Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme 2026:
Why U.S. University Graduates Should Re-check the Eligible University List
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Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) has updated its aggregate list of eligible universities for 2026. The list now contains 200 eligible universities/institutions, giving many U.S. bachelor’s degree graduates a no-prior-job-offer route to explore Hong Kong under Categories B or C, subject to the detailed rules.
Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) has updated its aggregate list of eligible universities for 2026. The list now contains 200 eligible universities/institutions, giving many U.S. bachelor’s degree graduates a no-prior-job-offer route to explore Hong Kong under Categories B or C, subject to the detailed rules.
What changed in the 2026 TTPS list
Hong Kong Talent Engage announced on 2 January 2026 that the updated aggregate list of eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme had been published, with the number of eligible universities/institutions increasing from 199 to 200.
For U.S. university graduates, the practical point is not a single ranking label, but whether the bachelor’s degree-awarding institution appears on the official aggregate list. Many well-known U.S. institutions remain within the list, which can make Categories B and C highly relevant for U.S.-educated applicants.
Categories B and C: why bachelor’s degree matters
Category B is for degree graduates of eligible universities with at least three years of full-time work experience over the past five years immediately preceding the application date. Category C is for degree graduates of eligible universities in the past five years with less than three years of work experience, subject to an annual quota.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department FAQ makes an important distinction: for Categories B and C, applicants need a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university. A master’s or doctoral degree alone does not replace this bachelor’s-degree requirement.