I. First, distinguish between the three categories: A, B, and C

The High-Level Talent Pass Program (Gaocaitong) has three categories of eligibility,You may submit your application if you meet any one of these criteria; you do not need to have a job offer from a Hong Kong employer in advance.::

• Category A: Annual income of HK$2.5 million or more (or the equivalent in foreign currency) in the year prior to application; no quota restrictions apply.
• Category B: Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and have accumulated at least three years of work experience within the five years prior to application; there is no limit on the number of applicants.
• Category C: Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university but have less than three years of work experience,Set an annual quota and allocate it on a first-come, first-served basis

The above conditions are subject to the official announcements of the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Policy details and quota usage may be subject to change; be sure to check the latest version on the official website before submitting your application.

II. List of Eligible Universities: Three Criteria

Point 1: The list is dynamic. The list of eligible universities is maintained and regularly updated by the relevant departments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and includes institutions from around the world. The number and specific composition of these institutions may change with each update,You cannot directly reuse the outdated list provided in someone else's article.. The method of inquiry is subject to the list published on the Immigration Department’s “High-Talent Pass” webpage.

Criterion 2: The focus is on a bachelor’s degree, not a master’s or doctoral degree. The requirements for Class B and Class C areBachelor's degrees are awarded by accredited universities. Some applicants hold a master’s degree from an institution on the list but an undergraduate degree from an institution not on the list; in such cases, they typically do not meet the requirements for Categories B or C and must switch to the “Talent” or Category A assessment track. This is one of the most common misjudgments made before submitting an application.

Criteria 3: Distinction Between an Honors Bachelor’s Degree and a Regular Bachelor’s Degree. There are variations in the names of degrees awarded by some institutions; to determine whether they fall within the scope of recognition, please refer to the notes accompanying the list. In case of any questions, the Immigration Department’s review criteria shall prevail.

III. How is the ”three years of work experience within the past five years” requirement for Category B calculated?

Three Common Mistakes Regarding Caliber:

1. “Five years” refers to the five-year period immediately preceding the filing date....not just any five-year period. Experience gained in earlier years that falls outside this timeframe generally cannot be counted.
2. Work experience does not need to be related to the major of your degree., but it must be full-time, paid work. The criteria for determining internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work are relatively strict,Subject to review by the Immigration DepartmentThe
3. Work experience can be gained from different employers... Calculated cumulatively, but you must provide complete proof of employment start and end dates. We recommend cross-verifying this information using social security records, personal income tax records, or employment contracts.

IV. Category C Quotas: What Does “First Come, First Served” Mean?

Category C is subject to an annual quota,While supplies last. This has two practical implications:

• The timing of submission is more important than the perfection of the materials.. Submitting your application as early as possible during periods when quotas are plentiful is often more valuable than spending time repeatedly polishing your materials.
• Category C visas are also subject to renewal requirements after approval., and because they have relatively little work experience, the requirements regarding ”substantial employment or self-employment in Hong Kong” are more specific during the renewal process. According to industry analysis, Category C visas are relatively less stable during the renewal phase compared to Categories A and B,These statistics are compiled by real estate agencies and the media; the official data from the Immigration Department shall prevail.The

V. Approval Trends for 2026

According to statistics released by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (as compiled by the media), approximately [number] High-Talent Pass applications were approved in the first half of 2026.14,847 cases...with over 90 percent of approvals issued in mainland China. Separate statistics show that in the first seven months of 2026, there were approximately 22,657 applications for the High-Talent Pass, of which about 17,600 were approved; the approval rate declined slightly compared to 2025.

In terms of industry distribution, the approved candidates are primarily concentrated in three major sectors: commerce and trade, innovation and technology, and financial services. Within Category A, the largest proportion of candidates falls within the annual income range of 2.5 million to 3 million Hong Kong dollars.

The figures above are based on media and institutional compilations of official statistics; for specific definitions and the most up-to-date data, please refer to the official announcements from the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

VI. Four-Step Self-Check Before Applying

1. Verify whether the institution awarding the degree is on the current list of eligible institutions, and verify whether it is a bachelor's degree or a higher degree
2. Recalculate work experience based on the ”five years prior to the application date” criteria, exclude part-time or unpaid work experience
3. Analysis of Income Composition for Category A Applicants, verify that the annual income figures are consistent with the supporting documents (pay stubs, employment contracts, bank statements, company financial statements, etc.)
4. Simultaneously Assess the Feasibility of Renewal—Approval is just the beginning; you will typically need to provide evidence of a substantive connection to employment or self-employment in Hong Kong.

It is important to note that:No channel can guarantee approval.. Applications for the High-Talent Pass are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Immigration Department; claims by agencies regarding ”guaranteed approval” or ”guaranteed acceptance” have no legal validity. Applicants should prepare authentic supporting documents in accordance with official requirements.

Qicaiying provides qualification assessment, document checklist review, and submission guidance services for the Gaicaitong program, helping applicants prepare their materials in accordance with official guidelines; however, we make no guarantees regarding the outcome of the approval process.