QMAS Scoring Criteria & FAQ — Hong Kong Quality Migrant Guide
A plain-English walk-through of the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) General Points Test, the 12 criteria our AI assesses, and the most-asked questions about your estimated pass rate and application processing.
⚖️ This is an AI pre-assessment only and is not legal advice. The final decision rests with the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
The 12 General Points Test criteria
- Age — strongest under 40, scaling down to 50.
- Master's degree — from a recognised university.
- STEM background — degree subject in science, technology, engineering, or maths.
- Bilingual ability — working proficiency in both English and Chinese.
- English-only proficiency — fluent English where bilingual isn't met.
- 5+ years of work experience — in your professional field.
- 3+ years at a multinational or listed company
- 3+ years in a target sector — finance, innovation & technology, international trade.
- 2+ years of international work experience — outside your home market.
- Annual income of HKD 1M+ — with tax or payroll evidence.
- Business ownership — with HKD 5M+ annual profit.
- Ownership stake in a listed company
Our scoring engine cross-checks each criterion against your uploaded documents and an internal database of eligible universities, STEM subjects, and reputable companies to produce an estimated pass rate band.
Frequently asked questions
What is the QMAS General Points Test?
The General Points Test is the points-based assessment Hong Kong Immigration uses to rank Quality Migrant applicants. Candidates score points across age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, and family background. A minimum of 80 points is required to be considered.
How many criteria are there in the QMAS assessment?
Our pre-assessment maps the General Points Test to 12 evidence-backed criteria covering age, education level, STEM background, bilingual ability, work experience at MNCs, sector experience (finance, I&T, international trade), international work, annual income, business ownership, and listed-company ownership.
How long does QMAS processing take?
Hong Kong Immigration normally takes around 6 to 9 months to process a QMAS application once a complete submission is filed, though this varies with case complexity. Strong evidence on the General Points Test and a clear personal statement shortens follow-up requests.
What is a good estimated pass rate?
Applicants scoring above 80 points with strong documentary evidence usually fall in our 'high' band. The 'medium' band signals a viable case that needs better evidence or a stronger sector / income claim. The 'low' band suggests waiting or restructuring before applying.
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