Since the launch of the Top Talent Pass Scheme in December 2022 to attract talent with high earnings and graduates from the world’s top universities to live and work in Hong Kong, a total of 49,737 visas were approved under this initiative in 2023, with 11,686 granted to individuals who had earned no less than US$320,000 in the preceding year. As of last September, the corresponding figures were 30,851 visas and 9,225 individuals.
So far, the approved applicants work mainly in financial services, innovation and technology, and commerce and trade. So what key factors are helping to entice these highly skilled professionals to come to Hong Kong to work and live?
