Hong Kong TTPS and IANG in 2026: Conditions, Process, and What International Graduates Should Know

Hong Kong’s talent admission framework offers two distinct pathways for non-local graduates and high-earning professionals. The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS, commonly called the “High Talent Scheme”) and the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) are often compared, but they serve different profiles and operate under separate rules. This article explains the core eligibility conditions, application mechanics, and key boundaries that matter for an international audience evaluating Hong Kong as a destination.

Who each scheme is for

TTPS targets high-income earners and graduates of eligible universities regardless of whether they have ever studied in Hong Kong. It does not require a job offer at the point of application. Successful applicants receive an initial stay of 36 months (Category A) or 24 months (Categories B and C) without other conditions of stay.

IANG is designed for non-local graduates who have completed a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong. It allows them to stay and work after graduation. The initial application (filed within six months of the graduation date) does not require a confirmed employer.

TTPS eligibility: the three categories

The Immigration Department defines three application categories. An applicant needs to meet only one.

Category A – income threshold
Annual income of HK$2.5 million or more (or equivalent in foreign currency) in the year immediately before the application. The qualifying income is taxable employment or business income, including salary, allowances, stock options, and profit from a company the applicant owns. Personal investment income does not count. For business income, the applicant is generally expected to have held the company shares throughout the full tax assessment year preceding the application.

Category B – eligible degree plus work experience
A bachelor’s degree from an eligible university, plus at least three years of work experience accumulated in the five years immediately before the application. The list of eligible universities is a composite list maintained by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, drawing on global rankings and other criteria.

Category C – eligible degree with limited work experience
A bachelor’s degree from an eligible university obtained in the five years immediately before the application, but with fewer than three years of work experience. Category C is subject to an annual quota and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. It does not apply to non-local students who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree through a full-time locally accredited programme in Hong Kong.

IANG eligibility in brief

Non-local graduates who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate programme that is full-time and locally accredited may apply. The application is submitted online. When filed within six months of the graduation date, no job offer is required. After the initial period, extension applications are assessed under a different framework that typically involves employment or business activity.

Application process and documents

Both TTPS and IANG applications are lodged through the online system. The Immigration Department communicates results by email. Applicants should ensure the email address is functional and that spam filters do not block the notification.

For TTPS, the required supporting documents are set out in the official “TTPS Application Guide.” The guide covers identity documents, proof of income or degree, and any additional material depending on the category. An applicant who has been permitted to stay under any talent admission scheme in the preceding six months, or who is applying for an extension, must also have the employing company complete the relevant online form or Form ID 990B. The same requirement applies to applicants who have established or joined a business in Hong Kong.

After acknowledgment, application status can be checked online or through the 24-hour telephone enquiry line.

Fees and payment

TTPS is a “specified scheme” under the Immigration Regulations. Every main applicant and each dependant must pay a non-refundable application fee and the corresponding visa issuance fee. The current fee schedule is published on the Immigration Department’s specified schemes page.

When an application is approved, the result notification contains a payment link. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB), PPS, Faster Payment System, or Mainland e-wallets (Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay App). After successful payment, the applicant can download the e-visa.

What the schemes do not cover

TTPS and IANG are work-oriented immigration arrangements. They are not study permits, and they do not automatically lead to permanent residence. Extension and settlement are subject to separate criteria. Neither scheme guarantees employment, housing, or public benefits.

Practical boundaries worth noting

Category C applicants should check whether the annual quota has been exhausted before preparing documents, because the quota operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a Hong Kong institution obtained through a full-time locally accredited programme cannot use Category C; they may consider IANG instead.

Income calculation for Category A excludes investment returns. Applicants relying on business profit need to document ownership and the relevant tax assessment period.

The Immigration Department’s online system is the only official channel for first-time TTPS and IANG applications. The department publishes the current composite university list and the specified-scheme fee table on its website. For the most current fee amounts, processing indicators, or the latest university list, readers should refer directly to the Immigration Department’s pages or the Hong Kong government’s one-stop portal.