Hong Kong SAR/Macau SAR/Mainland China: New Visa for Talented Individuals from China’s Greater Bay Area Announced
April 18, 2023
Countries / Territories
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At a Glance
- The Chinese government announced that residents of the nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong SAR-Macau SAR Greater Bay Area (GBA) can now apply for a new "talent R visa" to enter Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR.
- Eligible applicants under six categories, including those who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the GBA, or to education or health, among others that are recognized by Chinese authorities, are eligible to apply for the new visa.
- Eligible applicants can apply for travel endorsements that will allow them to stay up to 30 days in either Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR with validity periods ranging from one to five years, depending on their category.
The situation
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) of Mainland China has announced that residents of the nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong SAR-Macau SAR Greater Bay Area (GBA) can now apply for a new ‘talent R visa’ to enter Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. The GBA initiative is the Chinese government’s program to link Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR with Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing as an integrated economic and business hub.
A closer look
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Background
The change is in line with the government’s aim to facilitate the socio-economic growth in the GBA by promoting technology and scientific exchange activities in the region. This is in line with Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive John Lee’s Policy Address in October 2022, which mentioned plans to attract talent to Hong Kong SAR as well as to relax employment policies for Mainland Chinese professionals.
Looking ahead
The government will likely introduce further immigration changes to streamline visa application processes for talented and skilled workers in the GBA region, such as relaxed requirements for applicants or longer durations for existing visa options.
Fragomen in China is Fragomen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., operating exclusively as an immigration consultancy and not as a law firm in China. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
