Immigration Services

Starting from 26 January 1998, frequent visitors holding valid passports and are eligible to come to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) without a visa or entry permit for visit purpose may apply for HKSAR Travel Pass.
Applicants should have genuine needs to visit the HKSAR frequently, and have come for visits trouble-free on 3 or more occasions (other than return from side trips to the Mainland of China or the region of Macao) in the 12-month period immediately preceding the application, or can satisfy the Director of Immigration that their visits may bring substantial benefits to the HKSAR.
For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us atinfo@visto.hk

1. Extension for Visitors
   Applications may be made in person before or within seven days from expiry of the limit of stay. Foreign (i.e. non-Mainland) visitors may make the applications to the Extension Section or any Immigration Branch Offices(except Hong Kong Island Travel Documents Issuing Office). Mainland visitors should only make the applications to the Extension Section on 5/F, Immigration Tower. Applications will be considered on its own merits. 
2. Extension for Non-permanent status (Does not apply to foreign domestic helpers, imported workers, Mainland residents admitted as students, entrants under Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals and Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, and their dependants)

   Applications may be made to the Extension Section or any Immigration Branch Offices (except Hong Kong Island Travel Documents Issuing Office) within four weeks before the expiry of your limit of stay.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us at info@visto.hk

Eligibility

• he/she is financially capable of employing an FDH;
• he/she has entered into a Standard Employment Contract (ID407) as specified by the Director of Immigration with the prospective helper;
• he/she will require the prospective helper to perform domestic duties only;
• he/she will not allow or require the prospective helper to take up any employment with any other person during the contractual period as specified in the employment contract;
• he/she will pay the helper a salary no less than the minimum allowable wage as announced by the HKSAR Government;
• he/she will let the helper work and reside at the contractual address only;
• he/she will provide the helper with decent accommodation and suitable privacy;
• he/she is a bona fide resident in Hong Kong and the bona fides of him/her and the prospective helper are not in doubt;
• he/she has no adverse record in respect of employment of FDH.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us at info@visto.hk

Introduction

This entry arrangement is for persons who wish to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for study.

Eligibility Criteria

1. 1. 1. An application for a visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR for study may be favourably considered if :
         1. the applicant:
            1. is admitted to a private school registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) or Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320) (entry for study in public or aided schools is not permitted except for tertiary education);
            2. takes up studies in a full-time locally-accredited post-secondary programme including short-term course, part-time locally-accredited taught postgraduate programme, or full-time exchange study programme for not more than one year at degree or above level; or
            3. is enrolled in a course on the register of non-local higher education or professional courses as set up under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap. 493);

1. 1. 1. 1. the applicant is:
            1. from the age of 5 years and 8 months to 11 for primary education; or
            2. below the age of 20 for secondary education;

1. 1. 1. 1. the applicant holds a school acceptance letter to confirm that he/she has been accepted for a course of study; and

1. 1. 1. the applicant is able to meet the fees for the course, the living expenses for his/her maintenance and accommodation without working and without recourse to public funds.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us at info@visto.hk

This entry arrangement is for persons who wish to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for training.

Eligibility Criteria

• An application for a visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR for a limited period (not more than 12 months) of training to acquire special skills and knowledge not available in the applicant’s country/territory of domicile may be favourably considered if:
• there is no security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant;
• the bona fides of the applicant and the sponsoring company are satisfied;
• the sponsoring company is a well-established company, capable of providing the proposed training;
• there is a contract signed between the sponsoring company and the applicant;
• the sponsoring company guarantees in writing the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant and that the applicant will receive training in the sponsor’s premises until the end of the agreed period, after which the applicant will return to his/her place of residence; and
• the proposed duration and content of the training programme can be justified.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us at info@visto.hk

This entry arrangements for persons who wish to enter/stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for employment as professionals.

Applicants who have obtained a degree or higher qualification in a full-time and locally accredited programme in Hong Kong (hereafter “non-local graduates”) may apply to stay/return and work in the HKSAR under the “Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates” (hereafter “IANG”).

Applicants who are not non-local graduates but possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the HKSAR may apply to come to work under the General Employment Policy (hereafter “GEP”). The GEP does not apply to Chinese residents of the Mainland.

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-local graduates here refer to persons from outside the HKSAR who have obtained a degree or higher qualification in a full-time and locally accredited programme in Hong Kong. For a sponsor who is a Hong Kong permanent resident or a resident who is not subject
• Non-local graduates who submit applications to the Immigration Department within six months after the date of their graduation (i.e. the date shown on their graduation certificates) are classified as non-local fresh graduates.
• Non-local graduates who submit applications beyond six months of the date of their graduation are classified asreturning non-local graduates.
• Non-local fresh graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in the HKSAR are not required to secure an offer of employment upon application. They may be granted 12 months’ stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met. Those who intend to apply to stay and work in the HKSAR but have not yet secured the graduation result may apply for extension of stay to wait for the promulgation of results. Non-local fresh graduates who have not yet obtained their graduation certificate could apply to stay and work by producing a proof from the institution confirming that he/she has graduated.
• Returning non-local graduates who wish to return to work in the HKSAR are required to secure an offer of employment upon application. The applications will be favourably considered so long as the job is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration package is set at market level. They may be granted 12 months’ stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us atinfo@visto.hk

This entry arrangement for persons who wish to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for investment under the General Employment Policy (GEP), i.e. to establish or join in business in the HKSAR.

Eligibility Criteria

1. An application for a visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR for investment may be favorably considered if:

• • • • there is no security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant;
      • the applicant has a good education background, normally a first degree in the relevant field, but in special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or relevant experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may also be accepted; and
      • the applicant is in a position to make substantial contribution to the economy of the HKSAR.

2. Overseas Chinese nationals holding People’s Republic of China (PRC) passports who meet the criteria stipulated in paragraph 3 and normal immigration requirements may apply to enter the HKSAR for investment if:

• • • • the applicant has permanent residence overseas; or
      • the applicant has been residing overseas for at least one year immediately before the submission of application (“overseas” means places outside the Mainland, the Macao SAR and Hong Kong SAR) and that the application is submitted from overseas.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us atinfo@visto.hk

1. Introduction

This entry arrangement is for persons who require a visa/entry permit to visit/transit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). If a person wishes to visit or transit the HKSAR but does not enjoy the visa waiver concession; or if he/she wishes to stay beyond the entitled visa free period, he/she must obtain a visa/entry permit before coming.

2. Eligibility Criteria

An application for a visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR for a visit or transit may be favourably considered if:

1. 1. the applicant’s bona fides are not in doubt;
   2. the applicant has adequate funds to cover the duration of his/her stay without working; and
   3. where the application is for a transit visa/entry permit, he/she holds an onward ticket to the place of his/her destination unless the destination is the Mainland of China or Macao.

HKSAR visa requirements for the following foreign countries / territories:

Remarks :
* All nationals are required to hold a valid visa for the HKSAR for whatever purpose (including those who are in transit and remain on the airside).
^ All nationals (except holders of Diplomatic and Official passports) are required to hold a valid visa for the HKSAR for whatever purpose (including those who are in transit and remain on the airside).

This entry arrangement is for persons who wish to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for residence as dependents.

Eligibility Criteria

1. 1. 1. For a sponsor who is a Hong Kong permanent resident or a resident who is not subject to a limit of stay (i.e. a resident with the right to land or on unconditional stay), the following dependants may apply to join him/her for residence in the HKSAR:
         1. his/her spouse;
         2. his/her unmarried dependent child under the age of 18; and
         3. his/her parent aged 60 or above.

1. 1. 1. For a sponsor who has been admitted into the HKSAR to take up employment (as a professional, for investment to establish/join in business, or for training) or studies (in a full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programme in a local degree-awarding institution), or who is permitted to remain in the HKSAR as an entrant under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme or the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the following dependants may apply to join him/her for residence in the HKSAR:
         1. his/her spouse; and
         2. his/her unmarried dependent child under the age of 18.

1. 1.  An application for admission of a dependant may be favourably considered if:
      1. there is reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant and the sponsor;
      2. there is no known record to the detriment of the applicant; and
      3. the sponsor is able to support the dependant’s living at a standard well above the subsistence level and provide him/her with suitable accommodation in the HKSAR.

For more information like application procedures, time required and documentation needed to be submitted, please email us atinfo@visto.hk