Citizenship routes

Ancestryreviewed
Naturalizationreviewed
Birthreviewed
Investmentreviewed
Naturalizationactive

Naturalization under the parent sovereign

Chinese nationality can be acquired by naturalization under the parent sovereign’s law; local residence in Hong Kong is a separate status.

Sources: HK Immigration Department — Chinese nationality

Residence & settlement

Investment (golden visa) →PR path: yesCitizenship path: no

New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

Launched 1 March 2024. Requires net assets of at least HKD 30M and investment of HKD 30M: at least HKD 27M in permissible financial assets and/or real estate, plus HKD 3M placed into the CIES Investment Portfolio (supporting innovation/technology and strategic industries).

from HKD 30,000,000

Sources: New CIES — Investment Requirement (InvestHK official portal)

Talent →PR path: yesCitizenship path: noLocal work: yes

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

Quota- and selection-based Hong Kong scheme for highly skilled or talented persons who need not have a local job offer. Applicants must meet prerequisites (age 18+, financial self-sufficiency, good character, normally a first degree) then pass either the General Points Test (with a published passing threshold) or the Achievement-based Points Test. Selection exercises are merit-based with Assessment Panel advice. General Points Test entrants normally receive 36 months initial stay; Achievement-based Points Test entrants normally receive eight years. Right of abode after seven years of continuous ordinary residence.

Sources: Hong Kong Immigration Department — Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

Talent →PR path: yesCitizenship path: noLocal work: yes

Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)

Hong Kong entry arrangement for high-income talents and graduates of designated top universities, without a prior job offer. Category A admits "persons with annual income reaching HK$2.5 million or above, or its equivalent in foreign currency, in the year immediately preceding the date of application" and grants an initial stay of 36 months. This is a retrospective test on income already earned, not a salary floor the applicant must be paid going forward. Categories B and C: bachelor-level graduates of universities on the aggregate eligible-universities list, with or without three years of work experience (initial stay 24 months; Category C is subject to an annual quota allotted first-come, first-served). Successful applicants stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay and may take up or change employment or establish a business freely. Right of abode requires seven years of continuous ordinary residence — a separate application.

Sources: Hong Kong Immigration Department — Top Talent Pass Scheme

Driving licence

Where a licence connected to Hong Kong can be exchanged, based on mapped official lists. Search every issuing country.

Licence issued in Hong Kong

8 mapped destinations
Check the full exchange conditions

Exchanging a foreign licence in Hong Kong

The mapped official list contains 38 issuing origins; 38 are listed without theory or practical tests.

Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (Cap. 374B), Schedule 4 — direct issue of a Hong Kong full driving licence without test

Official exchange list

Exchange normally requires residence in the destination and replaces the original licence. The official authority still decides validity, deadlines, classes, and any extra checks.

Regional rights

UK-Hong Kong BN(O) RouteCross-Strait & SAR Permits (Greater China)

Treaty & country paths

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