Timson Immigration
Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
1.    Overview
 
The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (herein after called “the Scheme”) is a quota-based entrant scheme, aiming at attracting highly skilled or talented persons to settle in Hong Kong in order to enhance Hong Kong's economic competitiveness. Applicants are required to fulfill a set of prerequisites before they can be awarded points under one of the two points-based tests, namely the General Points Test and Achievement-based Points Test, and compete for quota allocation with other applicants. Successful applicants under the Scheme may bring their spouses and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 (herein after called “Dependants”) to Hong Kong.
 
2.    Prerequisites
 
(1) The applicant must be aged 18 or above when lodging an application under the Scheme.
 
(2) The applicant must be able to demonstrate that he/she is capable of supporting and accommodating himself/herself and his/her dependants, if any, on his/her own financial resources without relying on public assistance during his/her stay in Hong Kong.
 
(3) The applicant should not have any criminal record or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
 
(4) The applicant should be proficient in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English.
 
(5) The applicant must have a good education background, normally a first degree from a recognized university or a tertiary educational institution. In special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be considered.
 
If the applicant fails to provide satisfactory supporting documents showing that he/she meets all the above prerequisites, his/her application will not be processed further and will be refused immediately.
 
3.    Selection Mechanism
 
Applicants who meet all the prerequisites may choose to be assessed further either under the General Points Test or Achievement-based Points Test. Each applicant may only submit one application and be assessed under one test at a time.
 
Starting from 28 August 2018, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) will provide immigration facilitation to applicants who are covered by the first Talent List of Hong Kong. For applicant who meets the specifications of the respective profession under the Talent List, subject to documentary proofs, 30 bonus points will be given under the General Points Test of the QMAS.
 
(1) General Points Test
 
 
Factors
Point
  1. Age (Maximum 30 points)                                 
  • 18-39
  • 40-44
  • 45-50
  • 51 or above
30
20
15
0
  1. Academic/ Professional Qualifications (Maximum 70 points)
                       
       
  • Doctoral Degree / Two or more master’s degrees
  • Master’s Degree / Two or more bachelor’s degrees
  • Bachelor’s Degree / Professional Qualification awarded by a nationally or internationally recognized or acclaimed professional body which demonstrates that the holder has a very high level of technical expertise or skill
  • Additional points if a degree at bachelor level or higher is awarded by a renowned institution recognized internationally
40
20
10
 
 
30
 
  1. Work Experience (Maximum 55 points)      
  • Not less than 10 years' graduate or specialist level work experience, including at least 5 years in a senior role
  • Not less than 5 years' graduate or specialist level work experience, including at least 2 years in a senior role
  • Not less than 5 years' graduate or specialist level work experience
  • Not less than 2 years' graduate or specialist level work experience
  • Additional points for not less than 2 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience with international exposure.
  • Additional points for not less than 3 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience in multi-national companies (MNCs) 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
40
 
30
 
15
5
15
 
20
 
 
 
  1. Talent List (Maximum 30 points)
  • (a) Experienced waste treatment specialists/engineers;
  • (b) Experienced management professionals in asset management including but not limited to trust fund management;
  • (c) Experienced professionals in marine insurance;
  • (d) Actuaries;
  • (e) Experienced professionals in Fintech;
  • (f) Experienced data scientists and experienced cyber security specialists;
  • (g) Innovation and technology experts in, but not limited to, the following fields: (i) pharmaceutical and life science/biotechnology; (ii) data engineering (e.g. data mining/data analytics), artificial intelligence, robotics, distributed ledger technologies, biometric technologies and industrial/chemical engineering, etc.; and (iii) materials science/nanotechnology;
  • (h) Naval architects;
  • (i) Marine engineers and superintendents of ships;
  • (j) Creative industries professionals in: (i) music: recording engineers, mastering engineers, and cutting/pressing engineers for Vinyl LP; (ii) digital entertainment: game development experts (game designers, game programmers and game graphic designers) and game producers; and (iii) films: various roles in pre-production, production and post-production and winner of designated renowned international film festivals; and
  • (k) Dispute resolution professionals specialising in resolving international financial and investor-state disputes, and transactional lawyers with specialised knowledge of and experience in cross-border transactions from investing or host states.
 
  1. Language Proficiency (Maximum 20 points)                      
               
 
 
  • Being proficient both in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) and English
  • Being proficient in at least one foreign language (written and spoken) in addition to written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English
  • Being proficient in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English
20
 
15
 
 
10
  1. Family Background (Maximum 20 points)
  • At least one immediate family member (married spouse, parents, siblings, children) is a Hong Kong permanent resident residing in Hong Kong
  • Accompanying married spouse is educated to the equivalent level of a degree or above
  • 5 points for each accompanying unmarried dependent child under the age of 18, maximum 10 points
5
 
 
5 
 
5/10
 
 
 
The prevailing minimum passing mark is 80.
 
(2) Achievement-based Points Test
 
Achievement-based Points Test caters for the entry of individuals with exceptional talent or skill who have outstanding achievements. Requirement under this test is very high. Those who are considered to have met one of the criteria under this test listed in the following paragraph will be awarded 245 points; otherwise, no point will be awarded. Applications which fail to score points under this test will be refused immediately.
Points may be awarded under this test if:
(a) the applicant has received an award of exceptional achievement (e.g.  Olympic medals, Nobel prize, national/international awards); or
(b) the applicant can show that his/her work has been acknowledged by his/her peers or has contributed significantly to the development of his/her field (e.g. lifetime achievement award from industry).
 
4.   Procedure
 
Applicants who satisfy both the prerequisites and the minimum passing mark (under the General Points Test) or the one point-scoring factor (under the Achievement-based Points Test) will be ranked according to scores awarded. High scoring applications will be short-listed for further assessment.
Applicants who are allotted a quota in the selection exercise will be issued with an Approval-in-principle letter. Such applicants are required to come to Hong Kong to attend an interview in person and present originals of all documents submitted during the application to the Immigration Department for verification.
If all original documents are satisfactorily verified and all relevant application procedures are finalized, successful applicants will be issued with a visa/entry permit under the Scheme for staying in Hong Kong.
Upon completion of a continuous period of ordinary residence in Hong Kong for not less than seven years, the applicant and his dependants may apply for the right of abode in Hong Kong, Hong Kong permanent identity card and Hong Kong Passport.
 
 
 
Note: This document is for reference only, all terms are subject to written contract.