The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) is a Hong Kong admission route that seeks to attract highly skilled or talented persons to settle in Hong Kong to enhance the city’s economic competitiveness, and applicants are not required to have secured an offer of local employment before applying or being admitted (Immigration Department, QMAS page). Assessment under the prevailing mechanism runs through two routes: the General Points Test, which sets 12 yes/no assessment criteria covering age, academic qualifications, language proficiency, work experience, annual income and business ownership, and the Achievement-based Points Test, which sets two criteria for individuals with exceptional talent or skill and outstanding achievements (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page). The prevailing passing threshold under the General Points Test is 6 out of 12; only applicants who meet that threshold can submit an application through the online application system, and the threshold is subject to change without prior notice (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page). Successful applicants may bring their spouse or recognised civil partner or union partner and unmarried dependent children under 18, provided they can support and accommodate those dependants on their own financial resources without relying on public assistance (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
The four stages of the selection mechanism
The selection mechanism operates in four stages (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
- Stage 1: prerequisites. Each applicant must satisfy all four basic prerequisites before assessment.
- Stage 2: assessment route. The applicant is assessed under either the General Points Test, with 12 assessment criteria, or the Achievement-based Points Test, with two.
- Stage 3: selection exercise. Selection exercises are conducted on a regular basis among applicants who meet both the prerequisites and the applicable threshold or criterion.
- Stage 4: issuance of visa or entry permit. Approved applicants are issued a visa or entry permit in the form of an e-Visa.
Meeting the prerequisites and the passing threshold does not by itself produce an approval: not all applications meeting both will necessarily be approved, and applications meeting more assessment criteria are considered more favourably (Immigration Department, QMAS page). The Director of Immigration may seek advice from a high-level Assessment Panel chaired by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, which takes a holistic view of manpower requirements in sectors and industries, the socio-economic needs of Hong Kong, the background and credentials of applicants and other factors (Immigration Department, QMAS page). The Director of Immigration has absolute discretion to approve or refuse any application without giving reasons, and the Scheme may change without prior notice (Immigration Department, QMAS page). Applicants may regard an application as under processing unless and until a notification of result is received (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
Prerequisites all applicants must meet
All four prerequisites must be met, and where the supporting documents do not show that all prerequisites are met, the application is refused immediately (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
| Prerequisite | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| Age | Aged 18 or above when submitting the application |
| Financial requirement | Able to support and accommodate self and dependants on own financial resources without relying on public assistance |
| Good character | No criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere |
| Basic academic qualifications | A good educational background, normally a first degree from a recognised university or tertiary institution; under special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be considered |
A nationality bar also applies: the Scheme is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of) (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
The 12 criteria of the General Points Test
Each of the 12 criteria is a yes/no item; the prevailing passing threshold is 6 out of 12 (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
| Aspect | Criterion |
|---|---|
| (A) Age | (1) Aged 50 or below |
| (B) Academic qualifications | (2) A master’s or doctoral degree awarded by an eligible university |
| (B) Academic qualifications | (3) That master’s or doctoral degree is pertinent to STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) |
| (C) Language | (4) Proficient in two languages, both written and spoken |
| (C) Language | (5) Proficient in written and spoken English |
| (D) Work experience | (6) No less than five years of graduate or specialist level work experience |
| (D) Work experience | (7) No less than three years of graduate or specialist level experience in multi-national companies or reputable enterprises, such as listed companies or companies on the lists of The Global 2000 by Forbes, the Fortune Global 500 and the Hurun China 500 |
| (D) Work experience | (8) No less than three years of graduate or specialist level experience in one of the specific fields or industries: innovation and technology, finance, and international trade (including cross-boundary marine and aviation transportation, and supply chain management) |
| (D) Work experience | (9) No less than two years of graduate or specialist level experience with international exposure, that is, outside the applicant’s home country or territory |
| (E) Annual income | (10) Annual income reaching HK$1 million (HK$1,000,000) or above, or equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application |
| (F) Business ownership | (11) Currently owns a business entity with annual profit reaching HK$5 million (HK$5,000,000) or above in the year immediately preceding the date of application |
| (F) Business ownership | (12) Currently owns a listed company |
Each applicant may only submit one application and be assessed under one assessment route at a time (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
Eligible universities for the master’s and doctorate criteria
For criteria (2) and (3), the degree must come from an institution on the aggregate list compiled by the Labour and Welfare Bureau for the Scheme, which comprises two parts: the eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the top 10 universities or institutions in the QS Global MBA Rankings and the Financial Times Business School Rankings in MBA providing only postgraduate programmes in the past five years (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page). Qualifications awarded by continuing or professional education arms, or by branch, extension or subsidiary schools, are not accepted; the degree must be equivalent to the recognised Hong Kong standard of master’s or doctoral degrees; and honorary degrees and degrees not awarded by nationally accredited or licensed institutions are not accepted (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
The TTPS aggregate list in force from 1 January 2026 contains 200 universities and institutions (Immigration Department, aggregate list of eligible universities). Four institutions were removed from 1 January 2026: Ecole Polytechnique, Universite Grenoble Alpes, Universite Sorbonne Paris Cite-USPC and University of Freiburg; five were newly added: Adelaide University, University of Vienna, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Politecnico di Milano and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Immigration Department, aggregate list of eligible universities). The list includes 23 Mainland China institutions and five Hong Kong institutions: the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Immigration Department, aggregate list of eligible universities). A searchable English-language version of all 200 institutions is published at the TTPS eligible university list tool.
STEM subjects
Criterion (3) is met where the master’s or doctoral degree from an eligible university is pertinent to science, technology, engineering or mathematics. A reference list of STEM subjects exists, and subjects not on that reference list may also be considered, subject to supporting documents (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
Business ownership
For criteria (11) and (12), a business entity means a legally recognised company over which the applicant has the right to exercise legal and financial control; generally the applicant holds 50% or more of the ownership interests in a non-listed company, or, for a listed company, normally 10% or more of the ownership interests (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
The Achievement-based Points Test
The Achievement-based Points Test is for individuals with exceptional talent or skill and outstanding achievements, and its requirements are very high (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page). Meeting one of two criteria passes the route: the applicant has received an award of exceptional achievement, such as an Olympic medal, a Nobel prize or a national or international award; or the applicant’s work has been acknowledged by peers or has contributed significantly to the development of the field, for example through a lifetime achievement award from the industry (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page). Applicants who cannot meet any criterion under this route are refused immediately (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
Talent List facilitation
The Talent List covers professions in areas including Business Support; Creative Industries, Arts and Culture, Performing Arts; Development and Construction; Environmental Technology Services; Financial Services; Healthcare Services; Innovation and Technology; Legal and Dispute Resolution Services; and Aviation and Shipping (Labour and Welfare Bureau, Talent List immigration facilitation page). Eligible applicants who meet the Talent List requirements for the respective profession may enjoy immigration facilitation under QMAS, in that they are favourably considered under the General Points Test after assessment, and they must submit documentary proofs of the qualification and experience requirements (Labour and Welfare Bureau, Talent List immigration facilitation page). Under the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, employers filling vacancies in Talent List industry segments and occupations are exempt from the market availability test (Labour and Welfare Bureau, Talent List immigration facilitation page).
Application steps and fees
- Confirm that all four prerequisites are met and gather the documents that show this.
- Select one assessment route, the General Points Test or the Achievement-based Points Test.
- Check the applicable criteria against the official checklist in Part III of the QMAS Guidance Notes.
- Prepare supporting documents for each criterion claimed, including any documentary proofs required for a Talent List profession.
- Submit the application online together with all supporting documents.
- Pay the application fee at the time of submission.
- Retain originals, since applicants may be asked to submit them.
- Await the notification of result; the application remains under processing until that notification is received.
QMAS is a specified scheme under the fee structure effective for applications submitted from 26 February 2025 (Immigration Department, fee tables for specified schemes).
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee, per person | HK$600, non-refundable, payable on application, including for extension applications |
| Visa issuance fee, per person, relevant period more than 180 days | HK$1,300, payable upon approval |
| Visa issuance fee, per person, relevant period not more than 180 days | HK$600, payable upon approval |
| e-Visa stating a fixed limit of stay of six months or more | HK$1,300 |
| Initial application with a 24- or 36-month e-Visa | HK$1,900 per person, being HK$600 plus HK$1,300 |
The fee is payable by the principal applicant and by each dependant, and refused, cancelled or withdrawn applications do not receive a refund of the application fee (Immigration Department, fee tables for specified schemes).
Mainland-specific requirements
Mainland Chinese residents must submit a letter of consent from the present working unit or the relevant Mainland authorities agreeing to release them to reside in Hong Kong (Immigration Department, QMAS page). After approval, Mainland residents need an Exit-Entry Permit and the appropriate exit endorsement; overseas Chinese nationals holding PRC passports who apply from overseas and who have overseas permanent residence or have resided overseas for at least one year before application may enter on the strength of the PRC passport, and no Exit-Entry Permit is required (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
After approval: first stay and extensions
Entrants admitted under the General Points Test are normally granted an initial stay of 36 months on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay (Immigration Department, QMAS page). Extension requirements differ by stage, as set out below (Immigration Department, QMAS page):
| Stage | Requirement | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| First extension at 36 months | Proof that steps have been taken to settle in Hong Kong, for example gainful employment or establishing a business | Extension granted |
| Further extension | Proof of having settled in Hong Kong and made contribution, for example graduate, specialist or senior level gainful employment with stable income, or establishing or joining a business of reasonable size | Extensions normally on a “3+2” years pattern |
| High-income case | Permitted to remain for not less than two years and assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million (HK$2,000,000) in the previous year of assessment | Normally granted an extension of five years |
Entrants admitted under the Achievement-based Points Test are normally granted a stay of eight years on time limitation only upon entry; should an extension be required, the applicant must demonstrate the capability to support and accommodate self and dependants on own financial resources (Immigration Department, QMAS page). To extend, an applicant applies online within three months before the limit of stay expires and at least six weeks before expiry; processing normally takes two to three weeks; the fee is non-refundable; and a dependant’s stay is linked to that of the sponsor (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
Right of abode
Persons admitted under QMAS who have ordinarily resided in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode (Immigration Department, QMAS page); the calculation of that period is set out in the seven-year permanent residence guide.
QMAS and TTPS compared
| Aspect | QMAS | Top Talent Pass Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Local employment offer | Not required before applying or being admitted (Immigration Department, QMAS page) | The official page does not state this |
| Assessment basis | 12 criteria under the General Points Test, passing threshold 6 out of 12, or one of two criteria under the Achievement-based Points Test (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page) | The official page does not state this |
| Eligible university list | The Labour and Welfare Bureau aggregate list, comprising the TTPS eligible universities and the top 10 MBA ranking institutions (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page) | The aggregate list in force from 1 January 2026, with 200 universities and institutions (Immigration Department, aggregate list of eligible universities) |
| Initial stay | Normally 36 months, time limitation only (Immigration Department, QMAS page) | The official page does not state this |
| Fees | Specified scheme: HK$600 application fee plus HK$1,300 or HK$600 visa issuance fee per person (Immigration Department, fee tables for specified schemes) | Same specified-scheme fee structure (Immigration Department, fee tables for specified schemes) |
Common misunderstandings
Passing 6 out of 12 guarantees approval. The threshold governs whether an application may be submitted at all; the official page states that not all applications meeting both the prerequisites and the passing threshold will necessarily be approved, and that applications meeting more assessment criteria are considered more favourably (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
A Hong Kong job offer is required. The Scheme does not require an offer of local employment before an applicant applies or is admitted (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
Any master’s or doctoral degree counts towards criterion (2). The degree must be awarded by an institution on the aggregate list compiled by the Labour and Welfare Bureau; qualifications from continuing or professional education arms and from branch, extension or subsidiary schools are not accepted, as are honorary degrees and degrees not awarded by nationally accredited or licensed institutions (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
Admission under QMAS confers permanent residence. Admission confers a time-limited stay; the right of abode requires ordinarily residing in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
The application fee is refunded if the application fails. The fee is non-refundable in any circumstance, and refused, cancelled or withdrawn applications do not receive a refund (Immigration Department, QMAS page; Immigration Department, fee tables for specified schemes).
A Talent List profession gives an automatic pass. Talent List facilitation means the applicant is favourably considered under the General Points Test after assessment, and documentary proofs of the qualification and experience requirements must still be submitted (Labour and Welfare Bureau, Talent List immigration facilitation page).
FAQ
How many of the 12 criteria must be met? The prevailing passing threshold is 6 out of 12, and the threshold is subject to change without prior notice (Immigration Department, QMAS assessment routes page).
Is a job offer needed to apply? No. Applicants are not required to have secured an offer of local employment before applying or being admitted (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
How long is the first period of stay? Entrants under the General Points Test are normally granted 36 months on time limitation only without other conditions of stay; entrants under the Achievement-based Points Test are normally granted eight years upon entry (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
What does an application cost? HK$600 per person as a non-refundable application fee, plus a visa issuance fee of HK$1,300 per person where the relevant period is more than 180 days, or HK$600 where it is not more than 180 days (Immigration Department, fee tables for specified schemes).
Can family members be included? Yes, a spouse or recognised civil partner or union partner and unmarried dependent children under 18, provided the applicant can support and accommodate them on own financial resources without relying on public assistance (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
Can someone already in Hong Kong under the General Employment Policy or ASMTP apply? Applicants who are Hong Kong residents who previously entered under another scheme, including GEP and ASMTP, and who are subject to conditions of stay may apply under QMAS on the basis that they are assessed as fresh entrants (Immigration Department, QMAS page).
The Scheme and its fees may change without prior notice, and the official pages prevail.
Sources
- Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, Immigration Department — page date 16-04-2026
- QMAS Assessment Routes, Immigration Department — page date 01-11-2024
- New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes, Immigration Department — fee structure effective 26 Feb 2025; page Last-Modified 20 Oct 2025; fee tables page Last-Modified 8 Apr 2026
- Immigration Facilitation, Talent List Hong Kong, Labour and Welfare Bureau — HTTP Last-Modified 14 Aug 2025
- Top Talent Pass Scheme, Immigration Department — page date 10-07-2026
- Aggregate List of Eligible Universities, Immigration Department — list in force from 2026-01-01