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Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme ("QMAS") is a points-based immigration system in the Hong Kong. It was first announced in February 2006, and began accepting applications in June of the same year; by September 2023, more than 20000 people had been admitted to residence in Hong Kong under the scheme.
QMAS aims to attract highly skilled overseas-born individuals to settle in Hong Kong for enhancing the economic competitiveness of Hong Kong globally. Those successful are not required to have a valid job offer before entering into Hong Kong for settlement. All applicants under the QMAS have to fulfil a set number of requirements before they are awarded points under either of the 2 points-based tests – that is, either the Achievement-based Points Test or General Points Test.
Before 2023, this used to be a quota-based scheme, and those successful with had to compete against the other QMAS applicants for quota allocation.
Nationals of certain countries – Cuba, Afghanistan and North Korea – are not eligible for the QMAS of Hong Kong, while the limitation on citizens from Vietnam, Laos and Nepal has been lifted.
According to Lai Tung-kwok, the application process can take half a year.
With the aim of attracting talented people from mainland China and the rest of the world to settle and work in Hong Kong, the QMAS set up admissions criteria under which applicants could be admitted to residence in Hong Kong without the prior offer of local employment required for a normal working visa. The scheme was first announced in February 2006. It began accepting applications on 28 June of that year, with a quota of 1,000 applicants. The scheme included two methods of assessment: a general points test, under which applicants would be awarded points based on their education, age, working experience, language abilities, and family background, and an achievement-based test for people such as Olympic medalists, Nobel laureates, or scientists and professionals with significant recognition in their field. The minimum passing mark under the general points test is 80 points.
Six people applied in the first week; however, the government waited until November 2006 to issue the first visa under the scheme, to pianist Lang Lang. In 2007, 582 people applied under the scheme, of whom 322 (55.3%) were admitted, 42 through the achievement-based points test and 280 through the general points test. 188 came from mainland China.
As early as November 2007, the government floated the idea of loosening the criteria for admission under the QMAS, due to the underwhelming response. Details of the amendments were announced in January 2008; the age limit for applicants was raised from 50 to 55, points would be awarded for as little as two years of working experience as opposed to five before the amendment, and applicants could receive points for abilities in languages other than Chinese or English.
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Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme ("QMAS") is a points-based immigration system in the Hong Kong. It was first announced in February 2006, and began accepting applications in June of the same year; by September 2023, more than 20000 people had been admitted to residence in Hong Kong under the scheme.
QMAS aims to attract highly skilled overseas-born individuals to settle in Hong Kong for enhancing the economic competitiveness of Hong Kong globally. Those successful are not required to have a valid job offer before entering into Hong Kong for settlement. All applicants under the QMAS have to fulfil a set number of requirements before they are awarded points under either of the 2 points-based tests – that is, either the Achievement-based Points Test or General Points Test.
Before 2023, this used to be a quota-based scheme, and those successful with had to compete against the other QMAS applicants for quota allocation.
Nationals of certain countries – Cuba, Afghanistan and North Korea – are not eligible for the QMAS of Hong Kong, while the limitation on citizens from Vietnam, Laos and Nepal has been lifted.
According to Lai Tung-kwok, the application process can take half a year.
With the aim of attracting talented people from mainland China and the rest of the world to settle and work in Hong Kong, the QMAS set up admissions criteria under which applicants could be admitted to residence in Hong Kong without the prior offer of local employment required for a normal working visa. The scheme was first announced in February 2006. It began accepting applications on 28 June of that year, with a quota of 1,000 applicants. The scheme included two methods of assessment: a general points test, under which applicants would be awarded points based on their education, age, working experience, language abilities, and family background, and an achievement-based test for people such as Olympic medalists, Nobel laureates, or scientists and professionals with significant recognition in their field. The minimum passing mark under the general points test is 80 points.
Six people applied in the first week; however, the government waited until November 2006 to issue the first visa under the scheme, to pianist Lang Lang. In 2007, 582 people applied under the scheme, of whom 322 (55.3%) were admitted, 42 through the achievement-based points test and 280 through the general points test. 188 came from mainland China.
As early as November 2007, the government floated the idea of loosening the criteria for admission under the QMAS, due to the underwhelming response. Details of the amendments were announced in January 2008; the age limit for applicants was raised from 50 to 55, points would be awarded for as little as two years of working experience as opposed to five before the amendment, and applicants could receive points for abilities in languages other than Chinese or English.