In his 2026–27 Budget tabled on 25 February, Financial Secretary Paul Chan devoted an entire section to human-capital mobility—underscoring how central immigration has become to the territory’s economic strategy. Citing official figures, Chan said more than 270,000 foreign and Mainland professionals have been approved under various admission schemes since late 2022, with the flagship Top Talent Pass Scheme alone accounting for over 100,000 arrivals.
To sustain momentum, the government will expand ‘Hong Kong Talent Engage’, a concierge-style body launched last year to help new arrivals open bank accounts, find schooling and secure housing. The agency will widen its partner network and run overseas-roadshows targeting biomedical researchers, AI scientists and green-finance specialists.
Chan also earmarked HK$10 billion in concessional loans to universities building campuses in the Northern Metropolis, positioning the district as a live-work cluster for cross-border professionals. Additional funding will extend industry-specific up-skilling programmes, including a three-year boost to the Insurance Sector Talent Scheme that subsidises professional exams for expatriates.
![Hong Kong Budget highlights success of talent visas, pledges deeper support for newcomers]()
For organisations and individuals navigating these visa streams, VisaHQ can serve as a one-stop resource, offering step-by-step guidance, document checking and online filing through its dedicated Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/). The platform keeps applicants updated on policy tweaks and processing times, helping employers accelerate onboarding while ensuring compliance with ever-evolving immigration rules.
Global mobility managers say the speech sends a reassuring signal that visa holders will continue to receive institutional support, an important retention factor amid stiff regional competition from Singapore and Seoul. The Budget did not unveil new visa categories, but analysts expect incremental refinements—such as this week’s earlier-filing rule for renewals—to continue throughout 2026.
Companies should monitor forthcoming guidance from Hong Kong Talent Engage and consider leveraging university-industry collaboration grants in the Northern Metropolis to fast-track R&D secondments.
To sustain momentum, the government will expand ‘Hong Kong Talent Engage’, a concierge-style body launched last year to help new arrivals open bank accounts, find schooling and secure housing. The agency will widen its partner network and run overseas-roadshows targeting biomedical researchers, AI scientists and green-finance specialists.
Chan also earmarked HK$10 billion in concessional loans to universities building campuses in the Northern Metropolis, positioning the district as a live-work cluster for cross-border professionals. Additional funding will extend industry-specific up-skilling programmes, including a three-year boost to the Insurance Sector Talent Scheme that subsidises professional exams for expatriates.
For organisations and individuals navigating these visa streams, VisaHQ can serve as a one-stop resource, offering step-by-step guidance, document checking and online filing through its dedicated Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/). The platform keeps applicants updated on policy tweaks and processing times, helping employers accelerate onboarding while ensuring compliance with ever-evolving immigration rules.
Global mobility managers say the speech sends a reassuring signal that visa holders will continue to receive institutional support, an important retention factor amid stiff regional competition from Singapore and Seoul. The Budget did not unveil new visa categories, but analysts expect incremental refinements—such as this week’s earlier-filing rule for renewals—to continue throughout 2026.
Companies should monitor forthcoming guidance from Hong Kong Talent Engage and consider leveraging university-industry collaboration grants in the Northern Metropolis to fast-track R&D secondments.
