Hong Kong · Work
Hong Kong Mainland talent (ASMTP)
First stay: 3 yrs
Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Mainland talent (ASMTP) is a work route for Hong Kong. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- HKD 600 ≈ $76 · HKD 1,300 ≈ $170
- Processing
- Up to 28 days
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: up to 28 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesHKD 600 ≈ $76 · HKD 1,300 ≈ $170
- HKD 600 (≈ $76)Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant.
- HKD 1,300 (≈ $170)Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less).
RenewalRenewable
Extensions normally follow a 3-2 year pattern on employment condition, or the contract length if shorter. Under the top-tier employment stream a professional who has worked under the scheme for at least two years and had assessable income for salaries tax of at least HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment is normally granted a 5-year extension on time limitation only.
Permanent residenceAfter 7 years of residence
After a continuous period of not less than 7 years of ordinary residence you may apply for the right of abode (permanent resident status), and you must take Hong Kong as your place of permanent residence. Time as a foreign domestic helper, an imported-labour contract worker or a refugee, or spent unlawfully or in breach of a condition of stay, does not count.
Hong Kong Immigration DepartmentImmigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government
ProcessingUp to 28 days
Normally takes four weeks once all documents and the fee are received.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Hong Kong
- Only for passports from China
What you'll need
Who can apply6
- The scheme is for Chinese Mainland residents.
- Chinese passport holders already permanently resident abroad, or meeting one-year overseas residence and offshore filing criteria, may instead qualify under GEP.
- The applicant normally has a good education background, typically a relevant bachelor degree.
- Documented technical qualifications, professional ability or experience are considered exceptionally.
- There must be a genuine vacancy and a confirmed offer.
- The work must relate to the applicant's qualifications and experience and not be readily taken up by the local workforce.
What you must show and pay2
- A fee of HKD 600 (≈ $76) · Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant.
- A fee of HKD 1,300 (≈ $170) · Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less).
When you become tax resident
How Hong Kong decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 60 days in a year of assessment (aggregated visits to Hong Kong)Non-Hong Kong employment: visits to Hong Kong totalling more than 60 days in the year of assessment make the pay for those services assessable on a days-in-days-out basis; any part of a day counts.
- Foreign-source income
Territorial
Hong Kong taxes under the territorial concept: salaries tax, property tax and profits tax apply to income arising in or derived from Hong Kong, whether the person is resident or not.
All tax rules for Hong Kong Tax records checked
Full official text
Quota-free, non-sector-specific employment route for Chinese Mainland residents with special skills, knowledge or experience of value to Hong Kong and not readily available locally. A separate Technical Professionals stream, ASMTP(TP), for non-degree professionals aged 18 to 40 in specific skilled trades is subject to a quota and is not covered by this record. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- A fee of HKD 600 (≈ $76) · Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant. 3
- A fee of HKD 1,300 (≈ $170) · Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less). 3
Requirements
- The scheme is for Chinese Mainland residents. 1
- Chinese passport holders already permanently resident abroad, or meeting one-year overseas residence and offshore filing criteria, may instead qualify under GEP. 1
- The applicant normally has a good education background, typically a relevant bachelor degree. 1
- Documented technical qualifications, professional ability or experience are considered exceptionally. 1
- There must be a genuine vacancy and a confirmed offer. 1
- The work must relate to the applicant's qualifications and experience and not be readily taken up by the local workforce. 1
Stay
- Normal professional employment pattern is 36 months initially followed by 3+2-year extensions subject to employment and approval; contract length may limit grant.
- Initial permitted stay: 36 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
For Chinese Mainland residents; selected overseas-permanent-resident/overseas-resident Chinese passport holders may use GEP subject to its criteria. Open to: China.
Work
Employer/job-linked professional employment; change of employer generally requires prior approval, subject to top-tier status rules.
Family
Eligible spouse/recognized partner and unmarried dependent children under 18 may apply under dependant rules. Your spouse or partner may work in Hong Kong without a separate permit.
Official sources
- Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) · Hong Kong Immigration Department · checked 2026-10-12
- Dependants · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-10
- New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes · Immigration Department, Hong Kong · checked 2026-10-11
- Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong, ID(E) 998 (04/2026) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-04-01
- The Position of Non-Chinese Citizens (right of abode) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
- Notes for Guidance: Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
Mainland talent (ASMTP) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainland talent (ASMTP) | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Work visa (GEP) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Tech professionals (GEP-TP) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Mainland talent (ASMTP)?
A fee of HKD 600 (≈ $76). Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant. A fee of HKD 1,300 (≈ $170). Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less).
How long can I stay on the Mainland talent (ASMTP)?
Normal professional employment pattern is 36 months initially followed by 3+2-year extensions subject to employment and approval; contract length may limit grant.
How long does the Mainland talent (ASMTP) take to process?
Normally takes four weeks once all documents and the fee are received.
Can I work on the Mainland talent (ASMTP)?
Employer/job-linked professional employment; change of employer generally requires prior approval, subject to top-tier status rules.
Can I bring my family on the Mainland talent (ASMTP)?
Eligible spouse/recognized partner and unmarried dependent children under 18 may apply under dependant rules.
Who can apply for the Mainland talent (ASMTP)?
For Chinese Mainland residents; selected overseas-permanent-resident/overseas-resident Chinese passport holders may use GEP subject to its criteria. Open to: China.
Does the Mainland talent (ASMTP) lead to permanent residence in Hong Kong?
Time on the Mainland talent (ASMTP) counts toward permanent residence in Hong Kong, which the rules allow after 7 years of residence.
How are Mainland talent (ASMTP) holders taxed in Hong Kong?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Mainland talent (ASMTP). The standard rules apply: Hong Kong taxes under the territorial concept: salaries tax, property tax and profits tax apply to income arising in or derived from Hong Kong, whether the person is resident or not. Income arising outside Hong Kong is not charged under those taxes; salaries tax follows where the employment services are rendered.
More in Hong Kong
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) · Hong Kong Immigration Department · checked 2026-10-12
- Dependants · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-10
- New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes · Immigration Department, Hong Kong · checked 2026-10-11
- Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong, ID(E) 998 (04/2026) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR · checked 2026-10-12
- The Position of Non-Chinese Citizens (right of abode) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
- Notes for Guidance: Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.