Eastern Asia · Immigration

Hong Kong

32 immigration routes

Hong Kong sits in Eastern Asia. Its immigration system runs 32 distinct routes — led by work, short stay & visit and talent & merit, each set out in official law. All 32 cite an official government source, shown on the route with the date we last read it. Who actually qualifies depends on your full profile.

Immigration routes
32across 12 route categories, each set out in official law
Source-cited routes
32 of 32cite an official government source, with the date we last read it
Largest category
Work10 of the 32 routes — see them under Work below
Region
Eastern Asia
Capital
City of Victoria
Population
7,498,900
Official language
English, Chinese
Currency
HKD
Time zone
UTC+08:00
Source-cited pathways

Immigration routes

All 32 routes, grouped by purpose — 32 of 32 cite an official government source directly.

Work

from HKD 15,000/mo · 7 of 10 say who you can bring
10 routes

Employment route for professionals with skills, knowledge or experience valuable to and not readily available in Hong Kong.

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children, partner
Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Investment

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Business & self-employment

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Employment-conditioned admission to establish or join a business that can make a substantial contribution to Hong Kong's economy.

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children, partner
Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Talent & merit

1 of 4 says who you can bring
4 routes

Talent admission without a prior job offer for high-income applicants or recent graduates of eligible universities under Categories A, B and C.

Income from HKD 2,500,000
Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-08-03

Study

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Admission for an accepted non-local student in a qualifying school or locally accredited education programme.

Can bring: dependants
Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Family

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Family residence for the qualifying spouse, recognised partner or unmarried dependent child of an eligible Hong Kong sponsor.

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children, partner
Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Residence-based status

2 routes

Discretionary naturalisation for an eligible foreign national or stateless Hong Kong resident under Articles 7 and 8 of the Chinese Nationality Law.

Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Youth mobility

1 of 1 says who you can bring
1 route

Bilateral youth-mobility admission for eligible passport holders aged 18 to 30 to holiday and take temporary work in Hong Kong.

Can bring: spouse, dependants, children
Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Short stay & visit

6 routes

Visitor admission for a person who requires a visa or seeks a stay beyond the applicable visa-waiver period.

Official government source: immd.gov.hk · checked 2026-07-27

Humanitarian protection

2 routes

Ancestry & return

2 routes

Transit

1 route

Official sources

Compiled by António Mira, founder · How we verify our data · Not legal advice — immigration rules and thresholds change; confirm with the official sources above before deciding.

See which Hong Kong routes you actually qualify for.

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