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, for investment as entrepreneurs or for training); and
- entrants under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents or the Top Talent Pass Scheme.
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.
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.
