China

China Q1/Q2 family route for family members of Chinese citizens or foreigners with Chinese permanent residence.

China S1/S2 private-affairs route for eligible family members of foreigners residing in China for work, study, or other purposes, and for other private matters.

Employment route for professionals entering Hong Kong with a confirmed job offer under the General Employment Policy.

• Employer-sponsored only
• Path to residency

Stay authorization tied to a non-resident worker card for foreign workers employed by Macao employers with valid employment authorization.

• Employer-sponsored only

China Z visa route for people intending to work in China, supported by a Notice for the Work Permit for Foreigners.

• Employer-sponsored only

China R visa route for high-level foreign talents or urgently needed specialists.

Talent-admission scheme for highly skilled or talented persons seeking to settle in Hong Kong without a prior local employment offer.

• Full work rights
• Path to residency

China X1 visa route for students intending to study in China for more than 180 days.

China X2 visa route for students intending to study in China for no more than 180 days.

• 180 days

Special Authorization to Stay route for non-resident students enrolled in higher education in Macao.

Capital-investment route for New CIES entrants who complete the scheme assessment and can receive formal approval with up to 24 months of stay followed by extension periods.

• 24 months, renewable
• Path to residency

China non-work residence permit family covering study, journalist, reunion, and personal-matter residence purposes, with the exit-entry law listing validity from 180 days to five years.

• 5 years

China work-type residence permit for people working in China; the exit-entry law lists a validity range from 90 days to five years.

• 5 years
• Employer-sponsored only

China permanent residence route tied to D visa confirmation and the Certificate of Permanent Residence of Aliens; the official regulations identify investment, professional, urgent-need, spouse, child, and elderly-relative paths.

• Path to residency

Permanent-status verification route requiring evidence of seven years of continuous ordinary residence for eligible applicants.

• Path to residency

Residence authorization route for investors, management executives, skilled workers, or other approved persons seeking residence in Macao.