FAQ

VISA ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM

+ Q1 : What are the system requirements of the Online Visa Application System?

You are suggested to use the following browsers to access the System:
Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10, 11;
Firefox 22 or above;
Google Chrome 28 or above;
Safari 5 or above.

+ Q2 : Are there any restrictions regarding the use of the Online Visa Application System?

You need to provide a valid email address to register an account on the System. One email can be used to register for one account and process for one application only. If you want to register two accounts at the same time, you should register with two different emails.

Please note that your registered email address cannot be changed upon successful registration. Please make sure that your registered email is valid throughout the whole application process and check it regularly to receive application-related notifications.

+ Q3 : The Online Visa Application System has listed out the required application documents. What should I do if I am not able to provide the application document(s) as stated on the System?

The list of application documents required on the system is based on your answers to the questions during the registration. If you find that you are not able to provide the application document(s) as required by the System, you have probably selected wrong type of visa application or gave incorrect answers to the questions during the registration process. In this case, you need to inform Admissions Office immediately to adjust your application setting. If you select the correct type of visa application and give correct answers to the questions during the registration, you should be able to provide all the application documents as stated on the System.

ENTRY FOR STUDY IN HONG KONG

+ Q4 : I am permitted to enter Hong Kong without an entry visa/permit, do I still need to apply for a student visa/entry permit to study in Hong Kong?

All applicants without the right of abode/right to land in Hong Kong must apply for a student visa for the purpose of education from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD). All Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Short-term programmes (including Exchange programmes, Summer programmes and Visiting programmes) are inclusive.

Students who use travel visa or travel endorsement to participate in any classes, tutorials and other academic-related activities will be regarded as illegal.

According to experience, students are not required to apply for a student visa if they obtain any of the followings:

Hong Kong Identity Card (Permanent)
Documents issued by the Immigration Department showing right to land / right of abode in Hong Kong
One-way Permit for entry to Hong Kong
Full-time employment visa / work permit (for mainland students, applicable to part-time study only)
Dependant visa / entry permit
Visa / Entry permit for Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
Visa / Entry permit for Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
Visa / Entry permit for Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents
Visa label for unconditional stay

However, students are responsible to check and confirm the eligibility and validity of their own visa for study purpose with ImmD by themselves.

+ Q5 : Can I study in HKU if my visa/entry permit for entry for study is not yet approved?

You are not allowed to study in Hong Kong if your visa/entry permit is not yet approved. Students are not eligible to study in Hong Kong with tourist visa. Therefore, you should submit your application for entry for study as early as possible before programme commencement.

+ Q6 : I have received a Conditional Admission Offer from HKU. Am I eligible to apply for entry for study even I do not have a Firm Admission Offer?

You may apply for entry for study with Conditional Admission Offer. However, upon the receipt of the Firm Admission Offer, if available, you are required to upload the copy of the Firm Offer to the online Visa Application System. Otherwise, Admissions Office will not send the visa/entry permit to you.

+ Q7 : Can I apply for a student visa/entry permit on my own not via The University of Hong Kong (HKU)?

For Mainland students, you are not allowed to do so. Please apply student visa via the Mainland application system upon receiving an admission offer. Please Click here for more information.

For other non-local students, if you choose to apply for a student visa on your own, you will need to find a local sponsor. Also, you will have to check the relevant arrangements with ImmD and monitor the application progress by yourself. Please note that you must not commence studies without an activated student visa/entry permit.

+ Q8 : Can I apply for a student visa/entry permit via a local Chinese Embassy? (For international students)

Please note that student visa application via local Chinese Embassy is not applicable for:

Students pursing part-time programmes
Students pursing elective or short-term programmes
Student holding a conditional offer
Students from the mainland, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, Korea (Democratic People's Republic of), Nepal and Vietnam

In addition to mailing your documents for visa sponsorship application to Admissions Office, you also need to contact your local Chinese Embassy. They will pass your visa application to ImmD in accordance to their schedule. ImmD will then draw references from Admissions Office and send your visa application result to your local Chinese Embassy. Your local Chinese Embassy is responsible for informing you of the result and passing the student visa label to you. The processing time of visa application is around 8-10 weeks. You also need to take into account the additional processing time by the Chinese Embassy, which varies among different Embassies. As it usually takes longer to apply for a student visa via Chinese Embassies than via Admissions Office, please allow more time for your application. You are responsible to monitor the progress and result of your student visa application.

Your local Chinese Embassy may ask you to fill in extra forms, and you may also need to pay additional charges.

+ Q9 : I am a mainland student. There are three types of application for entry for study (New Visa Application, Visa Re-application and Visa Renewal). How can I distinguish which type of application I should apply? (For PRC mainland student)

You may refer to the following conditions to identify which type of application you should apply:

New Visa Application: This is your first time to study in Hong Kong.

Visa Re-application:

(1) This is not your first time to study in Hong Kong;

(2) You have applied for an entry for study in Hong Kong before.

(3) You would like to apply for an entry for study in Hong Kong for another programme.

Visa Renewal:

(1a) You are currently a HKU student;
(2a) You have a visa/entry permit for studies but it is expired.

OR

(1b) You are currently a HKU part-time student;
(2b) You would like to renew your visa/entry permit to continue your current part-time study.

+ Q10 : Can I submit the hardcopy set of application documents to Admissions Office directly without the submission of application in the Online Visa Application System?

You must register and submit an application via the online Visa Application System before submitting the hardcopy set of application documents to Admissions Office. Otherwise, Admissions Office will not be able to proceed your visa application.

+ Q11 : What kinds of financial proofs will be accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department?

You are expected to provide financial proofs showing that you have sufficient means to cover your total cost of academic and living expenses for at least a year or during your study period in Hong Kong. Listed below are some of the common documents:

student’s latest (within 3 months) bank statement(s) and/or income proof(s) (e.g. pay slip)
parent’s latest (within 3 months) bank statement(s) and/or income proof(s) (e.g. pay slip), together with a supporting letter signed by your financial sponsor, and a copy of his/her passport showing the same signature as the one in the letter / copy of Census Record for mainland citizens
an award letter of scholarship

IMPORTANT NOTES:

All the documents provided should contain the name of student/financial sponsor.
Any documents provided that is not in English/Chinese should be accompanied by certified translated version(s) in English/Chinese.

+ Q12 : Can I change my postal address after submitting my online application in the System?

For Mainland students, you may change your postal address on the application system after your submission of online application. However, after Admissions Office submitting your application to ImmD, you then cannot change the address on the application system. You will be asked to provide your latest postal address only upon your visa is approved.

For other non-local students, you will only be required to confirm your postal address on the application system when your visa label / entry permit is ready.

Please also note that applicants should be responsible for any potential risks including late delivery or additional charges due to late response or invalid postal address provided by the applicant.

+ Q13 : What to note if I have received multiple admission offers?

For undergraduate and postgraduate applicants:

Please note that multiple admission offers would cause delay to your application progress. If you receive multiple admission offers, you are responsible to confirm your final decision on the study programme in order to proceed with your student visa application.

Should there be any changes in your study programme/curriculum after your submissions of student visa, please inform the Admissions Office immediately. Any changes in your study programme/curriculum may lead to cancellation of your current visa application, and you may be required to re-submit a new visa application at your own cost.

For summer programme applicants:

Please inform Admissions Office immediately upon confirming acceptance of multiple programmes.

+ Q14 : How can I apply for dependent visa?

Admissions Office will not process and sponsor dependent visa application. Applicant may arrange visa(s) for his/her accompanying dependant(s) separately upon his / her own student visa is approved. For details, please refer to the Application for Residence as Dependants and Guidebook on ImmD website.

ENTRY AND TRAVELLING ARRANGEMENTS

+ Q15 : If my passport/Exit Entry Permit (EEP) is valid for less than six months, can I apply for a student visa?

You are advised to have your travel document/passport/EEP of at least six months validity beyond the proposed date of your entry into Hong Kong.

+ Q16 : Do I need to apply for re-entry permit if I return to Hong Kong from other countries during my study period?

If you will return within the permitted limit of stay and if your residential status remain unchanged, you are not required to apply for a re-entry visa/entry permit to enter Hong Kong.

For Taiwanese students, after entering Hong Kong on your single entry permit, you have to apply for a 'Multiple Entry Permit' (MEP) and transfer the endorsement onto the MEP to facilitate your future travels to and from Hong Kong. You may apply for the MEP in person at ImmD.

+ Q17 : I am holding an overseas passport and wish to travel to Mainland China during the semester break. Do I need to apply for a separate tourist visa to the Mainland? (For international students)

Yes, you need to apply for a separate tourist visa to the Mainland China. If you would like to apply for it in Hong Kong, please visit the China Travel Service (H.K.) Limited (E-mail: enquiry_epd@ctg.cn) in person. You apply for a Chinese tourist visa at your local Chinese Embassy before you come to Hong Kong, please contact the authorities concerned directly for assistance.

+ Q18 : I have a valid student visa in my old passport/travel document. Can I transfer it to my new passport/travel document? (For international students)

You should present both your old and new passports/travel documents when entering Hong Kong. Afterwards, you may apply for ‘Transfer of Endorsement’ at ImmD in person.

+ Q19 : How to apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card?

If your length of stay in Hong Kong is more than 180 days, you need to apply for a HK Identity Card within 30 days of arrival/or upon acquiring such permission to stay. Please refer to the webpage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department here for the application procedure. You may make an appointment via the online booking system or by phone beforehand.

A note to all student visa holders under the age of 18:

If your parents have nominated a relative to be your local guardian, you should be accompanied by that local guardian when you submit your Hong Kong Identity Card application at ImmD. If your parents have nominated “The University of Hong Kong” to be your local guardian, you can submit your application to ImmD on your own. You will be asked to fill in a declaration form.

EXTENSION OF STAY

+ Q20 : When should I apply for an extension of stay to continue my studies in Hong Kong?

In general, non-local students can be granted a maximum period of six years of study in Hong Kong. If you need to extend your study period due to leave of absence, change of study programme or study deferral, you should apply for an extension of stay in Hong Kong via the online visa application system within 4-6 weeks before the expiry of your current visa/entry permit, and submit your application to ImmD within 4 weeks before the expiry of your current visa/entry permit.

+ Q21 : Do I need to submit the hardcopy set of application documents to Admissions Office for visa extension?

No. You just need to apply via the Online Visa Application System of Admissions Office and upload the required documents.

+ Q22 : What should I do if my visa/entry permit is expired and I did not apply an extension of stay?

You are not allowed to study in Hong Kong if your visa/entry permit is expired. You should return to your home country and apply for visa renewal via the Online Visa Application System. In this case, the application will require HK$990 application fee and 10-12 weeks processing time.

+ Q23 : Should I apply for visa extension if I am currently a HKU part-time student whose part-time student visa is expiring soon?

If you are a HKU part-time student and planning to continue your current study at HKU, please apply a student visa afresh via the Online Visa Application Syste, for mainland students, please choose visa renewal application. Visa extension is not applicable for part-time students.

The visa renewal process requires approximately 10-12 weeks, please apply early.

+ Q24 : How long does it take for visa extension application?

It normally takes 2 to 3 weeks for ImmD to process an application upon receipt of all required documents. For details, please visit the website of ImmD here.

EMPLOYMENT DURING STUDY

+ Q25 : Can I take up internship during my studies in Hong Kong?

Non-local students of full-time programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year may take up internship subject to the following conditions:

The internship must be study/curriculum-related and be arranged or endorsed by the Faculty you are studying in; and
The duration of the internship is up to one academic year, or one-third of the normal duration of your full-time study programme, whichever is the shorter.

Eligible students will be notified the internship arrangement individually by a No Objection Letter (NOL) of which will spell out the type(s) and conditions of employment that the student may take up.

+ Q26 : Can I take up on-campus job or summer employment?

Non-local students of full-time programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year may take up:

Part-time on-campus employment for not more than 20 hours per week throughout the year; and
Employment during the summer months, which refer to the period from 1 June to 31 August, without any limit in relation to working hours and location.

Eligible students will be notified of the on-campus job or summer employment arrangement individually by a No Objection Letter (NOL) which spells out the type(s) and conditions of employment that the student may take up.

+ Q27 : What are the designated operators in HKU for on-campus or summer employment?

Please click here for the PDF list.

+ Q28 : Can I take up any internship after my final year’s assessment?

You are not eligible to take up any internship upon completion of your studies or fulfilment of your graduation requirement..

+ Q29 : Can short term visiting students take up any internship, part-time on-campus job and summer employment?

As the study period of the short term programmes in HKU are less than one academic year, students are not eligible to take up any internship, part-time on-campus job or summer employment.

+ Q30 : Should I submit separate applications every time before taking up internship?

Non-local students studying full-time programmes at undergraduate level or above will receive a No Objection Letter (NOL) upon approval of entry for study. If the NOL states that you are eligible to take up internship, you are not required to submit another application of internship approval.

However, the NOL for taking up study/curriculum-related internship is valid for one academic year or a specific period only. You are required to apply for a new NOL from the ImmD directly, with the supporting letter from your Faculty, for taking up internship if your current NOL is expired.

+ Q31 : What should I do if my NOL is lost or damaged?

You should get a replacement of NOL from ImmD. Please submit a completed ID91 form, together with your travel document/EEP and the latest visa label/entry permit and landing endorsement to ImmD.

For Mainland students, please approach the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section of the ImmD (Address: 6/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong) for the issuance of a new NOL.

For other non-local students, please approach the Extension Section for the same formalities (Address: 5/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong).

EMPLOYMENT AND ARRANGEMENT AFTER GRADUATION

+ Q32 : Can I apply for employment in Hong Kong after the completion of my studies?

If you have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time programme, you may apply for staying/returning and working in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG).

The application of IANG requires you to provide a certificate of graduation. You MUST apply for a testimonial for graduates/certificate of graduation at the Registry of HKU in advance (application link). You do not need the sponsorship from Admissions Office on IANG visa application. Please read the guidelines and go to ImmD to apply directly.

+ Q33 : What should I do if I am going to graduate but have not yet received my graduation result to apply for a IANG?

You may apply for an Interim Extension of stay on student condition. Please read the guidelines and go to ImmD directly for application.

+ Q34 : Do my family members and I need to apply for visit visas to attend my graduation ceremony?

You may need to apply for a visit visa to enter Hong Kong and attend your graduation ceremony. Please check your limit of stay printed on the landing slip, you may also check with ImmD for details.

LOSS OF VISA/ENTRY PERMIT OR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

+ Q35 : What should I do if my passport with current visa/entry permit label is lost or damaged in Hong Kong? (For non-local students other than the mainland)

You have to report to the Hong Kong Police and obtain a loss report memorandum. You also have to report to your consulate in Hong Kong and apply for a new passport.

After receiving your new passport, you need to get a supporting letter from Admissions Office. You will then have to visit ImmD and apply for a replacement of your student visa label with issuance fee incurred.

Please visit:
The Hong Kong Immigration Department
5/F, Immigration Tower,
7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai

Please bring along the following documents with you:

A copy of the loss report memorandum issued by the Hong Kong Police;
A supporting letter issued by Admissions Office;
A copy of your new passport/travel document;
A completed application form (ID405) and application fee;
A copy of your Hong Kong Identity Card (if any);
A copy of your HKU Student Card (if any);
A copy of your offer of admission letter issued by HKU (if any).

Details can be viewed under the section of “Transfer of Endorsement”.

+ Q36 : What should I do if my EEP with current visa/entry permit label is lost, damaged in the Mainland? (For mainland students)

You are required to replace the EEP in the Mainland China at the Public Security Bureau where your household registration is kept. At the same time, you are advised to apply for a tourist visa to enter Hong Kong for processing the student visa replacement in person at ImmD.

+ Q37 : What should I do if my EEP is lost or damaged in Hong Kong?

For Mainland students, you are required to approach China Travel Service (Hong Kong) directly to apply for a replacement of EEP and the relevant exit endorsement.

+ Q38 : I have a valid student visa in my old passport/travel document. Can I transfer it to my new passport/travel document?

You should present both your old and new passports/travel documents when entering Hong Kong. Afterwards, you may apply for ‘Transfer of Endorsement’ in person at ImmD.

CHANGE OF STUDY PROGRAMME

+ Q39 : Can I switch my study programme from one to another in HKU?

You should seek approval from ImmD for a change of study programme. For Mainland students, please apply for Change of Study Programme via Online Application System; for other non-local students, please contact Admissions Office for the formalities of updating ImmD.

+ Q40 : Does the change of study programme application affect my departure or entry to Hong Kong?

This application would not affect your departure or entry to Hong Kong.

+ Q41 : Will I receive a new visa/entry permit from ImmD?

Please note that you will NOT receive a new visa permit if you apply for a change of study programme.

+ Q42 : Can I continue to stay in Hong Kong after termination of my studies?

Eligible graduates can apply for staying in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates Scheme (IANG), or you can apply for extending your stay in Hong Kong as a visitor with valid reason(s). Unless with such prior approval from ImmD, all student visa holders are required to leave Hong Kong within 4 weeks from the date of termination of studies. Please refer to the website of ImmD here (under Q19 of “Frequently Asked Questions”). Please also refer to your landing slip issued to you by ImmD.

EXTERNAL LINKS AND INFORMATION

DISCLAIMER

Admissions Office will not be responsible for any delay/cancellation/failure in your student visa application.
All content in the website may be updated at any time without prior notice.

For enquiries, please click here.

FAQ