Studying in Hong Kong’s economic hub would certainly add colors to your career, as its four universities rank among the world’s top 200 universities here and 35-50 graduate and postgraduate courses are offered here.
So you’ve been accepted into your dream university in Hong Kong. It is one of the leading education hubs in Asia, where people come from different parts of the world and Hong Kong’s neighbouring Asian countries to study. Next on your list is obtaining a student visa for Hong Kong, and we are here to tell you how to do just that.
If you’re coming for a complete four-year undergraduate course or an exchange programme, all foreign students in Hong Kong need a study permit. Your first job is to locate a sponsor who could be a resident of Hong Kong or the educational institution that you are going to. You and your sponsor must apply applications for a student visa to Hong Kong, which may take up to six weeks to process.
Full-time university students will be given a visa for a period of six years upon admission for the duration of their study programme. Others can remain for 12 months upon admission and may apply four weeks before the visa expires for an extension.
“Hong Kong student visas can be granted for 12 months up to 6 years, depending on the duration of your programme.”
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Documents to Apply for Hong Kong Student Visa
Here is a list of what you need to submit to the Immigration Department:
- Entry for Study in Hong Kong (ID995A) Application
- A new photograph (affixed on page two of the application form ID 995A)
- Your valid travel document’s photocopy
- A letter of acceptance from the education institution
- A copy of proof of your financial support, e.g. savings account passbooks, bank statements, tax receipts and salary slips (if the sponsor is the education institution)
If you are under the age of 18:
- One of your parents should authorise the sponsor or his/her relative/friend in the HKSAR to be your guardian. You must produce a consent letter duly signed by both the guardian and one of your parents.
- You must produce a photocopy of your accommodation arrangement proof.
- Here’s what your sponsor institution will have to submit:
- Application for Entry for Study (Sponsor) in Hong Kong (ID995B)
- An undertaking that the sponsor is prepared to provide accommodation to the applicant during his/her period of study in the HKSAR (if the applicant is under the age of 18)
If your sponsor is an individual, they must also present these documents in addition to the above:
- Photocopy of the sponsor’s Hong Kong identity card
- Photocopy of the sponsor’s travel document (for non-permanent Hong Kong residents only)
- Photocopy of proof of the sponsor’s financial standing, e.g. bank statements, savings account passbooks, tax receipts and salary slips; and an undertaking that the sponsor is prepared to provide financial support to the applicant during his/her period of study in Hong Kong.
Read More: Study in Hong Kong with Scholarships
How to Submit Your Application
Specifically, there are some ways to submit your application:
- Post directly or go through the local sponsor. Send to the Receipt and Despatch Sub-Unit, Hong Kong Immigration Department, 2/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
- If you live overseas, hand-deliver the relevant documents to the nearest Chinese diplomatic and consular mission in their place of domicile
- Foreign passport holders residing in Mainland China can submit relevant documents to the Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing or the Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai.
Visit the official Hong Kong Immigration Department website for more information.
Can You Work on Your Student Visa?
Are you preparing to study and work abroad? For international students, part-time work is a great choice — they’ll get to know the locals better, understand the culture and community more as well as earn some extra cash at the same time.
You’ll need to review your student visa first, though. This is the paper that will address many of the questions you possibly have: is there any documentation involved? Is the process a straightforward one? How many hours can I work in a week? In the following nations, these are the top rules you’ll need to know:
Hong Kong
We hate being the bearer of bad news, but it’s here. Hong Kong stands out from this list because, relative to the other countries highlighted, it has less flexible part-time job opportunities for international students. However, as students are still eligible to work on campus and go on internships, all is not lost.
Canada
According to Moving2Canada, you may work up to 20 hours per week, and full-time during scheduled breaks, without a work permit. You can choose to work on- or off-campus as long as you are enrolled full-time in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). The complete conditions of your work in Canada will be specified in your study permit.
Malaysia
According to Education Malaysia, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia, all foreign students studying at public or private higher education institutions are permitted to work part-time with a valid student visa and prior approval from the Department of Immigration for a maximum of 20 hours per week. The latter is difficult: through your college or university, you may need to obtain approval.
Please note that this only applies to holidays of more than seven days or semester breaks. You’re not going to be able to operate anywhere, but only in restaurants, petrol kiosks, mini-markets, and hotels.
South Africa
According to the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA), if you have a South African study visa, you are permitted to work part-time for a period not exceeding 20 hours a week. It is valid for the whole length of your stay in South Africa once your study visa is released.
China
Yes, you can work part-time or take on paid on-campus internships. All you need are letters of consent from your host university, the recruitment agency, and the Chinese immigration authorities. You can then proceed to the police station to mark your “part-time work” visa.
