Want To Settle In Hong Kong? Go For QMAS VISA
- September 26, 2017
- Posted by: visasabroad
- Category: Hong Kong Visa
Immigration to Hong Kong has been taking place for a long time. The QMAS (Quality Migrant Admission Scheme) Visa Was announced in February 2006 and came into effect the same year. Hong Kong is considered a travel destination for many travel aspirants.
Now that Hong Kong is developing financially, demand for skilled professionals has come to the country’s occupational demand list. The Hong Kong government will only accept a migrant meeting a specific set of criteria.
The government will then allow migrants to apply for a Permanent Residency Visa to Hong Kong. Let’s now consider the process to acquire Permanent Residency in Hong Kong?
The Process
Hong Kong is actively seeking skilled and talented individuals who can contribute to the city’s economy. To migrate to Canada, it is not a requirement that the willing candidate needs to have a job offer from a local employer before migrating.
There are specific requirements that the applicant must meet before they can be awarded points under the General Points Test or Achievement Test Points Test.
Eligibility Requirements for the Hong Kong QMAS Visa
There are specific requirements that applicants must fulfil to be eligible for the QMAS Visa. The applicant must satisfy all of the requirements mentioned below.
- Age: The applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of applying.
- Funds: The applicant must demonstrate the required amount of funds in their bank account for a consecutive period. The Hong Kong government considers this to ensure that applicants can easily adapt to the new country.
- Character: The applicant should have no prior criminal record anywhere when applying for a Visa. Proper proofs proving the absence of criminal records anywhere must be submitted to the immigration department of Hong Kong.
- Language Proficiency: The applicant should be fluent in either Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English. Special points are awarded to candidates who know more languages other than English.
- Educational Requirements: The applicant must have a good academic background. A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university is taken into account while weighing points for the applicant’s Visa. Specific achievements and professional abilities, accompanied by documented proof, are also considered.
The Points-Based Test
Applicants who have met the requirements for the QMAS Visa may choose to be assessed under the General Points Test or Achievement-based Test. The minimum passing score for the General Points Test is 80.
Applicants opting for the Achievement-based Test will also need to score 80 points. A candidate can score a maximum of 195 points if they meet every criterion mentioned in the eligibility list. The table below indicates the points system according to different age groups –
Age:
| Age | 18-39 | 40-44 | 45-50 | 51 or above |
| Points | 30 | 20 | 15 | 0 |
Qualification:
| Doctoral Degree / Two or more master’s degrees | 40 |
| Master’s Degree / Two or more bachelor’s degrees | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree / Professional Qualification | 10 |
| Additional points are awarded if a Bachelor’s Degree is from a recognised institution internationally | 30 |
Work Experience:
| Not less than 10 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience, including at least 5 years in a senior role | 40 |
| Not less than 5 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience, including at least 2 years in a senior role | 30 |
| Not less than 5 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience | 15 |
| Not less than 2 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience | 5 |
| Additional points for not less than 2 years’ graduate or specialist level work experience with international exposure | 15 |
Language Proficiency:
| Being proficient in both written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) and English | 20 |
| Being proficient in at least one foreign language (written and spoken) in addition to written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English | 15 |
| Being proficient in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English | 10 |
Family Background:
| At least one immediate family member (married spouse, parents, siblings, children) is a Hong Kong permanent resident residing in Hong Kong | 5 |
| Accompanying married spouse is educated to the equivalent level of a degree or above | 5 |
| 5 points for each accompanying unmarried dependent child under the age of 18, maximum 10 points. | 5 or 10 |
Selecting Candidates
Candidates who fulfil the requirements and score a minimum passing mark of 80 are eligible to apply for the QMAS Visa. However, candidates who score higher will be shortlisted by the government for a Visa for further assessment.
Meeting the minimum score or scoring higher does not guarantee that the applicant will be able to go to Hong Kong. The candidates will need to compete with other competent candidates in the same score pool and wait until the Hong Kong government makes its selection.
Approval-in-Principle
Candidates selected during the process will be issued an Approval-in-Principle letter. Candidates who receive an Approval-in-principle letter are required to visit Hong Kong for an interview and present their original documents that were submitted to the immigration department for verification. Also, remember, receiving an Approval-in-Principle does not guarantee a person’s entry and stay in Hong Kong. Candidates may want to visit Hong Kong on a visitor’s visa to complete this process.
Issue of a Visa
Once all the original documents are presented during the interview and once the interviewer is satisfied with the verification, a Visa to stay in Hong Kong under a specific scheme is issued.
Applicant’s Dependents
Under the prevailing dependent policy, applicants can choose to bring their spouse or unmarried children under the age of 18 to Hong Kong. Persons applying for admission under QMAS will automatically become the sponsor of accompanying dependents to Hong Kong. The length of stay of such dependents depends on the sponsor’s stay in Hong Kong.
