Notices of Application for Studying in Hong Kong

Eligibility Criteria

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

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;

3. is admitted to a private school registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) or Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320). Except for post-secondary education, entry for study in public or aided schools (other than English Schools Foundation Schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools) is not permitted;

4. takes up studies in a full-time locally-accredited post-secondary programme including short-term course or part-time locally-accredited taught postgraduate local programme Note 1;

5. is admitted on exchange in full-time locally-accredited local programmes at sub-degree level for not more than 6 months or on exchange in full-time locally-accredited local or non-local programmes for not more than one year at undergraduate or above level; or

6. is enrolled in a full-time 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. the applicant:

2. the applicant is:

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

4. 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.

2. This entry arrangement does not apply to:

1. Chinese residents of the Mainland and Taiwan;

2. former Mainland Chinese residents settled in Macao who were not settled there by 14 January 1979; and

3. nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, Korea (Democratic People's Republic of ), Nepal and Vietnam.

3. However, provided that the conditions in sub-paragraphs 1(c) & (d) above are met, Chinese residents of the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan as listed in sub-paragraphs 2(a) & (b) above may apply for entry to take up:

1. the programme concerned is offered by Hong Kong higher education institutions with degree-awarding powers (excluding their continuing and professional education arms); and

2. the cumulative duration of short-term studies taken up by any student should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period.

1. studies in full-time locally-accredited post-secondary local or non-local programmes Note 2&3; 

2. studies in part-time locally-accredited taught post-graduate local programmes Note 4; 

3. exchange in full-time locally-accredited local programmes at sub-degree level for not more than 6 months or exchange in full-time locally-accredited local or non-local programmes at undergraduate or above level for not more than one year Note 3; or

4. full-time short-term studies, subject to the following conditions:

In addition, Chinese residents of the Mainland may also apply to attend secondary school level short-term exchange programmes approved by the Education Bureau of not more than 2 weeks, if accompanied by Mainland teachers.

4. In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, he/she requires a visa/entry permit to study in the HKSAR. While each application is determined on its individual merits, an applicant should meet normal immigration requirements (such as holding a valid travel document with adequate returnability to his/her country of residence or citizenship; be of clear criminal record and raise no security or criminal concerns to the HKSAR; have no likelihood of becoming a burden on the HKSAR, etc.) as well as the relevant specific eligibility criteria detailed above before he/she may be considered for the grant of a visa/entry permit. It should be noted that the eligibility criteria may be subject to change from time to time.

Note 1: 
Local programmes refer to programmes leading to degrees awarded by local degree-awarding institutions whereas non-local programmes refer to programmes leading to degrees awarded solely by non-local institutions, irrespective of whether the programmes are jointly run by local and non-local institutions.

Note 2:
The agreement between the Mainland and Hong Kong on mutual recognition of degree awards in higher education is not applicable to sub-degree qualifications (i.e. associate degree and higher diploma). Mainland students may come to attend sub-degree level local programmes in Hong Kong since there is no restriction in the Mainland prohibiting them to pursue further studies at educational institutions outside the Mainland on a personal basis.

Note 3:
Mainland students are allowed to study in full-time locally-accredited local programmes. For the 2016/17 to 2020/21 academic years, Mainland students are also allowed to study in full-time locally-accredited non-local programmes at undergraduate or above level which have been approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.

Note 4:
The programmes to be taken up by Mainland students must be offered by the University Grants Committee-funded institutions.

Sponsor in Hong Kong