Arrangements for Admission of Professionals of Specified Skilled Trades
On May 30, 2025, the Hong Kong government publicised the introduction of a new stream under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) and the General Employment Policy (GEP). The scheme allows individuals to apply for entry permit into the country to bind eight skilled trades facing acute manpower shortage. Applicants for the Technical Professionals Stream are required to be non-degree professionals meeting the relevant qualifications as stated in the Technical Professional List and aged between 18 and 40.
Effective June 30, 2025, the new procedure will be evaluated for three years with the quota for each skilled trade is limited to 3,000 and an overall quota of 10,000 applications.
What to Expect
The Technical Professional List covers eight specified skilled trades, specifically new industrialisation technicians, nurses, aircraft maintenance technicians, marine services technicians (for local vessels), information technology technicians, lift or escalator technicians, building information modelling coordinators and electrical technicians.
- Applicants must meet the requirements on qualifications, work experience, professional and skills trade as listed on the Technical Professional List.
- Additionally, in accordance with the requirements under the ASMTP and GEP, the related professionals are mandatory to have secured an employment offer from a local company before applying an application, and the salary package should be commensurate with the market level for matching jobs.
- Depending on the applicant’s qualifications and skilled trade, the first entry visa validity will be for 24 or 36 months.
- Prior to applying for visa renewal, the technical professional must continue to be employed in the similar skilled trade in Hong Kong. Should the visa renewal application be approved, the extension of stay may be approved for not more than 36 months, or in accordance with the validity period of the employment contract, whichever is shorter.
Under the employment-based ASMTP and GEP, employers may apply to hire foreign talent (with a least a bachelor’s degree or higher qualifications) to fill job vacancies that could not be readily taken up by locals. For positions falling under the professions in the Talent List, the companies are not mandatory to conduct a market availability test to validate difficulties in local recruitment before applying the applications. Future applications applied through the new technical professional stream under the two schemes will also be exempted from conducting a market availability test.
Immigration Department to Revise Fees
Effective from September 8, 2025, there will be revision of fees for certain services with the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Services including the issuing of visas, entry permits and travel documents and despatch services for delivering travel documents to places outside the country.
The proposed legislative revisions related to the fee amendments will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on July 2, 2025. The fee amendments will take effect after completion of the required legislative procedures. For full details of the revised fees, please refer to the official list here.
For more information or any assistance you require pertaining to the above-mentioned, please do not hesitate to contact Rachel.ang@magrath.sg or Royston@magrath.sg
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