As a general rule, any person other than those who have the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong, must obtain a visa before coming to Hong Kong for the purpose of study, taking up employment, training, investment or residence.
All dependants do not require prior permission from the Director of Immigration to study in Hong Kong.
Dependants of the following persons are not prohibited from taking up employment in the HKSAR:
- Hong Kong permanent residents;
- persons who are not subject to a limit of stay (i.e. residents with the right to land or on unconditional stay);
- persons who have been admitted for employment (as professionals under the General Employment Policy, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates or the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, for investment to establish/join in business, or for training); and
- entrants under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme note, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, the Top Talent Pass Scheme or the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme note.
However, dependants of persons who have been admitted to study are not permitted to take up employment unless they have obtained prior permission from the Director of Immigration.
Note:
The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has been suspended since 15 January 2015, while the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was launched on 1 March 2024.
Applications for extension of stay for residence as dependants in Hong Kong will be considered only when the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria for entry for residence as dependants (including that there is no change in circumstances which would have otherwise resulted in loss of sponsorship for the applicant, e.g. change in marriage relationship between the dependent spouse and the sponsor, or death of sponsor) and the sponsor remains a bona fide Hong Kong resident living in the HKSAR.
