Hong Kong Immigration

Hong Kong Immigration  

Hong Kong is often described as a City of Immigrants and is home to Chinese, British, and other European and South Asian communities.

Hong Kong’s Immigration policy plays a vital role in enhancing its attractiveness to foreign professional and investors.

The first wave of Immigration from mainland China to Hong Kong began in the 1840s when the British established Hong Kong as a free port. This result in the significant growth of Hong Kong’s population during the 1840s through the 1860s

The Chinese brought with them machinery and know-how and formed a local entrepreneurial class in Hong Kong. Other Chinese immigrants served as low-cost laborers.  The second mass exodus of Chinese immigrants from mainland China to Hong Kong occurred at the end of World War II. As a result Hong Kong’s ethnic composition primarily comprises the Chinese community.

Until the 1960s all immigration matters were controlled by the Hong Kong Police Force. Subsequently the immigration department was set up in 1961 as an independent body responsible for Immigration control in Hong Kong. Hong Kong follows a liberal immigration policy. Nationals of about 170 countries and territories are allowed visa free visit to Hong Kong for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days. Short term visitors are allowed to enter Hong Kong on a visitor visa to conduct business negotiations and sign contracts. The government has introduced appropriate work visa provisions, anticipating the needs of business entrepreneurs who may wish to relocate to Hong Kong to run their business or who may want to hire foreign professionals to work in their company.

Hong Kong ranks as one of the most business friendly jurisdictions facilitating foreign investment. One of the key contributing factors is its immigration policy, designed to accommodate investors, business entrepreneurs and working professionals alike.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme:

The QMAS is an entrant scheme meant for foreigners who wish to come Hong Kong to explore employment or business opportunities. The scheme is quota based and operates on a points based system. Successful entrants must take steps to settle in Hong Kong by securing gainful employment or establishing a business during the visa validity period. In order to secure entry into Hong Kong under QMAS scheme, you must satisfy the basic pre-requisites pass a point based test and compete for quota allocation with other applicants. Under the scheme a maximum of 1000 applicants per year may be admitted into Hong Kong. You are allowed to bring your spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to Hong Kong under the dependant visa scheme.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility: Foreign nationals except nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, Cuba, Laos, Korea, Nepal and Vietnam are eligible to apply for the Scheme and those who satisfy certain conditions such as a sound financial standing capable of supporting themselves and their dependants, proficiency in Chinese or English absence of criminal or adverse immigration record, good educational background, falling within the age group of 18-51 years and who also pass a point base test.

Good Character: You must not have any criminal record or other records that are detrimental to you either in Hong Kong or elsewhere.

Language Proficiency: You must be proficient (i.e. both written and spoken) either in Chinese or English.

Basic Educational Qualification: You must possess a good educational background. Normally it is preferable to possess an undergraduate degree from a recognized University or a tertiary Educational Institute. However, under special circumstances in the absence of such a degree, documentary evidence of good technical qualifications, relevant professional abilities, achievements and experience will be considered.

Validity: Visas issued under the QMAS are usually valid for a one year period (at the discretion of authorities) and is renewable for one more year.

Quota System: Yes, Currently an annual quota of 1,000 entrants has been set.

Permanent Residence Eligibility: Entrants who have been granted admission under the QMAS are eligible to apply for permanent residence status after having resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of at least seven years.

Under the General Points Test there are five point-scoring factors relating to Age, Academic/professional qualifications, work experience, language proficiency and Family background. The minimum passing marks is 80 out of a maximum of 165 points.

Documents Required:

• Completed Application Form (English or Chinese Version).
• A copy of the personal particulars page of your Passport. If you are currently staying in Hong Kong, a copy of your passport page containing the latest arrival stamp/extension of stay label in Hong Kong.
• A copy of your People’s Republic of China identity card (if any).
• A completed dependant’s visa application form along with supporting documents for each of the accompanying dependant family members.
• A copy of proof of personal net worth like bank statements, bank certificates, statement showing the current market value of investments, valuation report showing the current market value of real estate, latest audited financial statements of a business, your percentage of shareholding in a business, creditor’s statements showing the amount of outstanding personal debt etc.
• A copy of proof of language proficiency in Chinese or English like the result of a recognized language test (IELTS or TOEFL for English, PSC or HSK for Chinese).
• A copy of proof of academic qualifications like graduation certificates, transcripts of academic records etc.
•  A copy of professional qualifications, training, membership certificates.
• A copy of proof of relevant work experience like employment reference letter, employment contract etc. (If you are employed with a company), official company registration documents showing your position in the business (if you own a business), client reference letter (if you are self-employed) etc.
• A copy of evidence of key career accomplishments and future plan in Hong Kong.
• All documents submitted must be in English or Chinese or translated into English or Chinese by a certified translation body. The Immigration authorities reserve the right to demand further documents as and when necessary.

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