Frequently Asked Questions

Under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG), non-local graduates refer to non-local students ^Note who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in the HKSAR.

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 recent graduates. Non-local recent graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in the HKSAR are not required to have secured an offer of employment upon application.

Non-local graduates who submit applications beyond six months of the date of their graduation are classified as non-local non-recent graduates. Non-local non-recent graduates who wish to return to work in the HKSAR are required to secure an offer of employment upon application. Their 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 at market level.

Note:
“Non-local students” refer to persons entering the HKSAR for the purpose of education with a student visa / entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration.

Non-local graduates refer to non-local students ^Note who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong.

GBA campus graduates refer to persons who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time programme offered by a higher education institution in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area jointly established by universities of the Mainland and Hong Kong in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools.

Note:
“Non-local students” refer to persons entering the HKSAR for the purpose of education with a student visa/entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration.

GBA campus 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 GBA campus recent graduates. GBA campus recent graduates who wish to apply to come and work in the HKSAR are not required to have secured an offer of employment upon application.

GBA campus graduates who submit applications beyond six months of the date of their graduation are classified as GBA campus non-recent graduates. GBA campus non-recent graduates who wish to come 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 at market level.

According to the information provided by the Education Bureau, institutions established in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) by universities in Hong Kong (GBA campuses) under the IANG refer to higher education institutions in the Mainland cities of the GBA jointly established by universities of the Mainland and Hong Kong in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools. Currently, they include Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).

Non-local graduates / GBA campus graduates may apply to stay/return/come and work in the HKSAR under the IANG, regardless of when they obtained the requisite qualification.

There is no restriction on the number of times a non-local graduate / GBA campus graduate may apply to stay/return/come and work under the IANG. A non-local graduate / GBA campus graduate may, after having been admitted to work in the HKSAR under the IANG and left the HKSAR for good subsequently, apply to re-enter the HKSAR for employment again under the IANG.

“An undergraduate or higher qualification” includes post-graduate non-degree qualifications such as Postgraduate Certificate in Laws, Postgraduate Diploma in Education, etc.

Overseas Chinese holding a People's Republic of China (PRC) passport who (a) has permanent residence overseas; or (b) has been residing overseas for at least one year immediately before the submission of application ("overseas" means countries or territories outside the Mainland, the Macao Special Administrative Region, the HKSAR and Taiwan) and that the application is submitted from overseas may apply to enter the HKSAR under the IANG on the strength of the PRC passport.

Prospective non-local recent graduates who intend to apply to stay and work in the HKSAR under the IANG but have not yet secured graduation results may apply for extension of stay on student condition to wait for the promulgation of results, with the requirement of the institution's sponsorship waived. Prospective non-local recent graduates from the Mainland may apply to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section for interim extension of stay whereas other prospective non-local recent graduates may make an application to the Extension Section. Applicants should complete application form ID 91 and produce their valid travel document and Hong Kong identity card as supporting documents.

Prospective non-local recent graduates having been granted interim extension of stay on student condition to wait for the promulgation of their graduation results cannot take up any employment without the prior approval from the Immigration Department.

A non-Mainland student having been granted interim extension of stay does not require a re-entry visa to enter the HKSAR provided that he/she returns within his/her valid limit of stay. Mainland students who have been granted interim extension of stay are required to apply for extension of the validity of their exit endorsement through the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, as authorised by the Bureau of Exit-Entry Administration of the Ministry of Public Security, before leaving the HKSAR. They are also required to return within their valid limit of stay.

Non-local recent graduates / GBA campus recent graduates who have not yet obtained their graduation certificate could apply to stay/come and work by producing a proof from the institution confirming that he/she has graduated (proof of graduation).

Applications under the IANG cannot be processed without proof of graduation. Non-local recent graduates / GBA campus recent graduates should submit applications after the receipt of proof of graduation.

Documentary proof of graduation refers to any supporting letters indicating the completion of study, official transcripts or testimonials, etc. Generally speaking, documentary proof of graduation should be stamped and countersigned for confirmation by the academic registrar.

The Immigration Department will assess each case on its own merits having regard to the skills and knowledge needed for the job, complexity of the duties, etc.

Successful applicants under the IANG may be granted a 24 months' stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met, regardless of the term of employment.

Persons admitted under the IANG are free to take up and change employment during their permitted stay without the need to seek prior approval from the Immigration Department. In other words, you may stay in the HKSAR and seek another job.

Non-permanent residents of the HKSAR, irrespective of their nationality and type of travel document held, do not require a re-entry visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR provided that they return within the currency of their permitted limit of stay and that the circumstances upon which they have acquired their residential status remain unchanged. Please click here for details.

Non-local graduates / GBA campus graduates who have already been admitted to take up employment in the HKSAR under the General Employment Policy or the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals may continue their employment. There is no need for them to make immediate applications under the IANG if they have no plan to change employment or take up sideline employment. Nevertheless, they cannot change employment or take up sideline employment without prior permission from the Immigration Department.

Non-local graduates / GBA campus graduates already admitted to the HKSAR mentioned above may make an application under the IANG if they so wish. Upon approval, they will be granted extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay. They may then change employment during their permitted stay without the need to seek prior approval from the Immigration Department.

Non-local graduates / GBA campus graduates who have already been admitted to take up employment at Q19 may make an application under the IANG. Applicants can submit their applications online here or submit the application forms and the supporting documents listed as below in person or by post/drop-in to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section:

Persons admitted under the IANG as a non-local recent graduate / GBA campus recent graduate may apply for extension of stay within four weeks before their limit of stay expires. Applicants can submit their applications online here and upload the supporting documents listed as below:

Persons admitted under the IANG as a non-local non-recent graduate/GBA campus non-recent graduate may apply to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section for extension of stay within four weeks before his/her limit of stay expires. Applicants can submit their applications online here and upload the supporting documents listed as below:

Persons admitted under the IANG who meet the criteria stipulated under the extension of stay under IANG, and fulfil the following criteria at the time of application for extension of stay may apply for assessment under the top-tier employment stream: (a) the applicant has been permitted to remain in the HKSAR under IANG for not less than two years; and (b) the applicant has an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment ^Note. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of six years.

Note:
Applicants should provide documentary proof of having an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous assessment year issued by the Inland Revenue Department or relevant tax documents.

Dependants of persons admitted under the IANG may apply for extension of stay within four weeks before his/her limit of stay expires. Applicants can submit their applications online here or submit the application forms and the supporting documents listed as below in person or by post/drop-in to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section:

1. submit application through online system and upload supporting documents under item b - i ; or a completed application form ID 91;
2. original and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSAR/the latest issued “e-Visa” (if applicable);
3. photocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity card;
4. photocopy of the sponsor’s valid travel document (showing personal particulars and current permission of stay) or Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
5. completed form ID 481A;
6. completed form ID 481B (for dependent spouse only);
7. applicant’s birth certificate (for children born in the HKSAR to non-permanent residents only);
8. applicant’s Form ID 235B and / or valid travel document (for children born in the HKSAR to non-permanent residents only); and
9. parents’ marriage certificate (for children born in the HKSAR to non-permanent residents only)

Applicants or his/her authorised representative can submit the application online here or in person or by post/drop-in to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section.

Upon application for extension of stay, non-local graduates / GBA campus graduates are required to have secured an offer of employment which is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration package is at market level. For those who have established or joined in business in the HKSAR, they are required to produce proof of their business. Applicants, whether recent or non-recent graduates, may be refused further extension of stay if they fail to prove that they will continue to work in the HKSAR or they have established or joined in business.