Expansion of Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors announced
With effect from October 1, the Government will expand the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme), enabling more non-local talent to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits. Following a review, in addition to the existing 17 designated sectors, the STV Scheme will be expanded to cover the Social Welfare sector, with the addition of more authorised organisations and specified short-term activities.
With a view to facilitating business, promoting development of relevant sectors and raising Hong Kong's international profile, the Government launched the Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (Pilot Scheme) in June 2022, which was regularised as the STV Scheme in June2024. As of end-June 2026, the Pilot Scheme/STV Scheme had benefited over 56000 non-local talent, enabling their entry into Hong Kong as visitors to participate in over 9500 short-term activities, including the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and other major events. The STV Scheme enables more talent to visit Hong Kong for exchanges, giving full play to Hong Kong's strength as a "super connector" under the "one country, two systems" framework.
Upon review, the Government decided to further expand the STV Scheme to cover the Social Welfare sector, with a view to facilitating the entry of non-local talent into Hong Kong to participate in specified short-term activities (including symposiums, workshops, research, etc) organised by authorised host organisations for the benefit of the welfare sector. Moreover, more authorised organisations and specified short-term activities are added in three existing sectors (including international/mega events, higher education, and finance). For more details, please refer to the Annex. Other arrangements will remain unchanged after the expansion.
The expanded STV Scheme will cover the following 18 sectors with a total of some-490 authorised organisations:
- Medical and healthcare;
- Higher education;
- Arts and culture;
- Sports;
- Heritage;
- Creative industries;
- Innovation and technology;
- The Hong Kong Laureate Forum;
- Aviation;
- International/mega events;
- Finance;
- Development and construction;
- Environment;
- Occupational safety and health;
- Maritime;
- Think tanks;
- Social welfare; and
- Others.
Under the STV Scheme, organisations authorised by relevant government bureaux/departments can issue invitation letters to relevant non-local talent in their sectors. Invited persons may come to Hong Kong and participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits from the Immigration Department (ImmD). Participation of non-local talent in specified activities in Hong Kong must be conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives, without displacing the local workforce. They may participate in the specified short-term activities for up to 14 consecutive calendar days upon each arrival, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned. Through an established mechanism, all participating bureaux/departments would assist in ensuring that the implementation of the scheme consistently meets relevant policy objectives and will neither displace the local workforce nor constitute a risk of abuse (including illegal employment).
For more information on the STV Scheme, please visit the ImmD's website (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/stv.html).
Source: AI-found images
SITI commences visit to Slovakia
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, commences his visit to Bratislava, Slovakia, in the afternoon of September 22 (Bratislava time).
Professor Sun met with the Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Mr Samuel Migal', and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is keenly interested in strengthening ties with the fast-growing Central and Eastern European region, including the Slovak Republic. The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Research and Innovation, signed in April 2025 by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Slovak Republic Government, has laid an important institutional foundation. He looks forward to enhancing collaboration of enterprises, start-ups, higher education institutions, and research institutes in both places. He was briefed on the Slovak development in AI and smart city. The Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Hong Kong, Mr Willy Lin, also attended the meeting.
Professor Sun then met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency, Mr Egon Zorad, to learn about the Agency's professional services in promoting investments and invite Slovak enterprises to establish operations in Hong Kong. Under the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Agency is Slovakia's national agency responsible for promoting foreign investments and handling foreign business affairs, tasked with attracting foreign investments, promoting foreign trade, and assisting the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises.
On September 23, Professor Sun met with the State Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister for the Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy of the Slovak Republic, Ms Alena Sabelová, to learn about the latest development of Slovakia in innovation and technology (I&T) areas including AI and robotics industry, start-ups ecosystem and traditional industry and the relevant policies. Professor Sun said that Hong Kong, with unique advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle, serves as an important gateway connecting the world and the Chinese Mainland and is striving to develop into an international I&T centre. He said that there is an immense opportunity for collaboration between Hong Kong and Slovakia. Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Science, Research and Innovation between the two governments, Professor Sun expects the enhanced exchanges between scientific research institutes, scientific and technological talent and enterprises in both places, and the promotion of co-operation in scientific research and innovation as well as the transfer of technology and innovation outcomes, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the two places.
Professor Sun then visited the Slovak National Innovation and Technology Centre, which was converted from a large shopping outlet. Professor Sun learned about the centre's efforts in combining the strengths of the Government, academia and research institutions as well as the industry to promote technology transfer, industrial innovation and commercial applications, with a focus on sustainable growth and production process modernisation. The centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Productivity Council in September 2025 to forge closer ties in I&T development, while facilitating talent nurturing and enterprises to go global.
In the afternoon, Professor Sun visited the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, which is the country's leading modern research university dedicated to technical, engineering, and architectural disciplines. He was briefed about the university's industrial partnerships, intellectual property commercialisation, technology transfer ecosystems, and strategic institutional development projects.
Professor Sun also visited Innovatrics to learn about its latest research and development technologies and business development. Headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, Innovatrics is an independent, European-based provider of trusted biometric identity management solutions.
After concluding his visit that day, Professor Sun proceeded to Vienna, Austria, in the late afternoon to continue his visit.
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
SITI commences visit to Slovakia Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
