The High-Talent Pass program was launched at the end of 2022, and the first group of visa holders will begin reaching the renewal stage in 2026.

Some people had their visas renewed without issue, while others received a ”short-term warning visa”—valid for only six months to a year. The message is clear: your contributions to Hong Kong still fall a little short.

The criteria for visa renewal in 2026 can be summarized in one sentence: Focus on substance, not the visa itself. Having two residential addresses and two utility bills are the mandatory requirements.

01

What Is "Two Addresses, Two Invoices"?

“Two addresses” refers to two addresses: your Hong Kong residence address and your Hong Kong work or company address. The former proves that you actually live in Hong Kong, while the latter proves that you are actually working in Hong Kong.

“The two documents” refer to two types of documents: the salaries tax assessment notice (which certifies that you have paid taxes in accordance with Hong Kong’s salaries tax standards) and the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contribution statement (which certifies that your employer has made contributions on your behalf as required by law).

When the Immigration Department reviews these two addresses and two documents, they are essentially verifying one thing: whether you are someone who actually lives, works, and pays taxes in Hong Kong, rather than a ”space person” who holds a visa but remains on the mainland.

02

Three Paths to Renewal

Employment in Hong Kong: The most reliable option. If you are employed by a Hong Kong company, earn a salary at market rates, and hold a position that matches your educational background, you can typically obtain a longer-term visa extension.

Starting a Business in Hong Kong (Self-Employment): Set up your own company, conduct genuine business operations, hire local employees, and generate actual business revenue. Shell companies are strictly prohibited; the Immigration Department will inspect your office, employees, and business contracts.

Cross-border or non-local work: You are based in mainland China or overseas but provide services to a Hong Kong company or clients. This type of visa renewal is the most challenging; you must prove that you make a substantial contribution to Hong Kong—such as generating income in Hong Kong or serving the Hong Kong market—otherwise, you are likely to be issued a short-term visa.

03

Special Cases in Class A

The High-Talent Pass (Category A) is intended for applicants with an annual income of at least 2.5 million HKD. When renewing your visa, if your primary business activity involves operating your own company, the Immigration Department will focus on the company’s substantive operations: provided your equity stake is ≥50%, they will assess the company’s revenue scale, whether it employs local staff, and whether it maintains a physical office.

Simply providing proof of high income is not enough; the key is whether this income is generated on a continuous basis in Hong Kong and whether taxes are paid in accordance with the law. The 2026 review is much more thorough than the one conducted for the first batch of applications.

Many Category A applicants mistakenly believe that ”as long as my income was high enough back then, I’ll be able to renew my visa,” overlooking the need for substantive evidence of their company’s operations in Hong Kong. As a result, they end up receiving a short-term warning visa, which disrupts their seven-year accumulation period toward permanent residency.

04

Four Red Lines You Must Not Cross

First, shell companies. No office, no employees, no business transactions—just a nominal existence—and the Immigration Department sees right through it. Second, no MPF. If your employer doesn’t contribute to your Mandatory Provident Fund, it’s tantamount to admitting that you’re ”not formally employed in Hong Kong.”

Third, the salary is below market standards. If the position and salary are significantly lower than market rates, the authenticity of the employment relationship may be called into question. Fourth, the number of days spent in Hong Kong is insufficient. If you are frequently absent from Hong Kong and only enter the city hurriedly just before your visa renewal, it will be difficult to prove that you are living in Hong Kong.

Tactics such as using a front company, borrowing a business address, or borrowing employees will be virtually impossible to pull off by 2026. The system is cross-checking data across an increasing number of dimensions, and short-term contracts alone will trigger a warning.

05

Renewal Leads to Permanent Residency

”Every successful renewal of the Gaocaitong visa helps build up a continuous record of ”usually residing in Hong Kong' for the permanent residency application in the seventh year. If there’s a gap in renewals or a shorter-than-usual renewal period, the rhythm gets disrupted."

We recommend getting into the habit—starting with your first renewal—of keeping your Hong Kong lease agreements, salary tax statements, MPF records, and business contracts, and organizing them into files on a regular basis. Renewal isn’t something to leave to the last minute; it’s a long-term process.

Once you’ve properly handled the ”two addresses and two tax returns,” renewal will be a natural progression. Don’t wait until you receive a short-term warning notice to realize the awkward situation of being “physically in the mainland but paying taxes in Hong Kong.”

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