The Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) office quietly updated its website on 2 January to unveil the 2026 aggregate list of universities recognised under the flagship Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). The roster now stands at 200 institutions—up from 199 in 2025—following the inclusion of Spain’s IE University. Graduates of any listed university who earned a bachelor’s degree (or above) within the past five years may obtain a 24-month, visa-free stay in Hong Kong to seek employment or start a business.
TTPS, launched in late 2022 to reverse pandemic-era brain drain, has issued more than 63,000 entry visas to date, with acceptance rates hovering around 95 percent. Government data show that 43 percent of successful applicants work in innovation-and-technology sectors, 21 percent in financial services and 12 percent in professional services. Employers praise the scheme for eliminating labour-market bottlenecks, but caution that retention hinges on affordable housing and schooling.
For applicants unfamiliar with Hong Kong’s immigration e-platforms, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end concierge service that pre-screens documents, liaises with verification networks and submits TTPS forms on your behalf. Their Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) also provides up-to-date guidance on transitioning to employment visas, ensuring both talent and employers remain fully compliant.
![Hong Kong adds 200th university to 2026 Top Talent Pass Scheme eligibility list]()
The 2026 update also streamlines documentary requirements: applicants can now upload digital degree certificates verified through the CHESICC or Digitary networks, cutting average processing time from four weeks to nine calendar days. Immigration lawyers note that same-day “approval-in-principle” is possible for graduates holding STEM doctorates from top-100 universities.
For multinational mobility managers, the expansion means a marginally larger talent pool—particularly from Europe—can be relocated to Hong Kong without the need for a sponsored work visa. Companies are advised to adjust internal policies so that TTPS holders transition smoothly onto standard employment visas when their initial 24-month permits approach expiry. Failure to do so could jeopardise right-to-work compliance.
Looking ahead, the Labour and Welfare Bureau has hinted that the next iteration of the scheme may introduce sector-specific quotas tied to Hong Kong’s “eight centres” development strategy. Stakeholder consultations are scheduled for Q2 2026, giving businesses an opportunity to lobby for disciplines most in demand.
TTPS, launched in late 2022 to reverse pandemic-era brain drain, has issued more than 63,000 entry visas to date, with acceptance rates hovering around 95 percent. Government data show that 43 percent of successful applicants work in innovation-and-technology sectors, 21 percent in financial services and 12 percent in professional services. Employers praise the scheme for eliminating labour-market bottlenecks, but caution that retention hinges on affordable housing and schooling.
For applicants unfamiliar with Hong Kong’s immigration e-platforms, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end concierge service that pre-screens documents, liaises with verification networks and submits TTPS forms on your behalf. Their Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) also provides up-to-date guidance on transitioning to employment visas, ensuring both talent and employers remain fully compliant.
The 2026 update also streamlines documentary requirements: applicants can now upload digital degree certificates verified through the CHESICC or Digitary networks, cutting average processing time from four weeks to nine calendar days. Immigration lawyers note that same-day “approval-in-principle” is possible for graduates holding STEM doctorates from top-100 universities.
For multinational mobility managers, the expansion means a marginally larger talent pool—particularly from Europe—can be relocated to Hong Kong without the need for a sponsored work visa. Companies are advised to adjust internal policies so that TTPS holders transition smoothly onto standard employment visas when their initial 24-month permits approach expiry. Failure to do so could jeopardise right-to-work compliance.
Looking ahead, the Labour and Welfare Bureau has hinted that the next iteration of the scheme may introduce sector-specific quotas tied to Hong Kong’s “eight centres” development strategy. Stakeholder consultations are scheduled for Q2 2026, giving businesses an opportunity to lobby for disciplines most in demand.
