HK
Hong Kong · 學生簽證/進入許可 · apply online · processing 42-42 days
Student visa or entry permit for non-local people admitted to eligible study at approved Hong Kong schools and post-secondary institutions. Eligibility depends on the applicant's nationality/residence and programme type; the Immigration Department's study arrangement covers full-time locally-accredited post-secondary programmes and specified other courses. Admission language requirements are set by individual institutions and programmes; Immigration Department publishes no general language-test threshold for this entry arrangement.
Non-local tuition varies by institution, qualification and programme. The Hong Kong government's Study in Hong Kong portal gives a broad annual range of HKD 90,000–265,000 (approximately USD 11,500–34,000). Scholarship availability and fees vary by institution and programme.
From 1 November 2024 through 31 December 2026, eligible non-local students (excluding exchange students) in full-time locally-accredited local undergraduate-or-higher programmes lasting at least one academic year are temporarily exempt from employment restrictions. They may take employment during their permitted stay or the applicable NOL period, whichever is shorter, without a working-hours or location cap. Students outside this exemption remain subject to the conditions on their NOL; standard permissions include up to 20 hours per week of on-campus work and unrestricted hours/location during 1 June–31 August. Students may not establish or join a business.
| Program | Type | Duration | Min degree | Work | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IANG (Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates) | Work permit | 24 mo | Bachelors | Unrestricted | Yes |
| Fee | Type | Amount | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Visa / Entry Permit Issuance Fee | Issuance | $42 | One time |
For most full-time locally-accredited post-secondary programmes, the initial stay is normally in line with the programme's normal duration, capped at six years and the travel document's validity. Extensions may be granted annually or to the study duration. Other courses normally receive up to 12 months or the course duration, whichever is shorter. Applications normally take six weeks after all required documents are received. The ordinary visa/entry-permit issuance fee is HKD 330. A student visa does not itself confer permanent residence; lawful study can constitute ordinary residence, and seven continuous years plus the applicable statutory requirements may permit an application for permanent resident status. The temporary work exemption ends on 31 December 2026 under the current published arrangement.
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source
corrected IANG duration, extension pathway and nationality restrictions; refreshed permanent-residence wording and removed unsupported generic visa language-test thresholds (https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/IANG.html; https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/roa/eligible.html; https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html).
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