAS application is approved, the applicant obtains a residence status under the “2+3+3” model — that is, an initial stay visa of 24 months is granted, followed by two subsequent renewals of 3 years each, and after 7 years one may apply for permanent resident status. The core requirement for renewal is to prove that the applicant is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong; this does not require being physically present in Hong Kong every day, but rather examines whether the centre of one’s life is in Hong Kong.
Reference factors the Immigration Department considers when judging ordinary residence include: whether one has a fixed residence in Hong Kong, whether the spouse and children live or study in Hong Kong, whether one is employed by a Hong Kong company or uses Hong Kong as a business base, whether taxes are paid on time, and whether one participates in local community activities. Being away from Hong Kong for more than 180 days requires a written explanation, and frequent or prolonged departures will significantly increase the difficulty of renewal.
For applicants who cannot immediately relocate to Hong Kong, it is recommended to establish connections with Hong Kong as soon as possible after approval. Opening a Hong Kong bank account and maintaining active transactions, renting a Hong Kong residence and keeping the tenancy agreement and utility bills, arranging for children to attend Hong Kong schools, staying in Hong Kong for a cumulative total of no less than 60 days per year, and attending industry forums or professional training to obtain proof of participation — these seemingly minor actions will build a chain of evidence for ordinary residence at renewal time.
It is worth noting that in 2026 the Immigration Department has intensified its scrutiny of “shell company” affiliations for renewal purposes. A situation where one merely registers a Hong Kong company but has no actual business operations, no office premises, and no local employees will not be recognised as a valid work connection. Self-employed persons need to provide audit reports, business contracts, Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contribution records, and other materials to prove the company has genuine commercial activities in Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I reapply immediately after a QMAS application is rejected?
A: Yes, the QMAS has no cooling-off period restriction. However, it is advisable to first analyse the reason for rejection and submit supplemented materials targeting that reason. Submitting the same documents repeatedly will most likely yield the same result, and will leave multiple application records.
Q: Must I give up my Mainland household registration after approval?
A: QMAS status does not conflict with Mainland household registration, and there is no need to cancel the Mainland household registration. However, if you need to apply for a Home Return Permit to travel to and from the Mainland, you must cancel your Mainland household registration. Most QMAS approval holders choose to keep their Mainland household registration and use the Two-way Permit (Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau) together with their Hong Kong identity card for entry and exit.
Q: After the principal applicant is approved, how do the spouse and children obtain status?
A: The QMAS allows applicants to bring their spouse and unmarried children under 18 to Hong Kong as dependants. Dependants need to submit a separate application, and the processing time is usually synchronised with that of the principal applicant. Dependants enjoy the right to study and work in Hong Kong, and after 7 years may independently apply for permanent residency.
Q: What if I am temporarily unemployed at the time of renewal?
A: The Immigration Department will consider the applicant’s overall circumstances comprehensively. During unemployment, if one can provide evidence of active job seeking, records of attending training courses, or an explanation of a reasonable career gap, a short-term renewal may still be approved. However, having no stable job at both consecutive renewals will significantly increase the risk of a break in status.