Mainland Talents & Professionals

The Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, or ASMTP, allows Chinese residents of Mainland China to enter or remain in Hong Kong for employment or training under a work permit or a training visa. Unlike the Top Talent Pass Scheme, it is employer-sponsored, so the application rests on both the candidate’s qualifications and the company offering the role. It also asks for considerably more documentation than most other schemes. Whether you are a Mainland professional moving to Hong Kong or an employer bringing one in, this guide explains how the scheme works and how we manage it from first analysis to visa collection.

ASMTP at a Glance

Not sure whether the ASMTP or another route is a better fit for the hire? You can check eligibility or book a consultation with our team to plan the next step.

Who the ASMTP Is For

For Applicants

If you are a Chinese resident of Mainland China with skills, knowledge, or experience that are not readily available in the Hong Kong job market, the ASMTP provides a route to work or train in the city under a genuine employment contract. Note that the scheme does not apply to Mainland residents who graduated with an undergraduate degree or higher qualification from a Hong Kong full-time, locally accredited program.

For Employers

If you want to hire a Mainland professional whose expertise is hard to source locally, the ASMTP is your route, and you are the sponsor. The decision rests partly on your company, so your business stands behind the application alongside the candidate. Because the scheme is documentation-heavy, most employers bring us in to manage the sponsor side from the start.

Eligibility Criteria for the ASMTP

For Applicants

To qualify for a work permit under the ASMTP, you must:

• Have no past record of serious offenses or crimes, and no security objections.
• Be educationally qualified for your profession, with skills, knowledge, or experience that are not easily found in the Hong Kong job market.
• Hold a valid employment agreement or contract that clearly states the job title, job description, remuneration, and contract period.

Remember that the scheme excludes Mainland residents who completed an undergraduate or higher qualification through a Hong Kong full-time, locally accredited program.

For Employers

Your company is assessed as part of the application, so eligibility is not solely the candidate’s. You need to offer a real role under a clear written contract and be able to demonstrate why the position requires skills not readily available in the local market. A well-prepared sponsor case helps the application move smoothly, and that’s where our experience on the company side pays off.

Entry of Dependants Under the ASMTP

If you or your employees are relocating with family, partners, children, and parents may be able to join through a Hong Kong dependent visa. We handle these applications alongside the main work permit, so the whole household moves together. Each dependent visa application carries an additional fee, listed in the fees section below.

Processing Time and Approval

The standard processing time for an employment visa under the ASMTP is four to six weeks, and it is handled by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. Approval is determined by the applicant’s qualifications and work experience, as well as by the employing company. The Director of Immigration reserves the right to approve or reject any application, and processing time and the final decision rest with the Department. If an application is unsuccessful, an appeal can be filed with the authorities. An approved visa is usually valid for one year and can be extended or renewed.

Benefits of the ASMTP

For Applicants

• A legal route to live and work in Hong Kong from the Mainland.
• An initial one-year stay that can be renewed or extended.
• The option to bring dependents with you.
• Time under the ASMTP counts toward the seven years of continuous ordinary residence needed for the Right of Abode, provided your status is maintained throughout.

For Employers

• Access to Mainland talent whose skills are scarce in the local market.
• A way to fill specialist roles that are hard to hire for in Hong Kong.
• Renewable terms that let you retain talent beyond the first year.
• A single managed process that keeps your sponsor obligations clear and on time.

Documents and Requirements

For Applicants

ASMTP applications require more documentation than most other schemes, so preparing early matters. You will typically provide:

• A passport valid well beyond your intended stay.
• Accurately and truthfully completed application forms.
• Your signed employment agreement or contract, stating job title, description, remuneration, and contract period.
• Educational certificates and any professional qualifications relevant to your role.
• A detailed resume or curriculum vitae.
• Evidence supporting the skills, knowledge, or experience behind your application.
• Proof of accommodation arrangements in Hong Kong.

For Employers

As the sponsor, your company supplies the supporting case for the role. That usually includes company registration and standing documents, the employment contract, a description of the position and its requirements, and material that helps justify why the skills are not easily found locally. We assemble and check this sponsor pack with you so it stands up to review the first time.

ASMTP Versus the Top Talent Pass Scheme

A Mainland professional can sometimes qualify for more than one route, so employers often weigh the ASMTP against the Top Talent Pass Scheme. The core difference is who carries the application and the liability.

f you need a Mainland hire working before a visa is finalised, our Employer of Record service can onboard a new hire compliantly within 48 hours, with ongoing HR compliance support to keep everything in order afterwards. However, please note that our EOR services do not accelerate the issuing of international employees visas.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

For Applicants

• Incomplete or inaccurate documentation, which is a frequent cause of delay, given how much the ASMTP requires.
• A weak or inconsistent employment contract that does not clearly state the role and terms.
• Failing to provide evidence that your skills are not easily found in the local market.

For Employers

• A thin justification for why the role cannot be readily filled locally.
• Missing or outdated company documents in the sponsor pack.
• Contract terms that do not align with the candidate’s stated qualifications.
• Forgetting that any later change of employment triggers a fresh visa application.

A short review with us before submission removes most of these risks on both sides.

How We Support ASMTP Applications

For Applicants

You work with a single dedicated consultant who manages your case end to end, liaising with you, your Hong Kong employer, and the Immigration Department so communication stays simple. We understand that ASMTP applications demand far more documentation than other schemes, and we handle that complexity for you. Our work is backed by deep experience across complex ASMTP cases. A service fee refund may apply under our stated terms, and the final decision on any visa rests with the Immigration Department.

For Employers

We take the sponsor burden off your team. That means assembling and checking your company documentation, framing the role and the local market case, coordinating dependants, and managing renewals and any change of employment down the line. 

If you need someone working before a visa is finalised, our Employer of Record service can onboard a new hire compliantly within 48 hours, with ongoing HR compliance support to keep everything in order afterwards. However, please note that our EOR services do not accelerate the issuing of international employees visas.

What Makes Us a Trusted Partner

We have built our reputation on managing complex Hong Kong work and training visa cases for Mainland clients, and a few things define how we work.

• Deep experience. Many years handling ASMTP applications, where the documentation load is heaviest.
• One point of contact. A single experienced agent manages your case and coordinates with all parties, keeping communication clear.
• An organized, transparent process. We move cases forward without surprises.
• Care at every stage. From the first analysis to collecting the approved visa, we treat each case seriously.

Disclaimer: We are a private Immigration consultancy that supports individuals and businesses with Hong Kong relocation and Immigration. This is not a government website, and we are not affiliated with the Hong Kong Government or the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. If you prefer not to use a consultancy, you can apply directly to the relevant authority without paying additional fees.