Six categories of talents in Beijing and Shanghai can apply for a talent exit endorsement, allowing multiple trips to Hong Kong and Macao, according to the National Immigration Administration on Sunday.
Starting from May 6, the six categories of talents, which are outstanding talents, scientific research talents, education talents, healthcare talents, legal talents and management talents, who meet the eligibility criteria set by the related authorities can apply to the immigration administration for a talent exit endorsement with a validity period of five years, three years or one year. They can then travel to and from Hong Kong and Macao multiple times within the validity period of the exit endorsement and stay in HK and Macao for a duration not exceeding 30 days during each visit.
The talent exit endorsement has been implemented in the cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) on a pilot basis since February 20, 2023, to facilitate talents in the region to travel to HK and Macao for exchanges and visits.
As of mid-April 2024, more than 20,000 arrivals of holders of the talent exit endorsement in HK and Macao as visitors were recorded. Officials said the move is aimed at bringing more mainland talents to Hong Kong for exchanges.
"The six categories of talents who meet the eligibility criteria can apply for talent endorsements (to Hong Kong and Macao) with a validity period ranging from one to five years, and the holder can stay in Hong Kong or Macao for no more than 30 days within the validity period of the endorsement. In the next step, we will summarize and evaluate the program, expand the scope of talent endorsement, and better implement the workforce development strategy in the new era," Wang Ling, deputy head of the entry-exit administrative department of the National Immigration Administration, said at a press conference in Beijing.
Easy exits to HK, Macao to be allowed for certain talents in Beijing, Shanghai
