Effective immediately, the Hong Kong SAR government has announced the expansion of the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme). Under the new arrangement, the number of designated sectors will increase from 12 to 17, with five new categories (Environment, Occupational Safety and Health, Maritime, Think Tanks and Others) added to the list. The expansion also includes additional authorized organizations (with a total of approximately 490, up from 400). Through this scheme, authorized organizations are permitted to issue invitation letters to eligible foreign professionals, allowing them to take part in specified short-term activities (e.g., business-related activities), for up to 14 consecutive days per visit, with the option to receive remuneration but without the need to obtain employment visas or entry permits. Participants must contribute positively to Hong Kong SAR’s economic and policy objectives while ensuring they do not affect local employment opportunities. Further information can be found here.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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