Technology Talent Admission Scheme for Companies Subsidised under the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (TechTAS-NIAS)

1.1 What is TechTAS-NIAS?

TechTAS-NIAS allows eligible companies to flexibly employ non-local technical personnel who possess the required skills/know-how and relevant experience in setting up and operating new production facilities in the designated technology areas (i.e. life and health technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data science, and advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies) to work in Hong Kong. A company allotted with a quota can accordingly sponsor eligible persons to apply for an employment visa / entry permit within the 24-month quota validity period.

 

2.1 What companies are eligible to make quota application under TechTAS-NIAS?

To apply for a quota under TechTAS-NIAS, the company must –

1. be a company approved under NIAS;
2. have a valid Business Registration Certificate; and
3. be engaged in advanced manufacturing industries in the areas of life and health technology, AI and data science, or advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies.

 

2.2 Who may apply for employment visa / entry permit using the quota allotted under TechTAS-NIAS?

The non-local technical personnel admitted under TechTAS-NIAS must be –

1. employed as full-time employees in the HKSAR by the applicant company;
2. engaged principally in setting-up and operating new large-scale advanced production facilities in the areas of life and health technology, AI and data science, or advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies;
3. holders of Higher Diploma / Higher Certificate in relevant fields (or an acceptable equivalent in an engineering or technological discipline) and should have at least four years’ practical experience in related advanced production facilities; and
4. offered remuneration not lower than the prevailing market level for comparable jobs in the HKSAR.

Technology talent not meeting the academic requirements in (c) above but possess good technical skills in specialty areas, proven professional abilities and / or relevant experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence can be considered on a case-by-case basis with full justifications.

 

3.1 How to apply for a quota under TechTAS-NIAS?

Applicant companies should complete the TechTAS-NIAS “Quota Application Form (TechTAS-NIAS)”. Applicant companies should submit their completed “Quota Application Form (TechTAS-NIAS)”, together with a copy of approval letter of NIAS main scheme, Business Registration Certificate and remuneration package reference of each job position concerned to ITC, according to the instructions set out on the website.

 

3.2 Once a quota is allotted, when could overseas / Mainland technical personnel be sponsored to apply for an employment visa / entry permit to work in Hong Kong?

Each quota will be valid for 24 months. Within such quota validity period, the applicant company may make applications with the Immigration Department to sponsor eligible non-local persons fitting the specification set out in the quota allotment letter to apply for an employment visa / entry permit to work in Hong Kong

 

3.3 How will a quota application be processed?

Upon receipt of a quota application, ITC will consider it and may approve the quota request in full or in part, or reject it altogether. During the processing of quota application, ITC may request the applicant company to submit additional information to justify its case and / or conduct an on-site visit.

If a quota application is approved, ITC will issue a quota allotment letter to the applicant company. It will state the number of quotas of non-local technical personnel to be admitted and relevant particulars being approved, including the technology area(s) involved, main job duties, academic qualifications / expertise required and remuneration packages pertaining to the job position(s) and any other terms and conditions of the approved quota(s). Within the total number allotted quotas, the company would have the flexibility to admit the exact number of non-local technical personnel for the different job positions set out in the quota allotment letter to suit its needs.

 

3.4 How long will it take to approve the quota after submission of application?

During the processing of quota application, ITC may request the applicant company to submit additional information to justify its case and / or conduct an on-site visit. Upon receipt of all necessary information and documents, the normal processing time of a quota application will be two weeks. However, site visit would render additional processing time of the quota application.

 

3.5 What are the quota assessment criteria?

Each eligible quota application will be assessed on its own merits having regard to the following considerations –

1. The knowledge or skillsets of the required technical personnel must align with the applicant company's technology activities. In particular, the applicant company must demonstrate its engagement in R&D activities in at least one of the areas of advanced manufacturing industries;
2. The applicant company has demonstrated genuine difficulties in recruiting local technical personnel in the technology areas concerned;
3. The academic qualifications or other expertise as well as the remuneration packages of the required non-local technical personnel are suitable; and
4. Any false representations or misrepresentations in previous quota or employment visa / entry permit applications under TechTAS-NIAS, or breaches of the terms and conditions of quota allotment, etc.

 

3.6 At the quota application stage, the applicant company would need to confirm difficulties in recruiting the required technical personnel locally. Would it need to make a recruitment advertisement for a certain period to satisfy this requirement?

We expect the applicant company to describe why the local workforce does not possess sufficient technical personnel for the skill / experience required. Alternatively, the applicant company may choose to put up recruitment advertisement – this would be one of the means to demonstrate the shortage but not the necessary means. The ITC will consider if each case is justified.

 

3.7 What would happen if a company is unable to use up the quota allotted to it?

The ITC will decide whether an "adverse record" will be attached to the company if it, without valid justification, has not well utilised the quota(s) allotted. An adverse record may lead to the following consequences –

1. any unused quota allotted to the company would be suspended;
2. the credibility of the company in making any new quota application will be affected.

 

3.8 Will the approval of a quota application under TechTAS-NIAS entail an automatic approval of an individual's employment visa / entry permit application by the Immigration Department?

No. The Immigration Department will consider each visa / entry permit application based on its individual merits, having regard to, among other things, whether the applicant meets the normal immigration requirements. In addition, the applicant's main job duties, academic qualification, technical skills, work experience, and remuneration package, etc. should fully meet the requirements under the specific quota allotted.