Who can qualify

Eligibility requirements

  • Category A: earn at least HK$2.5 million equivalent in taxable employment or qualifying business income in the year immediately preceding application. Personal investment income is excluded; self-owned-company income requires ownership and financial evidence.
  • Category B: hold an eligible bachelor-level award and have at least three years of qualifying post-graduation full-time employment or self-employment in the preceding five years.
  • Category C: hold an eligible bachelor-level award from the preceding five years and have less than three years of relevant work experience. An annual quota applies on a first-come basis. The specified non-local Hong Kong undergraduate group is excluded from Category C.
  • For B/C, use the current aggregate university list and verify the exact awarding institution. An honorary degree, a master's alone or an award from an excluded extension/continuing-education arm is not a substitute for an eligible undergraduate award.
  • Meet general immigration, security, character and financial-support requirements. Nationality exclusions and special PRC-passport/residence arrangements must be assessed where relevant.

Build the evidence

Prepare records that substantiate the relevant criteria. The final checklist depends on the applicant, route and filing authority.

  • Passport, photograph, current immigration documents and any nationality/residence-specific supporting records.
  • For Category A, official tax assessments/payment records and employment remuneration evidence; audited company accounts, ownership and tax evidence for qualifying business income.
  • For B/C, the bachelor's certificate, transcript and required third-party or awarding-institution verification, with online authentication information where required.
  • Dated employment or self-employment evidence for the relevant category, plus marriage/birth records and financial-support evidence for dependants.

How to apply

  1. 01

    Select the category and audit its evidence

    WG tests the correct income period or degree/experience combination. Reconcile any income statement or university name with the underlying tax and award documents.

  2. 02

    Prepare a consistent online application

    Organise the required identity, category and family documents, including verification. Resolve differences in names, dates and employers before submission.

  3. 03

    Submit and complete e-Visa formalities

    Use the official online process, pay the applicable application and issuance fees when required, and follow additional-document requests. Meet the entry formalities applicable to the travel document.

  4. 04

    Plan the first permission around real activity

    Use the initial stay to establish qualifying employment or a viable business. Keep contracts, payroll, tax, business activity and Hong Kong residence evidence for the extension.

After approval & family planning

  • TTPS holders on time limitation only may change employment or establish/join a business without prior employer-specific permission.
  • Extension requires evidence of qualifying employment with stable income or an operating Hong Kong business. Holding the original category credentials does not ensure renewal.
  • Eligible spouses/recognised partners and unmarried dependent children under 18 may apply; approved dependants are generally not prohibited from employment or studies.
  • Right of abode requires a separate assessment, including at least seven years of continuous ordinary residence where applicable; elapsed visa validity alone is insufficient.

Frequently asked questions

Do investment gains count toward Category A income?

No. The published test excludes personal investment income. Employment remuneration and qualifying profits from self-owned companies require their own documentation.

Can a master's degree qualify me for B or C if my bachelor's is not eligible?

The B/C test requires the eligible bachelor-level award. A postgraduate degree alone does not replace it.

Can I obtain another initial TTPS stay after it expires?

The initial TTPS permission is granted only once. Plan for the applicable extension requirements rather than treating it as a repeatable job-search permission.

Do I need to live and work in Hong Kong to renew?

The extension examines substantive qualifying employment or business and relevant circumstances, including time in Hong Kong. A passive overseas arrangement should not be represented as sufficient.

Points to consider

  • An eligible category is not a guarantee: admission and extension remain discretionary.
  • University lists, quotas and evidence requirements must be checked at filing.

Sources & further reading

Editorial review: 21 October 2026. Official rules, forms, fees and entry restrictions can change. Check the linked authority before an application or investment decision.

  1. Immigration Department / TTPS ↗
  2. Immigration Department / TTPS guidebook ↗
  3. Hong Kong legislation / Cap.115 ↗