The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has formally expanded the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (known as the Short-Term Visitor or “STV” scheme). Effective 12 November 2025, five new categories—Environment, Occupational Safety & Health, Maritime, Think Tanks and an “Others” basket for government-backed events—join the original 12 professional sectors covered. Nearly 490 Hong-Kong based organisations have now been approved to issue invitation letters, up from about 400 previously. Invited foreign experts may enter as *visitors* for up to 14 consecutive days per trip, undertake remunerated project work, and avoid the administrative burden of obtaining an employment visa.
The move regularises what began as a 2022 pilot and reflects the city’s determination to recover its role as a regional events hub after pandemic-era travel curbs. Government statistics show more than 38,000 non-local professionals have already benefited, participating in marquee gatherings such as the Asian Financial Forum and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament. Officials argue the streamlined rules help deliver the kind of rapid knowledge exchange multinationals now demand while safeguarding local employment by capping stays at two weeks.
![Hong Kong widens Short-Term Talent Visitor Scheme to 17 sectors]()
For companies, the most immediate impact is transactional: mobility and HR teams can bypass full visa packages for guest speakers, auditors, film crews or technical advisers whose on-site assignments are short. In addition, authorised host entities face lighter documentary requirements—an invitation letter referencing the official list of “specified short-term activities” usually suffices. Crucially, assignees may draw Hong Kong-sourced remuneration during their stay, eliminating cross-border payroll complications.
Yet compliance remains critical. Visitors who overstay or perform tasks outside the approved scope can be prosecuted, while sponsors risk removal from the authorised-organisation roster. Companies are therefore advised to update internal guidance, confirm that project descriptions match the government’s activity list, and embed clear exit timelines in travel bookings.
In the medium term, the expansion aligns with Chief Executive John Lee’s broader “Top Talent Pass” and GBA integration agenda. By giving Hong Kong-based clusters—from green finance to maritime arbitration—faster access to foreign expertise, officials hope to reinforce the city’s “super-connector” status between mainland China and global markets. Mobility managers should expect further tweaks as the scheme matures and new sectors lobby for inclusion.
The move regularises what began as a 2022 pilot and reflects the city’s determination to recover its role as a regional events hub after pandemic-era travel curbs. Government statistics show more than 38,000 non-local professionals have already benefited, participating in marquee gatherings such as the Asian Financial Forum and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament. Officials argue the streamlined rules help deliver the kind of rapid knowledge exchange multinationals now demand while safeguarding local employment by capping stays at two weeks.
For companies, the most immediate impact is transactional: mobility and HR teams can bypass full visa packages for guest speakers, auditors, film crews or technical advisers whose on-site assignments are short. In addition, authorised host entities face lighter documentary requirements—an invitation letter referencing the official list of “specified short-term activities” usually suffices. Crucially, assignees may draw Hong Kong-sourced remuneration during their stay, eliminating cross-border payroll complications.
Yet compliance remains critical. Visitors who overstay or perform tasks outside the approved scope can be prosecuted, while sponsors risk removal from the authorised-organisation roster. Companies are therefore advised to update internal guidance, confirm that project descriptions match the government’s activity list, and embed clear exit timelines in travel bookings.
In the medium term, the expansion aligns with Chief Executive John Lee’s broader “Top Talent Pass” and GBA integration agenda. By giving Hong Kong-based clusters—from green finance to maritime arbitration—faster access to foreign expertise, officials hope to reinforce the city’s “super-connector” status between mainland China and global markets. Mobility managers should expect further tweaks as the scheme matures and new sectors lobby for inclusion.
