Holding a Hong Kong passport allows access to comprehensive benefits in education, healthcare, and public housing subsidies, which is something many mainland residents aspire to. So, which mainland friends are rushing to apply for a Hong Kong passport?
Business Professionals: This Is Exactly What I Need!
For business professionals who frequently travel domestically and internationally, the convenience of traveling abroad is the most desired benefit. However, the number of countries that offer visa-free entry to Chinese passport holders is limited. Applying for a visa every time you travel abroad is extremely troublesome, especially when there are urgent work matters. It would be ideal to have a passport that allows for spontaneous travel, visa-free access to many countries, and long-term stays. A Hong Kong passport can provide exactly that!
There are 233 countries and regions in the world, and the Hong Kong SAR passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 165 of them, including Canada, Finland, Japan, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, and many others. With a Hong Kong passport, achieving spontaneous global travel is virtually barrier-free!
Mainland Parents: Giving Children a Head Start!
The standard of education in Hong Kong is widely recognized. In the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, six universities in Hong Kong—the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Hong Kong Baptist University—were listed. This demonstrates that Hong Kong's education level is truly world-class.
By studying in Hong Kong, children can receive a pure international education without leaving the country. This not only builds knowledge and improves English proficiency but also broadens their international perspective, providing them with significant advantages for future local employment or pursuing further studies abroad.
For parents who want their children to receive international higher education from a young age, holding a Hong Kong passport gives their children more opportunities to participate in the Joint Entrance Examination for Overseas Chinese Students and the Mainland's Admission Scheme for Hong Kong Students, making it easier to gain admission to top mainland universities.
Individuals Planning Assets: Low Tax Rates Are Wonderful!
Today, under the trend of CRS global tax reporting, more and more high-net-worth individuals prefer to allocate assets in countries and regions with low or no taxes. The reason is that these countries and regions are offshore financial centers and are among the few remaining tax planning havens in the world.
With no value-added tax or business tax, Hong Kong's tax system is simple, flexible, and implements a territorial tax system, taxing only profits and income derived from Hong Kong. How could high-net-worth individuals not love such a cost-effective place?
Those Seeking to Immigrate and Obtain Foreign Citizenship: Using Hong Kong Status as a Stepping Stone!
In the current immigration environment, the thresholds for immigration and naturalization in major Western countries are becoming increasingly high. Many outstanding talents with remarkable achievements and extensive work experience, who may not yet meet the requirements for immigrating to Western countries, choose to apply for a Hong Kong passport instead. They consider it a stepping stone to foreign citizenship while they work toward meeting the criteria for immigration to other countries.