New application fee and raised visa fee for talent and capital investment admission schemes introduced
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With effect from the commencement time, principal applicants under specified admission schemes and their dependants will be required to pay an application fee of $600 for each application under a specified admission scheme for entry, change of conditions of stay or extension of limit of stay; and the visa/entry permit fee for an approved application will be increased, based on the length of the limit of stay, from the original flat rate of $230 to $600 (with a limit of stay of 180 days or below) or $1,300 (with a limit of stay of 181 days or more). Pursuant to the amended Immigration Regulations (Cap. 115 sub. leg. A), the Director of Immigration has specified that the above fees apply to the following admission schemes:
1. Top Talent Pass Scheme;
2. General Employment Policy;
3. Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals;
4. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme;
5. Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates;
6. Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents;
7. New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;
8. Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;
9. Technology Talent Admission Scheme; and
10. Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme.
A Government spokesman said, "The various admission schemes for talent and capital investors have been well-received since their introduction or enhancement. The number of applications for different talent admission schemes has grown from around 58 000 in 2022 to more than 221 000 in 2023 and around 208 000 in 2024, representing an increase of more than 250 per cent compared with 2022. Processing such applications involved substantial administrative resources. With reference to the fees charged for similar applications in overseas jurisdictions, the Government has decided to introduce a universal application fee and raise the visa/entry permit issuance fees for applications under the specified schemes to recover as far as possible the administrative costs incurred in processing the applications.
"The Government will continue to review and enhance the various talent admission arrangements, promote Hong Kong's unique strengths and development opportunities, and provide comprehensive support services to incoming talent to attract global talent with diverse backgrounds to pursue development in Hong Kong. We are confident that the newly implemented measures would not affect Hong Kong's quest for talent," the spokesman added.
The existing fees applicable to other types of visas/entry permits other than those applied under the specified schemes remain unchanged.
The list of specified schemes and the fee structure have been uploaded to the dedicated website of the Immigration Department (ImmD) (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/specifiedschemes.html). For enquiries, please contact the ImmD by enquiry hotline (2824 6111), by fax (2877 7711) or by email (enquiry@immd.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 15:02
Issued at HKT 15:02
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