Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, or QMAS, is a points-based Hong Kong immigration route for highly skilled or talented people who want to settle in the city without first securing a local job offer. Applicants are assessed on their own merits under one of two points tests, and successful applicants can live, work, start a business, and bring their family with them. With the annual quota now lifted, every eligible applicant can be considered on the strength of their own profile.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme at a Glance

Not sure whether the General Points Test or the Achievement-based Points Test suits your profile? You can check your eligibility for the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme or book a consultation with our team to plan the next step.

Who the QMAS Is For

For Applicants

If you are a highly skilled or talented professional who wants to settle in Hong Kong, the QMAS lets you apply on the strength of your own qualifications, experience, and achievements, with no local job offer needed to get started. You are assessed under one of two points tests, and once admitted you are free to work for any employer, change jobs, or start your own business during your stay.

For Employers

The QMAS is self-sponsored, so the company does not file or carry the application. Where it helps you is on the hiring side: a QMAS holder already has, or is securing, the right to live and work in Hong Kong without sponsorship, which means no work visa to file and no sponsorship liability on your part. If your candidate has not applied yet, we can guide them through the scheme while keeping your HR team informed. If you instead need to sponsor a specific role, the standard Hong Kong employment visa is the route to consider.

Eligibility Criteria for the QMAS

Before you are scored under either points test, you must meet all of the following prerequisites:

• Age. You must be 18 or above when you submit your application.
• Financial standing. You must be able to support and accommodate yourself and any dependents on your own resources, without relying on public assistance during your stay.
• Good character. You must have no criminal record and no adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere.
• Language proficiency. You must be proficient in written and spoken Chinese, in either Putonghua or Cantonese, or in English.
• Basic educational qualification. You normally need a good first degree from a recognized university. In exceptional cases, strong technical qualifications, proven professional ability, or relevant experience and achievements may be considered.

Once you meet the prerequisites, you are assessed under one of two routes:

• General Points Test. Points are awarded across factors such as age, academic and professional qualifications, work experience, language ability, and family background, with bonus points available where your profession appears on the Hong Kong Talent List. This route suits most applicants.
• Achievement-based Points Test. This route is for individuals with exceptional achievement, such as an Olympic medal, a Nobel Prize, or a major national or international award, or whose work has been recognized as a significant contribution to their field. Qualifying applicants receive the maximum score.

Please note:

• The annual quota has been removed, so eligible applicants are assessed on their merits rather than competing for a limited number of places.
• The scheme does not apply to nationals of certain countries, consistently including Afghanistan, Cuba, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. This list is set by the government and can change, so confirm your eligibility with us before applying.
• The assessment criteria and prerequisites may change over time as government policy evolves.

Entry of Dependents Under the Scheme

Successful applicants can sponsor a spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 to join them, provided they can support and accommodate the family on their own resources without relying on public assistance. A dependent’s limit of stay is normally linked to that of the sponsor, and dependents can generally work or study in Hong Kong during their permitted stay. If you are relocating with family, our team can handle the related dependent visa applications alongside your own.

Processing Time and Approval

The Immigration Department assesses each QMAS application, and the time taken depends on the assessment route, the completeness of your documents, and the Department’s own process. After an initial assessment, selected applicants may be invited for further steps before a decision is reached. The Department handles and decides all matters relating to these visas, processing times are set by the Department, and approval is entirely at its discretion. The Director of Immigration can reject an application even when it appears to meet the criteria, which is exactly why a complete, well-prepared submission matters.

Benefits of the QMAS

For Applicants

• Settle in Hong Kong without needing a local job offer first.
• Freedom to work for any employer, change jobs, or start your own business during your stay.
• An initial stay of 36 months under the General Points Test, or eight years under the Achievement-based Points Test.
• The option to bring your spouse and children with you.
• A clear pathway to permanent residency after seven years of continuous ordinary residence.
• With the quota lifted, your application rests on your profile rather than on competition for limited places.

對於雇主

• You can bring on someone who already holds, or is securing, the right to live and work in Hong Kong without sponsorship.
• No work visa to file and no sponsorship liability on your side.
• A flexible hire who can move between roles and entities, or start a business, during their stay.
• Access to a global talent pool without holding your own entity for sponsorship.

Qualifications and Documents Required

For Applicants

QMAS applications rest on clear evidence of your profile, so preparing early matters. You will typically provide:

• A passport valid well beyond your intended stay.
• Accurately and truthfully completed application forms.
• Educational certificates and any professional qualifications relevant to your field.
• A detailed resume or curriculum vitae.
• Evidence of your work experience and the skills behind your application.
• Proof of your financial standing.
• Evidence of your language proficiency.
• Supporting documents for any Talent List profession or, for the achievement route, the qualifying award or recognition.
• Proof of accommodation arrangements in Hong Kong.

For Employers

You provide nothing toward the QMAS application itself, since the scheme is self-sponsored and there is no company evidence to submit. If you have offered the candidate a role, a clear offer letter or employment contract can help frame their plans in Hong Kong, but it is not required. Before you build firm plans around a hire, it is worth confirming that the candidate is likely to meet the prerequisites and score under one of the two routes. We can run that check for you in advance.

QMAS Versus the Top Talent Pass Scheme

A skilled professional can sometimes qualify for more than one route, so applicants and employers often weigh the QMAS against the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Both are self-sponsored talent routes, and the differences come down to how you are assessed and how long you can stay.

If you need to sponsor a specific role rather than admit talent on their own merits, the standard Hong Kong employment visa or an employer-sponsored route is the alternative. And if you need a hire working before a route clears, our Employer of Record service can onboard them compliantly within 48 hours, with ongoing HR compliance support afterward. Please note that our Employer of Record service does not accelerate the issuing of any visa.

Evaluation and Approval Process

For Applicants

Once your application is submitted, the Immigration Department reviews your prerequisites and then your points under your chosen route, considering your qualifications, experience, and overall profile. The Department may request additional documentation or invite you to an interview. Eligible applicants are then notified of approval, and collection is arranged. We provide guidance throughout to support a complete and well-prepared submission.

For Employers

You are not assessed, because the QMAS rests entirely on the candidate’s own profile. There is nothing for you to prepare or defend during the review.

續簽和延期

Start the renewal or extension process before your current visa expires to maintain an uninterrupted stay, and submit your request several weeks ahead of the date your permitted stay ends. Gather your passport, the renewal form, evidence of your circumstances in Hong Kong, and any other supporting documents, then submit through us. We verify that everything is accurate and complete and guide you through the renewal or extension, so you can stay focused on your life and work in Hong Kong while we handle the paperwork.

常見的拒絕原因以及如何避免

For Applicants

The most common reasons applications fall short are:

• Incomplete or inaccurate documents or application forms.
• Not meeting one or more of the prerequisites before the points assessment.
• A profile that scores below the threshold under the chosen route.
• Weak evidence of qualifications, experience, language ability, or, for the achievement route, the qualifying award.

To reduce these risks, review every document for accuracy and currency before submitting, confirm you meet all the prerequisites, choose the points test that best fits your profile, and back your application with clear evidence of your achievements. We handle this groundwork for you, which is a large part of how we help present a complete and consistent case.

For Employers

The risks on your side are about timing and assumptions rather than paperwork. Confirm that a candidate is likely to qualify before you commit to a start date or announce the hire, and avoid setting a hard, early start date before the Department has decided. A quick eligibility check with us upfront removes almost all of this risk.

How We Support QMAS Applications

For Applicants

From the moment you reach out, you work with a dedicated consultant who manages your case from initial assessment through document preparation, submission, and final collection, then supports you on arrival. With experience across many Quality Migrant Admission Scheme cases, we advise on the right points test, work through the requirements efficiently, and keep you informed at every stage. A service fee refund may apply under our stated terms, and the final decision on any visa always rests with the Immigration Department.

For Employers

We take talent mobility off your plate. That means running eligibility checks before you commit, guiding your incoming hires through the scheme, and, where you need someone working before a route clears, onboarding them compliantly through our Employer of Record service in as little as 48 hours, with ongoing HR compliance support afterward. For volume hiring, we offer corporate rates and a discount for every 10 applications. Talk to our team to map out your next step.

What Makes Us a Trusted Partner

We have built a reputation as a reliable partner for Quality Migrant Admission Scheme visas, and for good reason.

• Experience and knowledge. A deep understanding of the scheme’s prerequisites, points tests, and regulations enables us to provide accurate, reliable guidance.
• Personalized service. We tailor our support to each client’s circumstances, from first assessment to final collection.
• A streamlined process. We handle every aspect of the application so a complex process feels smooth and efficient.
• Clear communication. We respond promptly and keep you informed at every stage.
• Commitment to your case. From document review to submission, we work to prepare a complete and accurate application.
• Customer satisfaction. Our track record of helping individuals, families, and employers is how we measure our own success.

Disclaimer: We provide independent immigration advice and assistance and are not affiliated with the Hong Kong Government or the Immigration Department.