Our Services

Hong Kong TechTAS Application Procedures and Fees

Unless otherwise indicated, the employment (or work) visa application stated in this quotation refers to visa/permit for employment as Technology Talent Admission Scheme (“TechTAS”).

In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong, he/she requires a visa permit for work in Hong Kong. Foreigners who wish to take up any short-term or long-term employment (whether paid or unpaid) in Hong Kong must obtain an appropriate visa/permit from Hong Kong Immigration Department before taking up the employment.

Under the Technology Talent Admission Scheme (“TechTAS”), foreign nationals and residents of Mainland China who are engaged in research and development activities within specified technological fields, possess a degree in STEM-related subjects from a specified top 100 university, and have secured employment with a Hong Kong employer with unused quota allocated by the Innovation and Technology Commission (“ITC”) are eligible to apply.

Alternatively, professionals who are residents of Mainland China may apply under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (“ASMTP”), while foreign nationals may apply under the General Employment Policy (“GEP”).  Please refer to our Hong Kong Employment Visa Procedures and Fees for details

Foreigners who wish to establish or join in business – and take up the ensuing employment sponsored by his/her owned business in Hong Kong – may apply for an Investment as Entrepreneurs visa. Please refer to our Hong Kong Investment as Entrepreneurs Procedures and Fees for details.

Applicants who have been admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment through the above-mentioned TechTAS scheme may apply for a dependent visa for their spouse or unmarried dependent child(ren) under the age of 18. Finally, it is worth noting that TechTAS holders may apply for the right of abode in Hong Kong in accordance with the law if they have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven (7) years.

1. Hong Kong TechTAS Handling and Application Fees

Our fee for handling the quota application and the subsequent TechTAS visa application to enable the applicant to work in Hong Kong is HKD18,980, while the fee for assistance with the TechTAS visa application alone is HKD9,980. Additionally, a fee of HKD4,990 will be charged for each dependent visa. For corporate pricing or further inquiries, please contact Kaizen’s Mobility and Migration team here. (info@kaizenvis.com).

In particular, our fees cover the following services:

(1) Continuous advice regarding the quota and the visa application for TechTAS in Hong Kong;

(2) Assistance with the preparation of the required documentation;

(3) Review of application documents prepared by applicant(s) and employing company;

(4) Preparation of authorization letter(s) and application form(s);

(5) Submission of TechTAS quota application to the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (“HKSTPC”)/Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited (“HSITPL”)/Cyberport/ITC (optional);

(6) Liaison with the HKSTPC/HSITPL/Cyberport/ITC regarding the TechTAS quota application (optional);

(7) Submission of the TechTAS visa application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (“ImmD”);

(8) Liaison with the ImmD regarding the TechTAS visa application;

(9) Report of application status to the client;

(10) Arranging the payment of fees and collection of the approved TechTAS visa;

(11) Forwarding of TechTAS visa to the client’s specified address; and

(12) Assistance with the application of Hong Kong ID cards.

Note:

(1) The fees stated are exclusive of government fees (application fee of HKD600 and visa issuance fee of HKD1300);

(2) The fees stated are exclusive of out-of-pocket fees, including but not limited to delivery fees, translation fees, notarization fees, no-criminal record certificate fees, medical examination fees, and education qualification verification fees, if any.

2. Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a TechTAS visa, the following eligibility requirements must be met:

(1) There is no security objection and no known record of crime in respect of the applicant;

(2) The employing company has a valid quota approved by ITC;

(3) Applicant is engaged in research and development activities within specified technological fields and possesses a degree in STEM-related subjects from a specified top 100 university;

(4) There is a genuine full-time job vacancy at the employing company for the applicant;

(5) Applicant meets the specific particulars pertaining to the job position set out in the quota allotment letter issued by ITC;

The above-mentioned eligibility criteria may be subject to change from time to time by the Hong Kong Immigration Department without prior notice. Please consult with Kaizen’s Mobility and Migration Team for more information.

3. Payment Term and Method

Upon receipt of your confirmation of engagement, we will issue and send an invoice together with the wiring instructions to you for your settlement. Once settled, please input our invoice and/or account number in the message section and email us a copy of the remittance receipt for our records and faster retrieval. Due to the nature of the service, we require full payment in advance. Once service has commenced, no refund of the service fee will be made.

We accept cash, HKD check, TT and credit card through Paypal. An extra handling fee of 5% will be charged if paid by Paypal.

4. Application Procedures and Estimated Timeline

The processing time for a quota application is approximately 2 to 4 weeks following the submission of a complete application package to the HKSTPC/HSITPL/ Cyberport/ITC. Once the quota has been allocated by the ITC, an additional 2 to 4 weeks is required for the TechTAS visa application to be processed by the ImmD. Both departments will review the validity of the provided information and may request supplementary evidence or documentation. If additional requests are made, the processing time may be extended.

When the quota application is approved, the ITC will issue a quota allotment letter to the company. In the event of a refusal of the quota application, the company may submit a new application.

Once the TechTAS visa application is approved, the ImmD will issue an Entry Permit which must be collected from the ImmD by the applicant or an authorized representative. In the event of a refusal of the TechTAS visa application, a fresh application can also be filed with the ImmD, as there are no restrictions against reapplying.

Upon collection of the Entry Permit, the applicant may enter Hong Kong with the original of the Entry Permit and start the intended employment. After his/her arrival, a Permit Holder who is permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days must also register for a Hong Kong identity card (HKID) within 30 days of arrival.

5. Documentary Evidence and Information Requirements

The company is typically required to provide the following documents and information for the purpose of the TechTAS quota application:

(1)        A copy of the business registration certificate of the emp

loying company;

(2)        Evidence of engagement in research and development activities within specified technological fields that necessitate hiring suitable technology talent;

(3)        Information and documentation regarding the scale of operations, premises, business expansion plans and staffing plans, including proposed qualifications and remuneration packages for the required positions;

(4)        Information and documentation explaining why the planned positions cannot be filled locally.

The applicant and the company are typically required to provide the following documents and information for the purpose of the TechTAS visa application:

(5)        A quota allotment letter issued by the ITC;

(6)        A copy of the employment contract or the letter of appointment containing information about the post, salaries, other fringe benefits;

(7)        A letter containing the full job description and requirements;

(8)        The applicant’s certificates of academic qualification and professional qualifications as well as employment evidence;

(9)        Information and documentation detailing the reasons why the position cannot be filled locally.

All documents submitted must be in English or Chinese, or translated into English or Chinese by a certified translation body.

For a tailored checklist of the required supporting documents, please contact Kaizen’s Mobility and Migration Team here. Please note that the Hong Kong Immigration Department reserves the right to demand further documents from the applicant or the employing company as and when necessary.

6. Validity of TechTAS

Most initial TechTAS visas issued are valid for up to three (3) years depending on the employment conditions or in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter).

The TechTAS visa/permit holders may apply for extension of stay in Hong Kong within four (4) weeks before their limit of stay expires. Such applications will be considered only when the applicants continue to meet the eligibility criteria under the relevant visa application scheme. The validity period of the permit extensions will normally follow the 3-2 years pattern if approved by the Immigration Department, and is subject to the underlying employment conditions or the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter).

Professionals admitted under the TechTAS visa scheme presented in this quotation shall only take up such employment as approved by the Director of Immigration with the specified employment conditions. In the event that the visa holder decides to change his/her employment or employer, they must seek prior approval from the Hong Kong Immigration Department even though his/her current TechTAS visa has not expired. Such applications may be favourably considered if the applicants continue to fulfil the eligibility criteria under relevant visa application scheme.

If you wish to obtain more information or assistance, please visit our official website at www.kaizenvis.com or contact us through the following and talk to our professionals: T: +852 2341 1444 M: +852 5616 4140, +86 152 1943 4614 WhatsApp/ Line/ Wechat: +852 5616 4140 Email: info@kaizenvis.com