Visa guide · Hong Kong
Relocating to Hong Kong: visa categories and tax landscape
TTPS for high earners and top-university graduates; GEP for sponsored employees; QMAS points-based; very fast processing relative to regional peers.
The Hong Kong relocation landscape
Hong Kong's inbound talent pathways were materially streamlined post-2022 with the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) — a fast-track for high earners and recent graduates of top-100 global universities. The General Employment Policy (GEP) remains the standard sponsored work route, and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) offers a points-based unsponsored path.
Processing times are notably fast — TTPS routinely clears in weeks vs. Singapore Employment Pass timelines of 1-3 months. English is the working language in business and government.
Visa categories worth knowing
The main residence-permit categories used by relocators. Listed in editorial-priority order, not exhaustive.
Fast-track for high earners (HKD income above threshold in past year) and recent graduates of top global universities. 24-month initial; renewable.
Standard sponsored work visa. Requires a binding job offer with a Hong Kong employer in a qualifying skilled occupation.
Points-based unsponsored route. Scored on age, qualifications, language, work experience, family. Annual quota.
For founders investing in / joining the senior team of a Hong Kong business. Substantive contribution required.
Admission to a Hong Kong tertiary institution. Post-graduation Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) allows a 24-month stay to find work.
Tax landscape for inbound residents
What the tax picture looks like for someone moving to Hong Kong, alongside any special expat regimes.
Hong Kong's personal income tax is one of the lowest among developed markets — max standard rate 17%, with most salaried earners paying 10-15% effective. MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund) contribution is 5% employee + 5% employer, capped above a threshold.
Zero VAT/GST. Foreign-sourced income is generally not taxed (territorial system) which makes Hong Kong attractive for cross-border earners; specific FSI exemption rules tightened in 2023 — verify with a tax advisor.
Practical considerations
- Cantonese is the spoken default; Mandarin and English are both widely understood in business. English usability is among the highest of any non-Anglophone Asian city.
- Housing is the dominant cost factor — central one-bedroom rents among the world's highest. Outer districts (Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung) offer materially better value with strong MTR connectivity.
Hong Kong cities on Mundevo
Cost-of-living and salary breakdowns we maintain for cities in this country.
Related terms
Before you act
Verify with the consulate. Search for "Hong Kong consulate" plus your current country of residence; the consulate site is the authoritative source on current categories, thresholds, and required documents.
Get a tax read. Tax residency, special regimes, and home-country exposure interact in ways no editorial guide can address for your specific situation. A consultation with a tax advisor familiar with Hong Kong before you move pays for itself many times over.
Build the cost picture. Run the salary and cost calculations for the specific city in Hong Kong you're considering — visa eligibility is only one of the three pillars (visa, cost, tax) that decide whether a move makes sense.