- country
- Hong Kong
- eligibility
- Fast-track for eligible companies to admit non-local technology talent for R&D work. Company must hold an ITC-approved quota. Individual must be a full-time employee principally engaged in R&D, a degree holder in STEM from a top-100 ranked university (QS/Shanghai/Times/USNWR); Master's/Doctoral holders need no work experience while Bachelor's holders need a minimum of one year in a relevant field; remuneration at prevailing market rates.
- processing notes
- Standard visa processing approximately two weeks; initial stay 36 months (or contract duration, whichever shorter). Enhancements effective 26 December 2025 allow parallel filing of quota requests and individual visa applications (cutting processing by up to four weeks) and removed the prior 14-prescribed-R&D-fields restriction; a dedicated service desk opened at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park at Lok Ma Chau Loop.
- quota
- Company-based quota allotted by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), valid for 24 months; the company can sponsor an eligible person within the quota validity period