Hong Kong Visa Guide 2026: Visitor Visa, TTPS, QMAS & Long-Stay Options

Bottom line: Most Western passports get 90 days visa-free in Hong Kong. For longer stays, the Top Talent Pass Scheme is the most accessible formal route for higher earners (HK$2.5M salary) or recent graduates of top universities. The QMAS is points-based and competitive. There is no digital nomad visa. Employment visas require a job offer from a Hong Kong employer.

Hong Kong’s immigration system operates under its own framework, distinct from mainland China. The SAR has maintained largely separate immigration controls, and most nationalities who can visit the UK or EU can visit Hong Kong visa-free. The 90-day allowance is genuinely generous for short-to-medium stays.

Visitor Entry — 90 Days Visa-Free

Citizens of around 170 countries can enter Hong Kong visa-free. Most Western passports (UK, US, EU states, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) receive 90 days on arrival without application. Passports are stamped with an entry permit — this is a Condition of Stay, not technically a visa. You can approach the Immigration Department for an extension, though this is not guaranteed.

IANG — For Recent Graduates

The Immigration Arrangements for Non-Local Graduates is designed for people who recently graduated from Hong Kong universities OR from a list of designated overseas universities (including most top-20 global universities — Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Harvard, etc.). Requirements: graduated within the past 6 months (some exceptions for HK graduates), good character, valid passport. Valid for 24 months, no job requirement. After finding a job, you convert to an employment visa.

This is the most accessible formal long-stay pathway for recent graduates — no job required on entry, just graduate credentials and the intent to seek employment in HK.

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

Launched 2022 to attract global talent to Hong Kong after significant emigration. Two main streams:

• Category A (High earners): Annual salary of HK$2.5 million (approximately $320,000 USD) in the 12 months prior to application. Evidenced by tax returns, employment contract, payslips. This is a high threshold — senior finance, tech, medicine, and law professionals primarily.
• Category B (Top university graduates): Bachelor’s degree from one of the world’s top 100 universities within the past 5 years. No income requirement at point of application. 2-year entry permit.

TTPS gives a 2-year entry permit, allowing you to live and work without restriction. Renewable for another 2 years; convertible to permanent residence after 7 years of ordinary residence.

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

A points-based scheme with an annual quota. Points are awarded for age (25–39 gets maximum), family background (HK educated parents), educational background, work experience, language proficiency, and notable achievement. The scheme is competitive and the backlog means approval can take 12–24 months. Worth exploring for those with a strong profile; less suitable for urgent cases.

Employment Visa

The standard route for those with a job offer from a Hong Kong employer. The employer applies on your behalf. Requirements: the role must fill a local skills gap, salary at least HK$16,000/month (more realistically HK$25,000+ for most professional roles). Processing time: 4–8 weeks. Valid for the duration of the employment contract, typically 1–2 years, renewable.

Practical Reality for Nomads

No digital nomad visa exists in Hong Kong as of 2026. For nomads wanting to live and work in HK long-term, the realistic options are: TTPS if you meet the income or university criteria; IANG if you’re a recent graduate of a qualifying university; employment visa if you get hired locally. For those who don’t fit these categories, Hong Kong works well as a 90-day base with onward travel, rather than a permanent nomad residence.