Immigration Encyclopedia
What are the application requirements for the Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C?
Key Takeaways
Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C is primarily aimed at applicants who have obtained a bachelor's degree from an eligible university within the past five years and have less than three years of work experience. Category C has an annual quota, and applicants must verify that their graduation institution, graduation year, degree nature, and work experience meet the latest requirements.
Many recent graduates with less than three years of work experience often search for the following question when exploring Hong Kong residency options: What are the application requirements for the Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C?
The Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C is primarily designed for young, eligible university graduates. According to the current regulations of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, applicants must have been awarded a bachelor's degree by an eligible university within the five years immediately preceding the application, and have less than three years of work experience. Category C is subject to an annual quota, currently set at 10,000, which is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The graduating institution must be on the eligible university list
Category C is not open to graduates from all universities.
The applicant's bachelor's degree must be awarded by a university or institution on the Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme Comprehensive List of Eligible Universities.
This list is not permanently fixed. It is adjusted based on designated world university rankings, certain mainland China university rankings, and rankings of institutions in specific fields such as hospitality management and art and design. The 2026 list has also seen new institutions added and removed.
Therefore, when determining whether you qualify for Category C, your graduating institution must be verified against the latest list at the time of submission, rather than relying solely on the "world top 100 universities" lists circulated online from years past.
- The graduation year must meet the five-year requirement
A notable difference between Category C and Category B is that Category C requires applicants to have graduated within the past five years.
The Immigration Department's Top Talent Pass Scheme guidelines clarify that graduation within the past five years is calculated based on the graduation year.
For example, if an applicant's university meets the requirements and their work experience is under three years, but their graduation year falls outside the specified range, they can no longer apply under Category C.
Therefore, for applicants whose graduation date is close to the five-year boundary, the timing of the application itself requires careful attention.
- How to understand having less than three years of work experience?
Category C is mainly targeted at individuals with limited work experience.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department stipulates that the relevant work experience calculated for the Top Talent Pass Scheme refers to full-time or self-employed work experience accumulated after graduation.
Consequently, part-time jobs and internships during student days cannot simply be counted in full as the formal work experience referred to in Category C.
If an applicant has already accumulated three or more years of work experience since graduation, they generally need to assess whether they qualify for Category B instead of continuing to apply under Category C.
For applicants who have changed multiple companies, started a business, been self-employed after graduation, or worked in different countries, organizing their work duration and supporting documentation requires extra care.
- Category C has an annual quota
Unlike Categories A and B, which do not have annual quota restrictions, Category C currently has an annual quota of 10,000 slots, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
This is a critical point that Category C applicants must pay close attention to.
Meeting the educational, graduation year, and work experience criteria does not mean that submitting at any time yields the same result. For individuals who have confirmed they meet Category C requirements, the progress of document preparation and the quota status for that year will directly impact their application planning.
- Local Hong Kong graduates need special attention
If an applicant has previously studied full-time in Hong Kong for a locally accredited undergraduate program as a non-local student and obtained a bachelor's degree, and qualifies for the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) based on that qualification, they generally cannot apply for Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C using that Hong Kong degree.
Such applicants typically need to compare the IANG and other Hong Kong visa pathways.
If an applicant simultaneously holds another bachelor's degree awarded by an eligible university outside Hong Kong within the past five years, a reassessment must be made based on that specific qualification.
- Is a job in Hong Kong required for a Category C application?
When first applying for Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C, applicants are not required to have already secured a job in Hong Kong. Eligible individuals can relocate to Hong Kong after approval to look for work, develop their careers, or arrange family life.
However, if family goals also include visa renewal, children's education, and future Hong Kong permanent residency, planning cannot stop at the initial approval. Subsequent employment, business activities, income, and family arrangements in Hong Kong are equally worthy of strategic planning.
How Easysail Global Can Assist You
If you are considering the Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C, you can share your graduating institution, degree, graduation year, post-graduation work experience, family members, and relocation plans with Easysail Global.
We can help you analyze your actual situation regarding:
Whether your graduating institution belongs to the latest eligible university list;
Whether your graduation time still meets the Category C requirements;
How your work experience should be calculated;
Whether Category B, Category C, or another Hong Kong visa pathway is more suitable;
How to arrange Hong Kong residency for your spouse and children;
How to plan for post-approval visa renewals and long-term residency status.
While Category C requirements appear straightforward, any mismatch in the university list, graduation year, degree nature, or work experience can impact the application. Aligning your real background with the latest policies is the only way to accurately determine the right Hong Kong immigration pathway.