Hong Kong Introduces New Visa Fees: Increased Costs for Foreign Professionals in 2025

Hong Kong has announced changes to visa fees for foreign professionals and investors. Effective February 26, 2025, a new two-tiered fee structure will increase application and issuance costs under various talent and capital investment schemes.

New Visa Fees and Application Charges

As part of the 2025-26 Budget, Hong Kong has updated its visa fees. The Immigration (Amendment) Regulation 2025 formalizes these changes, following the “user pays” principle. Here are the key updates:

• Applicants under specified admission schemes must now pay an application fee of HKD 600.
• The visa or entry permit fee has been structured as follows:
  • HKD 600 for stays of 180 days or less.
  • HKD 1,300 for stays exceeding 181 days.

Who Is Affected?

The revised fee structure applies to several admission schemes, including:

• Top Talent Pass Scheme
• General Employment Policy
• Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals
• Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
• Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates
• New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
• Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
• Technology Talent Admission Scheme
• Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme
• Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents

Other visa and entry permit fees remain unchanged. Only the schemes listed above will see increased costs.

Rising Demand for Hong Kong’s Talent Schemes

Hong Kong has experienced a surge in applications for its talent admission programs. The numbers are impressive:

• 2022: 58,000 applications
• 2023: 221,000 applications
• 2024: Approximately 208,000 applications

This represents a remarkable 250% growth since 2022. It reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a top destination for skilled talent and entrepreneurs seeking opportunities.

Updated Talent List to Attract Skilled Professionals

To address workforce shortages, Hong Kong has revised its Talent List. Effective March 1, 2025, the list now includes 60 in-demand professions. This update allows eligible foreign professionals to benefit from streamlined immigration policies.

Fast-Track Immigration for Skilled Foreign Workers

Foreign professionals qualifying under the updated Talent List can access expedited immigration processes. This applies to key work and talent visa schemes, including:

• Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
• General Employment Policy (GEP)
• Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)

Employers hiring under GEP and ASMTP no longer need to prove difficulties in local recruitment. This change significantly speeds up the hiring process for overseas talent.

Conclusion

The revised visa fee structure highlights Hong Kong’s strategy to balance demand and administrative costs. It aims to maintain the region’s appeal for global talent and investors. Foreign professionals and entrepreneurs planning to apply should prepare for the updated costs. They can also leverage Hong Kong’s welcoming business environment to explore new opportunities.