The Hong Kong government has issued its annual refresh of the university list that underpins the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), expanding it from 186 to 200 institutions effective 1 January 2026. The update reflects the latest rankings across Times Higher Education, QS, US News and Shanghai ARWU tables and retains the dedicated sub-lists for hospitality management, art & design and the top 20 mainland universities.
Under TTPS, graduates of qualifying universities with at least three years’ recent work experience can secure a two-year visa without a prior job offer. Since launch in December 2022, more than 49 000 approvals have been granted, with fintech, biomedical research and AI engineering topping the skills mix. The expanded list is expected to widen the catchment from Latin America and Eastern Europe, regions previously under-represented.
For applicants keen to avoid administrative hurdles, digital visa facilitator VisaHQ can streamline the entire filing process: its Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) hosts customizable document checklists, real-time status tracking and expert review options that help ensure TTPS, dependent and subsequent employment-visa submissions are correct and complete on the first attempt.
![Hong Kong updates Top Talent Pass eligible-university list to 200 institutions]()
Employers welcome the move: surveys by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce show 62 % of member companies used TTPS hires in 2025, citing processing times of under four weeks and the ability to convert to Employment Visas once a contract is inked. Talent acquisition heads, however, caution that upcoming fee hikes—application charges rise to HKD 600 from February—may require budget adjustments.
For mobility programmes, the immediate action point is to update policy handbooks and marketing material to reflect the new eligibility list. Universities that have slipped out of the top 100 in any ranking over the past five years remain on the aggregate list if they feature in at least one of the four indices, preserving access for many UK and US second-tier schools.
Immigration consultants note a parallel uptick in dependent visas and school-place applications. Companies relocating senior managers under TTPS are advised to start international-school wait-list processes six months in advance and to reserve serviced apartments early; December occupancy in prime districts has already hit 88 %.
Under TTPS, graduates of qualifying universities with at least three years’ recent work experience can secure a two-year visa without a prior job offer. Since launch in December 2022, more than 49 000 approvals have been granted, with fintech, biomedical research and AI engineering topping the skills mix. The expanded list is expected to widen the catchment from Latin America and Eastern Europe, regions previously under-represented.
For applicants keen to avoid administrative hurdles, digital visa facilitator VisaHQ can streamline the entire filing process: its Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) hosts customizable document checklists, real-time status tracking and expert review options that help ensure TTPS, dependent and subsequent employment-visa submissions are correct and complete on the first attempt.
Employers welcome the move: surveys by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce show 62 % of member companies used TTPS hires in 2025, citing processing times of under four weeks and the ability to convert to Employment Visas once a contract is inked. Talent acquisition heads, however, caution that upcoming fee hikes—application charges rise to HKD 600 from February—may require budget adjustments.
For mobility programmes, the immediate action point is to update policy handbooks and marketing material to reflect the new eligibility list. Universities that have slipped out of the top 100 in any ranking over the past five years remain on the aggregate list if they feature in at least one of the four indices, preserving access for many UK and US second-tier schools.
Immigration consultants note a parallel uptick in dependent visas and school-place applications. Companies relocating senior managers under TTPS are advised to start international-school wait-list processes six months in advance and to reserve serviced apartments early; December occupancy in prime districts has already hit 88 %.
