Publications and Press Releases

9 December 2022

The Immigration Department (ImmD) today (December 9) announced that the facilitation measure to accept applications for extension of stay from Hong Kong non-permanent residents outside Hong Kong is extended to June 30, 2023, in view of the circumstances under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implemented on April 8, the said facilitation measure had been set to expire on December 31, 2022. Eligible non-permanent residents who are admitted into Hong Kong under the following immigration policies/schemes and whose limit of stay is about to expire (generally within four weeks) but are presently outside Hong Kong may now apply for an extension of stay before June 30, 2023, under the said facilitation measure:

1. General Employment Policy (including both employment and investment as entrepreneurs);
2. Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals;
3. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme;
4. Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates;
5. Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents;
6. Technology Talent Admission Scheme;
7. Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;
8. residence as dependants; and
9. students enrolled in full-time study programmes.

Non-permanent residents are reminded that the approval of an extension of stay does not constitute any implication or acknowledgement from the ImmD that they can fulfil the ordinary residence requirement under the relevant provisions of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) for acquiring the right of abode. Even if their applications for an extension of stay are approved, whether they can fulfil the seven-year continuous ordinary residence requirement for acquiring the right of abode in Hong Kong will have to be assessed by the ImmD at the time when they apply for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card.

The arrangements of the facilitation measure are set out on www.immd.gov.hk/eng/ext/npr.html. Depending on the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ImmD will review whether to further extend the measure in due course. For enquiries, please call 2824 6111, or send enquiries to the ImmD by fax at 2877 7711 or by email at enquiry@immd.gov.hk.