Categories A, B and C
| Dimension | Category A | Category B | Category C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry test | Annual income of HK$2.5 million or more in the year before applying | Eligible-university bachelor's degree plus three years' work experience in the past five years | Eligible-university bachelor's degree obtained within five years, under three years' experience |
| Quota | None | None | 10,000 a year |
| First visa | 36 months (approvals from 16 Oct 2024) | 24 months | 24 months |
| Key documents | Tax assessment, employer certification, company financials and shareholding | Degree, transcript, third-party verification, proof of experience | Degree, transcript, third-party verification |
| Exclusion | — | — | Non-local graduates of full-time locally accredited Hong Kong degrees |
| Extension | Employment or business in Hong Kong; up to 3 years; 6 years for top-tier | Same | Same |
| Dependants | Spouse or partner and children under 18; may work and study | Same | Same |
| Permanent residence | Seven years' continuous ordinary residence | Same | Same |
The categories are three doors into one scheme. Category A is outcome-based and ignores education; B and C are source-based and turn on where and how the bachelor's degree was earned. Category A's extra year of first visa lengthens the runway before extension; Category C's quota means waiting for the next year once it is used.
TTPS and neighbouring schemes
| Dimension | TTPS | Quality Migrant Admission Scheme | Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals | General Employment Policy | Non-local graduates arrangements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer required | No | No | Yes | Yes | Not for first stay |
| Entry basis | Income or eligible-university degree | Assessment questionnaire (12 criteria, at least 6 met) and panel since Nov 2024 | Employer shows the post cannot be filled locally | Same, for non-Mainland applicants | Degree obtained in Hong Kong |
| What binds the stay | Limit of stay only | Limit of stay only | Employment conditions; job change needs approval | Employment conditions | Limit of stay |
| Extension test | Employment or business in Hong Kong | Settled in Hong Kong with economic contribution | Continued employment | Continued employment | Employed |
| Fees since 26 Feb 2025 | HK$600 / HK$600 or 1,300 | Same | Same | Same | Same |
| Applications / approvals to Jan 2026 | 155,607 / 126,085 | 163,520 / 32,296 (approvals = passed selection) | 83,787 / 73,965 (general) | 101,929 / 95,091 (general) | 84,903 / 80,957 |
The dividing line is the employer. TTPS and the Quality Migrant scheme let the applicant arrive first and find work later, at the price of a substantive extension test; ASMTP and GEP place the employer's case up front and then extend mechanically on continued employment, at the price of being tied to that employer. The Government's reply of 18 March 2026 draws the same distinction: employment-based admittees are subject to employment conditions, while TTPS and the Quality Migrant scheme admittees are subject only to their limit of stay. A comparison is only meaningful where a person qualifies for more than one door; the Immigration Department normally grants stay under one scheme at a time. This site does not recommend a route and does not handle applications; the current Immigration Department pages govern.
Sources and dates
- Top Talent Pass Scheme (scheme page) — Immigration Department · 2026-07-10
- LCQ8: Application for Hong Kong permanent resident status — HKSAR Government · 2026-03-18
- Panel on Manpower discussion paper: Attracting talents (Annex 2) — Labour and Welfare Bureau · 2026-02-23
- Measures launched to enhance Top Talent Pass Scheme and Quality Migrant Admission Scheme — HKSAR Government · 2024-11-01
Cite this page
You may quote this page freely; please keep the source and date. Suggested format:
Top Talent Pass Guide Editorial (2026). “Top Talent Pass Scheme: Categories and Neighbouring Schemes Compared.” ttps.hk. https://ttps.hk/en/compare/ (accessed YYYY-MM-DD).