Hong Kong extends the IANG pilot for Greater Bay Area campus graduates by two years, to end-2028
Hong Kong, China · Study abroad · Announced in the Policy Address 2026-09-16
| Country / region | Hong Kong, China |
|---|---|
| Category | Study abroad |
| Date | Announced in the Policy Address 2026-09-16; pilot expected to run to end-2028 |
| What happened | The 2026 Policy Address published on 09-16 extends by two more years the pilot arrangement covering graduates of Hong Kong universities' Greater Bay Area campuses (CUHK-Shenzhen, HKUST-Guangzhou, CityU-Dongguan, etc.) under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG), expected to run to the end of 2028. The pilot began in 10-2022 and was renewed once in 10-2024. Eligible graduates receive a 24-month initial stay; fresh graduates applying within 6 months of graduation need no prior job offer and may take up or change employment freely. Announced alongside: more AI-related categories to be studied for the Talent List (currently covering 60 locally-shortaged professions); TTPS renewal relief for start-up operators backed by designated public institutions (exempt from company income proof); and from 2027, top universities from mainland provinces/cities with high-level cooperation platforms with Hong Kong to be appropriately included in the TTPS eligible-university list. |
| Impact on applicants | The stay-on channel for Greater Bay Area campus graduates remains open to end-2028. Two distinctions matter: (1) what is extended is the pilot period — the individual 24-month initial stay is unchanged; (2) a Greater Bay Area campus degree is not a Hong Kong local studentship, so some institutional scholarships remain out of reach. For 27Fall applicants to Hong Kong universities and joint campuses this is a clear positive — the "joint-campus degree → work in Hong Kong" path stays predictable. |
| Source | HKSAR Government, 2026 Policy Address (2026-09-16) ↗ Note on scope: government announcement; application details per the Immigration Department |
Source: HKSAR Government, 2026 Policy Address (2026-09-16) ↗ · Last verified: 2026-10-15 · For reference only; not application or legal advice. Always check the official source for current rules.
FAQ
What exactly does the Hong Kong IANG Greater Bay Area pilot extension say?
The 2026 Policy Address published on 09-16 extends by two more years the pilot arrangement covering graduates of Hong Kong universities' Greater Bay Area campuses (CUHK-Shenzhen, HKUST-Guangzhou, CityU-Dongguan, etc.) under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG), expected to run to the end of 2028. The pilot began in 10-2022 and was renewed once in 10-2024. Eligible graduates receive a 24-month initial stay; fresh graduates applying within 6 months of graduation need no prior job offer and may take up or change employment freely. Announced alongside: more AI-related categories to be studied for the Talent List (currently covering 60 locally-shortaged professions); TTPS renewal relief for start-up operators backed by designated public institutions (exempt from company income proof); and from 2027, top universities from mainland provinces/cities with high-level cooperation platforms with Hong Kong to be appropriately included in the TTPS eligible-university list.
What does this mean for applicants?
The stay-on channel for Greater Bay Area campus graduates remains open to end-2028. Two distinctions matter: (1) what is extended is the pilot period — the individual 24-month initial stay is unchanged; (2) a Greater Bay Area campus degree is not a Hong Kong local studentship, so some institutional scholarships remain out of reach. For 27Fall applicants this is a clear positive — the "joint-campus degree → work in Hong Kong" path stays predictable.
Where does this information come from?
HKSAR Government, 2026 Policy Address (2026-09-16) (Note on scope: government announcement; application details per the Immigration Department), verified by us on 2026-10-15.
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