Are You A Quality Migrant?

Hong Kong has seen an increase of nearly 10 per cent in the number of well-qualified people who want to live here, says the Immigration Department. Most of those approved were from the mainland. Since 2006, more than 2000 applications have been approved – 77.6% of them from the mainland.

So what is a quality migrant scheme?

The QMAS programme (Quality Migrant Admission Scheme) allows highly-qualified people to immigrate to Hong Kong without a prior offer of employment required for a normal working visa.

Who can apply?

The programme is open to highly-talented individuals who would be able to make a significant contribution to Hong Kong.

Example?

Qi Jia, 28, first runner-up in the 2004 Asian Figure Skating Trophy championship, was admitted under the scheme for her sporting achievements.

How to evaluate my chances?

There is no reliable method of predicting your success, as the guidelines regarding “quality assessment” are quite fuzzy. Another potential pitfall is the fact that you never know who you are competing against.

Read more about the Quality Migrant Scheme.