Chief Executive John Lee’s 2026 Policy Address has confirmed that Hong Kong will introduce a dedicated short-term “Training Visa” aimed at pulling in overseas professionals for government-recognised courses of up to 12 months. Senior officials told the South China Morning Post that the new category should open for applications in the first quarter of 2027, once subsidiary legislation is finalised. Unlike the city’s existing employment or student schemes, the Training Visa will be sponsored by approved local institutions—ranging from the forthcoming Hong Kong International Academy of Policing to fintech incubators in Cyberport. Applicants will not need an employment contract, only proof of course enrolment and subsistence funding. Dependants will be able to accompany the holder for programmes longer than three months, mirroring treatment under the existing Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. For multinational companies, the visa fills a long-standing gap: sending staff to Hong Kong for bespoke up-skilling or familiarisation courses often required short multiple entry visas or work permits, creating compliance headaches. With the new pass, HR teams can rotate cohorts of graduates or high-potentials through Hong Kong for intensive training without breaching local labour rules. Immigration advisers expect processing to be largely paperless, leveraging the e-Visa platform rolled out in 2025. Fees are rumoured to be set at HK$480 (about US$60), and the quota-free system is designed to be demand-driven. However, visa holders will be barred from taking up outside employment, and overstays will count against future work-visa applications. The initiative is part of a wider talent “super-trawler” strategy that has already produced the Top Talent Pass and expanded visa-free deals for HKSAR passport holders. If implemented on time, companies planning 2027 rotation calendars should begin identifying eligible programmes and lining up accommodation blocks now.
Source: South China Morning Post
