Mr. Wang from Shenzhen obtained Hong Kong residency in 2023 through the High-Talent Pass (Category A) program.

Over the course of three years, his company—which operates in cross-border e-commerce—generated annual revenue exceeding 100 million, but he continued to work from his office in Shenzhen. When the renewal window opened in early 2026, he submitted his application based on past experience—only to have it immediately rejected by the Immigration Department, which required him to provide a complete set of evidence for the ”two addresses and two invoices.”

It was only then that he realized times had changed. On July 16, 2026, two major documents in Hong Kong were simultaneously released for public consultation—the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionFirst Five-Year Plan (2026–2030)together with2026 Policy Address. The consultation period ends on August 14.

These two documents directly set the tone for Hong Kong’s talent recruitment strategy over the next five years—the ”cast-a-wide-net, broad-based” approach of the past three years is now entering its final stages.

On July 8, 2026, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officially launched a public consultation on its first five-year plan. On the same day, a public consultation on the new Policy Address also began.

In an exclusive interview, Chief Executive Li Jiachao clearly stated:The Policy Address will be formulated in strict accordance with the blueprint set out in the Five-Year Plan... The two documents are closely linked. This means that the direction set this summer will shape the trajectory of Hong Kong’s talent policies for the next 5 to 10 years.

From the launch of the High-Talent Pass in 2023, to the abolition of the points-based system for the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme in November 2024, to the tightening of eligibility criteria for Category A business owners in 2025—Hong Kong’s talent policies have been constantly evolving. But this time, the signal sent by the authorities is exceptionally clear:

The logic behind talent recruitment has shifted completely from Version 1.0—”attracting talent”—to Version 2.0—”retaining talent.”

The Hong Kong government no longer focuses solely on the number of people it admits; instead, it places greater emphasis on whether applicants can make a substantial economic contribution and add value to Hong Kong’s industries.

According to the guidelines outlined in the consultation document, starting in the second half of 2026, the tightening of Hong Kong residency policies will focus on four areas. Each of these directly affects applicants from the Mainland.

First, stricter controls are being implemented on talent relocating to other regions.

According to data from a Hong Kong government survey,Nearly 46% of the first group of High-Talent Pass holders whose permits have expired have not yet renewed them...A large number of applicants have settled permanently on the mainland after submitting their applications, with no substantial evidence of business operations, employment, or residence in Hong Kong.

The assessment of ties to Hong Kong will be tightened in the future—applications will not be approved for renewal if the applicant has only made sporadic visits to Hong Kong to check in and does not have a physical business location.

Second, the criteria for determining high-income earners have been tightened.

The consultation document explicitly calls for optimizing the criteria for determining Category A institutions with an annual revenue of 2.5 million, dynamically adjusting the list of the top 100 institutions in Categories B and C,Tightening the Verification Threshold for Business Owners' Annual Shareholdings of 50%The

In the second half of the year, requirements for corporate tax payments may be tightened, with stricter scrutiny of shell companies and temporary accounting adjustments. The intensity of reviews based on company profits as the basis for applications will increase significantly.

Third, the eligibility requirements for the Talent Admission Program have been raised.

The current Quality Migrant Admission Scheme has abolished the old points-based system and replaced it with a system where applicants need only meet 6 of the 12 criteria to apply. However, the consultation on this plan proposesRaise the thresholds for criteria such as annual income, master’s and doctoral degrees, and employment at prestigious companies, while narrowing the scope of the talent list.

For applicants from the general middle class who do not have a background in fields with labor shortages, the rejection rate may rise significantly in the future.

Fourth, make on-site inspections a regular part of the renewal process.

The consultation focused on gathering optimization proposals for renewal due diligence, with plans to increase the frequency of on-site inspections throughout the year and establish long-term data sharing and cross-checking mechanisms with mainland industrial and commercial and tax authorities.

Speculative practices such as using virtual addresses, shell companies, and short-term insurance order padding will be completely shut down.Evidence of temporary business operations will not be accepted.

These four key areas represent Hong Kong’s review and adjustment of its talent recruitment program following its implementation over the past three years, and they also signal that Hong Kong’s talent policies are moving toward higher quality and greater sustainability.

Path 1:Gao Caotong (1688-1664), Qing dynasty poet—The ”fast track” with the quickest approval process.

Category A requires an annual income of at least 2.5 million HKD in the year prior to application, and the initial visa validity has been extended to 36 months; Categories B and C require a bachelor’s degree from a globally recognized university (23 in mainland China: Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Zhejiang, University of Science and Technology of China, etc.). Category B requires three years of work experience, while Category C is limited to recent graduates, with an annual quota of 10,000 spots.

It is important to note that:Each applicant has only one chance to be approved for the High-Talent Pass., Once the permit has expired, you cannot reapply.

Option 2:meritocracy—The ”elite track” with the highest entry requirements.

Starting in November 2024, the 245-point comprehensive scoring system was abolished and replaced with a system requiring ”6 out of 12 assessment criteria to be met.” In 2025, only 7,101 cases were approved, representing a decrease of 40% compared to 2024.

Suitable for individuals with master’s or doctoral degrees from prestigious universities, international work experience, industry technical expertise, or who are equity-holding business owners. The review period typically ranges from 4 to 12 months.

Path 3:Specialists Program—The ”stable pathway” through employer sponsorship.

A Hong Kong employer sponsorship is required, and the position must be in a field where there is an urgent economic need in Hong Kong that cannot be met by the local workforce. The employer must have been in operation for at least one year, have a fixed office address, employ at least three local employees, have been contributing to the Mandatory Provident Fund for more than six months, and have an annual turnover of at least 3 million Hong Kong dollars.

Starting June 30, 2025, a new Technical Talent category will be introduced, allowing non-degree-holding technical professionals to apply to come to Hong Kong. A total of 10,000 spots will be available across eight occupations facing labor shortages (such as aircraft maintenance and maritime technicians).

Path 4:Study Abroad and Professional Development—Earn both a degree and residency status.

Students who go to Hong Kong to pursue full-time undergraduate or higher-level programs may apply for an IANG visa to remain in Hong Kong and work after graduation. The initial validity period is 24 months, during which they may freely seek employment or start a business without requiring an employer sponsorship.

The renewal model is typically ”2+3+3”; applicants who have resided continuously in Hong Kong for a total of 7 years may apply for permanent residency.

Path 5:Investment Immigration—Starting at 30 million Hong Kong dollars.

The program will resume in 2024 and requires applicants to have held, as absolute beneficial owner, net assets with a market value of at least 30 million Hong Kong dollars for six consecutive months prior to application. Eligible assets include cash, stocks, mutual funds, commercial properties or office buildings in Hong Kong, and compliant investments in science and technology innovation.

There are no requirements regarding education, language proficiency, or work experience, and the conditions for renewal are clear (simply maintain your investment).

Compared to the application requirements,Renewal Is the Real Make-or-Break Moment for Hong Kong Residency. The first group of approved "High-Talent Pass" holders will begin entering the renewal period starting in the second half of 2025.

As of the end of April 2026, approximately 27,000 people had successfully obtained renewal of their High-Talent Passes. While this percentage appears encouraging, another statistic warrants greater concern—nearly 46% of the first cohort whose High-Talent Passes had expired had not yet applied for renewal.

Why are so many people getting stuck? The key lies in the ”two addresses, two orders” framework.

Two locations:Proof of a stable residential address in Hong Kong (stamped lease agreement, utility bills) + proof of a valid business address (commercial lease agreement; virtual addresses are not permitted).

Two orders:Salary tax statements and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) records for employees, or profits tax statements for business owners.Tax bills are the strongest evidence of economic contribution.

Simply put:What the Immigration Department looks at is not how many times you’ve checked in in Hong Kong, but whether you’ve actually worked, paid taxes, and created economic value here.

For business owners in mainland China,“Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship”This is currently the most common route for renewal—by registering a company in Hong Kong, leasing a physical office, hiring local employees, and filing tax returns in a timely manner to establish a complete chain of evidence demonstrating ”two addresses and two sets of documents.”

However, there are certain requirements for this route: Hong Kong companies must be actively operating, have genuine business transactions, and meet the minimum number of local employees. Shell companies, fictitious employment arrangements, and fabricated evidence of business operations,Such evidence will not be accepted under any circumstances.The

If you’re a business owner and want to maintain your Hong Kong residency—from registering a Hong Kong company, opening a corporate bank account, and leasing an office space to ensuring compliance in day-to-day operations—you can’t cut corners at any step.

After the public comment period ends on August 14, the new policy guidelines will be gradually implemented.Once the new policy is officially implemented, higher entry requirements and stricter renewal reviews will be irreversible trends.

Three Practical Tips for Mainland Business Owners and Entrepreneurs:

First, matching the entry threshold is more important than blindly aiming for higher prices.

If your annual income is less than 2.5 million and you don’t hold a master’s or doctoral degree from a top-tier university, don’t force yourself to aim for the Category A or “Outstanding Talent” categories. The “Specialized Talent” and “Overseas Study” categories are more cost-effective paths—the key is finding the right fit.

Second, the company’s organizational structure should be planned a year in advance.

To qualify for the High-Talent Category A business owner application, applicants must have held a continuous equity stake of 50% or more throughout the entire tax assessment year prior to submission; applications involving temporary transfers of shares or newly registered companies will be rejected. If you plan to apply in the future, you should clarify your equity structure this year.

Third, you should plan for your renewal before submitting your application.

Don’t wait until three months before your visa expires to start thinking about it. Hong Kong company registration, opening a corporate bank account, leasing an office, hiring local employees—It will take at least 6–12 months to set up the entire system.. If you wait until the review is underway to start preparing, you’re bound to fail.

At the end of the day, Hong Kong residency has never been just a matter of a visa.It is a comprehensive business arrangement—company, taxes, residency status, and renewal—with each step interlinked.

This summer, before August 14, may be one of the last chances to apply for Hong Kong residency under relatively lenient conditions. Whether you decide to jump on board is up to you. But before you do, make sure you have a clear understanding of what lies ahead.

Scan the QR code to add Qicaiying’s online customer service