The government has announced that, effective October 1, 2026, it will expand the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors, enabling more foreign nationals to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits.
Following a review, in addition to the existing 17 designated sectors, the STV Scheme will be expanded to cover the Social Welfare sector, with the addition of more authorized organizations and specified short-term activities.
The government launched the Pilot Scheme in June 2022, and it was regularized as the STV Scheme in June 2024. As of the end of June 2026, the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme had benefited over 56,000 foreign nationals, enabling their entry into Hong Kong as visitors to participate in over 9,500 short-term activities, including the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and other major events.
Now the government will expand the STV Scheme to cover the Social Welfare sector, with a view to facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into Hong Kong to participate in specified short-term activities (including symposiums, workshops, research, etc.) organized by authorized host organizations for the benefit of the welfare sector.
Moreover, more authorized organizations and specified short-term activities are added in three existing sectors (including international/mega events, higher education, and finance). Other arrangements will remain unchanged after the expansion.
The expanded STV Scheme will cover the following 18 sectors with a total of some 490 authorized organizations:
- Medical and healthcare;
- Higher education;
- Arts and culture;
- Sports;
- Heritage;
- Creative industries;
- Innovation and technology;
- The Hong Kong Laureate Forum;
- Aviation;
- International/mega events;
- Finance;
- Development and construction;
- Environment;
- Occupational safety and health;
- Maritime;
- Think tanks;
- Social welfare; and
- Others.
Under the STV Scheme, organizations authorized by relevant government bureaus/departments can issue invitation letters to relevant foreign nationals in their sectors. Invited persons may come to Hong Kong and participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits from the Immigration Department (ImmD).
Participation of foreign nationals in specified activities in Hong Kong must be conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives, without displacing the local workforce. They may participate in the specified short-term activities for up to 14 consecutive calendar days upon each arrival, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned.
Through an established mechanism, all participating bureaus/departments would assist in ensuring that the implementation of the scheme consistently meets relevant policy objectives and will neither displace the local workforce nor constitute a risk of abuse (including illegal employment).
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