Hong Kong Talent Entry 2026: Top Talent Pass Scheme and IANG Eligibility, Process and Stay Rules

Hong Kong runs several talent admission routes for people with different backgrounds. Two of the most widely used are the Top Talent Pass Scheme (commonly called the GEP or TTPS) and the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG). They serve different profiles but share a common goal: giving qualified individuals a straightforward way to live and work in Hong Kong.

Who the Top Talent Pass Scheme is for

The Top Talent Pass Scheme targets high earners and graduates of eligible universities. A key feature is that you do not need a job offer in Hong Kong before you apply. The scheme splits applicants into three classes.

Class A: high-income individuals

Class A is for people whose assessable annual income reached at least HK$2.5 million (or the equivalent in a foreign currency) in the year immediately before the application. Qualifying income includes salary, allowances, stock options and profits from a company the applicant owns. Income from personal investments does not count. There is no degree requirement for Class A.

Class B: eligible university graduates with work experience

Class B requires a bachelor’s degree from an institution on the published aggregate list of eligible universities, plus at least three years of work experience accumulated in the five years immediately before the application. A master’s degree or a doctorate cannot replace the bachelor’s degree condition.

Class C: eligible university graduates with limited work experience

Class C is for people who obtained a qualifying bachelor’s degree within the five years before applying but have fewer than three years of work experience. This class is subject to an annual quota and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Class C is not open to non-local students who already earned a bachelor’s degree through a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong.

How the eligible university list works

The Labour and Welfare Bureau compiles the aggregate list using several global rankings. An institution qualifies if it has appeared in the top 100 of any of the following rankings over the past five years: Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, U.S. News Best Global Universities, or the Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities. The list also includes specialist institutions that rank highly in specific subjects and the top 20 mainland Chinese universities in the Shanghai Ranking’s Chinese university table. The list is updated periodically, so you must check the version published by the Immigration Department at the time you apply.

A note on overseas campuses and affiliated colleges

Eligibility is determined by the institution that actually awarded the bachelor’s degree, not by the ranking of a parent university. If the awarding institution is not on the aggregate list, the qualification does not satisfy the Class B or Class C requirement—even when the main campus of the same university appears on the list. Qualifications from continuing education schools, extension colleges or affiliated colleges are generally not accepted.

IANG: the graduate route

The IANG arrangement is designed for non-local graduates who have completed a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong and obtained a bachelor’s degree or a higher qualification. Fresh graduates can submit an application within six months of their graduation date without having secured a job first. Returning graduates must have a confirmed job offer at the time they apply.

Stay periods and renewal

Class A Top Talent Pass holders normally receive an initial stay of 36 months. Class B and Class C holders normally receive 24 months. IANG entrants normally receive 24 months on first approval. For both schemes, renewal requires the applicant to be employed in Hong Kong or to be running a business there; each case is considered on its own facts. After seven years of continuous ordinary residence, a person may be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

How to apply

Applications for both schemes are made through the Immigration Department’s online system. You will need to submit identity documents, proof of academic qualifications, evidence of work experience where relevant, and proof of financial capacity. Once the application is approved, you pay the visa issuance fee. Accepted payment methods include credit cards, PPS, FPS and designated e-wallets. After payment you can download the electronic visa.

A main applicant can include dependants—a spouse and unmarried children under 18—in the same submission for residence in Hong Kong.

What the visa means for your tax position

Holding a Top Talent Pass or IANG visa can influence how your tax residence is assessed, though the visa alone does not automatically determine your tax status. Hong Kong operates a territorial tax system and taxes only income that arises in or is derived from Hong Kong. Living and working in Hong Kong over a sustained period may create the factual conditions for tax residence. It is sensible to review your personal tax arrangements while you plan your visa strategy.

Practical points to keep in mind

This overview covers the main eligibility criteria, stay arrangements and application steps. It does not replace immigration, visa or legal advice. The final decision on any application rests with the Immigration Department and the relevant authorities. You should always refer to the Immigration Department’s website for the latest application forms, fees and the current aggregate list of eligible universities before you apply.