From 2026, the Immigration Department has shifted renewal reviews from "formal residence" to "substantive contribution": two addresses, two statements, real employment, AI cross-verification. This page explains how each visa renews, what gets rejected, and how to prepare your documents.
See the new rulesThe review logic has changed — your preparation must change with it
No more just "did you show up in Hong Kong". They now verify real residence, real employment, real contribution. Applications with only occasional visits and no local footprint will be flagged as not really needing the status.
Two addresses: HK residence (stamped tenancy agreement + utility bills) + work/business address (physical office; virtual addresses are rejected). Two statements: salaries/profits tax assessment notice + MPF contribution record.
Inland Revenue, MPF, immigration and company registry data are now linked and compared automatically. Payroll, tax and MPF figures that don't match get flagged without a human even looking — worst case, rejection.
No more automatic 3-year renewals: solid applications get the standard term; weak ties may get only 1 year or even a 6-month "observation period" — data shows over 60% of first QMAS renewals get only 1 year.
Find your row first, then look at what you need to do
| Visa type | Stay pattern | Core renewal requirements |
|---|---|---|
| TTPS (Top Talent) Category A | First grant 3 yrs; flexible renewal | Real job or business in HK is enough — no minimum days in Hong Kong. If you've stayed ≥2 yrs and your assessable salaries-tax income for the previous year reached $2M, the "Top Talent" track lets you renew once for 6 years |
| TTPS Categories B/C | 2+3+3 | Must be employed in HK or running a physical business; salary around $30,000–40,000/month is advisable. Category C holders who don't take up HK employment within two years will virtually always be rejected |
| QMAS (Quality Migrant) | 3+3+2 | Show concrete steps toward settling in HK: a degree-level/professional/senior position with stable income, or a business of reasonable scale |
| ASMTP (Employment, mainland professionals) | 2+3+3 | Tied to your employer: staying with the same employer is safest; changing jobs requires prior notification to Immigration before starting, otherwise the visa lapses |
| IANG (graduates) | First grant 24 months (STEM 36) | Renewal requires an HK employer: employment contract, payroll records, MPF and tax documents all in place; apply within 3 months before expiry |
| Dependants | Follows the principal applicant | If the principal renews successfully, dependants renew together; if the principal lapses, the whole family's status lapses too |
Under the 2026 rules, these get you rejected on verification
Paying a company to sponsor you, sharing a shell office, registering only a secretary address — AI bulk screening plus physical inspections catch these; rejection rate exceeds 90%, and you may be blacklisted.
Living in the mainland all year with no tenancy, no tax, no MPF, no spending records — that's telling Immigration you're only here to hold a quota slot.
Payroll, tax and MPF figures that don't match are the most common avoidable failure. Do your own three-way check before submitting.
Fake tenancies or fake bank statements, once found, mean more than rejection — you're blacklisted and permanently lose eligibility for Hong Kong talent visas. Never worth it.
Tick each item against "two addresses, two statements" — fill any gap first
| Category | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Residential address | Stamped tenancy agreement (11+ months) + water/electricity/gas/broadband bills |
| Work address | Employed: employment contract + employer's business registration; self-employed/founder: physical office tenancy + certificate of incorporation + business registration |
| Tax documents | Employed: salaries tax assessment notice; founder: profits tax filing/assessment records |
| MPF | Continuous MPF contribution record (employed or self-employed) |
| Income proof | Payroll bank statements (monthly), bonus payment records; Category A renewals also need tax-paid certificates |
| Business documents (founders) | Bank statements, client contracts, invoices, audit reports, staff records, future business plan |
| Dependants | Principal's approval letter + dependants' documents + relationship proof + enrolment proof (children) |
Visa type, employment pattern and family structure differ for everyone — there's no standard renewal answer. Tap 💬 Ask an Expert bottom-right, send your situation to our partner visa experts, and get the documents reviewed before you act. That saves about two months versus getting bounced for supplementary documents.
Compiled from 2026 public policy information, for reference only — not legal or immigration advice; renewal policy follows the Immigration Department's latest announcements.
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