On May 30, 2025, the government announced the introduction of a new stream under the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) to allow individuals to apply for entry into Hong Kong to join 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 specified in the Technical Professional List and aged between 18 and 40.
The new arrangement, effective June 30, 2025, will be piloted for three years with an overall quota of 10,000, and the quota for each skilled trade is limited to 3000.
What to Expect
The Technical Professional List covers eight specified skilled trades, namely new industrialization 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 skills (e.g., registration or license to practice), etc., of the specific skilled trade as listed on the List.
- In addition, according to the prevailing requirements under the GEP and the ASMTP, the relevant professionals are required to have secured an employment offer from a local company before submitting an application, and the remuneration package should be commensurate with the market level for similar jobs.
- Depending on the skilled trade and the applicant’s qualifications, the first entry visa will be valid for 24 or 36 months.
- When applying for visa renewal, a technical professional must continue to be employed in the same skilled trade in Hong Kong. If the visa renewal application is approved, an extension of stay may be granted for not more than 36 months, or in accordance with the validity period of the employment contract, whichever is shorter.
Under the employment-based GEP and the ASMTP, employers may apply to employ foreign talent, normally with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualifications, to fill job vacancies that could not be readily taken up by locals. For vacancies falling under the professions in the Talent List, the enterprises are not required to conduct a market availability test to prove difficulties in local recruitment before making applications. Employers submitting applications in future through the new technical professional stream under the two schemes will also be exempt from conducting a market availability test.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.