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Non-local students are NOT allowed to take up employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establish to join in any business in Hong Kong, without the permission of the Director of Immigration.
However, with effect from 1 November 2024, non-local students (excluding exchange students) enrolled in full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate level or above, with a study period of not less than one academic year, are temporarily exempted from the above employment restrictions. They may take up employment in Hong Kong during the validity of their limit of stay or within the effective period as specified in the “No Objection Letter” (NOL) issued to them (if applicable), whichever is shorter.
Immigration Department will issue a NOL to eligible non-local students for taking up on-campus part-time employment, summer job and/or employment study/curriculum related internship, along with the approval of the application for student visa/extension of stay.
The NOL will cease to be valid if you do not have a valid student visa. In case of loss or damage, you may request for a new NOL at the Immigration Department. Or should you switch to another institution/programme, the NOL in respect
of the previous programme will also cease to be valid.
Non-local students of full-time locally-accredited local programmes at sub-degree level with a study period of not less than two academic years may apply to take up an internship if the following conditions are met:
The internship must be mandatory, study/curriculum-related and be arranged / endorsed by the Programme Administrative Hosting Division concerned; and
The duration of the internship is up to 6 months.
Undergraduate / Postgraduate Degree Students
Non-local students of full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year may take up internship if the following conditions are met:
The internships must be study/curriculum-related and be arranged or endorsed by the Programme Administrative Hosting Division concerned; and
The duration of the internship is up to one academic year, or one-third of the normal duration of the relevant full-time academic programme, whichever is shorter.
Non-local students (excluding exchange students) of full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year may, during the currency of their limit of stay, take up part-time
on-campus employment for not more than 20 hours per week throughout the year.
**According tothe Government, starting from November 1 2024, non-local students (excluding exchange students) of full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year would be temporarily exempted from the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs. This exemption arrangement will be reviewed next year.
The ImmD will issue to eligible students through their institutions new NOLs setting out the suspension. Students approved of visas/entry permits on or after November 1 2024 will be issued with the updated NOLs.**
Non-local students (excluding exchange students) of full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year may, during the currency of their limit of stay, take up summer
employment during the summer months which are taken to mean the period from 1 June to 31 August, both dates inclusive. The above period will be specified in the NOL and eligible students are not allowed to take up summer employment outside this
period, regardless of the actual period of summer vacation for his/her academic programme. There is, however, no limit in relation to working hours and locations.
New Policy since 2024
**According tothe Government, starting from November 1 2024, non-local students (excluding exchange students) of full-time locally-accredited local programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year would be temporarily exempted from the restrictions on taking up part-time jobs.This exemption arrangement will be reviewed next year.
The ImmD will issue to eligible students through their institutions new NOLs setting out the suspension. Students approved of visas/entry permits on or after November 1 2024 will be issued with the updated NOLs.**
Do you intend to stay in Hong Kong after graduation? If you plan to do so, you may apply to stay/return and work in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates (IANG).
(A) Non-local fresh graduate
Non-local students who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong are eligible to apply under IANG. They may submit their applications to the Immigration Department directly
together with photocopy of an official Transcript of Studies, Testimonial or Assessment Result Notification.
Non-local graduates who would like to submit IANG application as fresh graduates are advised to apply for their official Transcript of Studies, Testimonial or Assessment Result Notification before expiry of their student visa.
Non-local fresh graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in Hong Kong are NOT required to have secured an offer of employment upon application.
For details regarding the application for official Transcript of Studies, Testimonial or official Assessment Result Notification, please refer to the Student Handbook.
(B) Returning non-local graduate
Non-local graduates who submit applications beyond six months of the date of their graduation are classified as returning non-local graduates.
Returning non-local graduates are required to secure an offer of employment upon application.
You are strongly advised to study carefully the detailed information on the Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates (IANG) provided by the Immigration Department:
Please be reminded that you are not allowed to take up any employment outside the scope set out in the No Objection Letters without permission from the Director of Immigration. A breach of any condition of stay will render you liable to prosecution and removal from Hong Kong under
the Immigration Ordinance, Cap 115.
You may refer to the following Immigration Department website for more details:
