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According to the Education Bureau, if you are holding one of the following visas/entry permits issued by the Immigration Department (ImmD) of the HKSAR, you are defined as a "non-local student”:
Student visa/entry permit
Visa/entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
Dependant visa/entry permit (for students who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such a visa/entry permit by the Director of Immigration)
Non-local students who possess only a visitor or a tourist visa are not permitted to commence their studies until they have obtained a student visa.
Upon successful application for a student visa, you will be issued an “e-Visa” . Please note that this does not apply to full-time students from
Taiwan, who will instead receive a single-journey entry permit. Please print the “e-Visa” or save them on your personal mobile device for easy access. You are required to activate your student visa by entering Hong Kong on or before the
date stated on the “e-Visa” or the single-journey entry permit.
If you are from Mainland China, you must apply for an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and a relevant exit endorsement from the Public Security Bureau where your household registration is kept. These
documents, along with the “e-Visa”, should be presented at the Immigration Counter for arrival clearance upon your entry to Hong Kong.
If you are from overseas or Macao, you must present the “e-Visa” along with your valid travel document or “Visit Permit for Residents of Macao SAR to the Hong Kong SAR” (for Macao students only) to enter Hong Kong.
Full-time students from Taiwan will be issued a single-journey entry permit, which must be presented at the Immigration Counter to enter Hong Kong. After entering Hong Kong with your single-journey entry permit, you may apply for a Multiple
Entry Permit (MEP) and for the transfer of your endorsement to the MEP. For part-time students, you must present the “e-Visa” along with your valid travel document to enter Hong Kong.
It is the responsibility of students to maintain a valid Student Visa / Entry Permit throughout their studies. Students should upload a copy of their landing slip, issued by the Immigration Department upon arrival in Hong Kong, via the Student Portal, as proof of their permitted limit of stay in Hong Kong.
If there is any change to your visa or immigration status, you should inform the Immigration Department immediately and obtain an appropriate visa / entry permit before continuing your studies. Students who need to apply for a new Student Visa should normally do so at least eight weeks before the expiry of their current visa / entry permit.
As a non-local student, you should refer to the section of “Important Notes for Students Holding Visa / Entry Permit to study in Hong Kong” in the Student Handbook and FAQ at “Resources & Contacts” of this webpage.
Persons admitted for study may apply for extension of stay, if necessary, within 4 weeks before the limit of stay expires to continue their study in the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Such applications will be considered
only when the applicants continue to meet the eligibility criteria for entry for study. Extension of stay, if approved, will normally be on a yearly basis or in accordance with the duration of their studies, as appropriate.
The following documents are normally required when submitting an extension of stay application:
a current school supporting letter confirming that the student requires extension of stay to continue with the same study programme.
Mainland students may submit the applications to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section, Immigration Department, 6th Floor, Administration Tower, Immigration
Headquarters, 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories
Students other than those from the Mainland may submit their applications to the Extension Section, Immigration Department, 5th Floor, Administration Tower, Immigration
Headquarters, 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories.
Students who cannot complete their studies within the normal duration of the programme should first obtain approval for extension of study from the relevant Programme Administrative Hosting Division via CAR before applying for visa extension.
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.
Students should note that changes to their study status may affect their Student Visa / Entry Permit.
The following situations may need to be reported to the Immigration Department: • Transfer of Study • Deferment of Study • Zero Subject Enrolment • Exchange Activities • Nullification of Registration • Discontinuation or Withdrawal of Study • De-registration
Students concerned should consult CAR as early as possible for advice on the immigration implications and relevant procedures. You may also refer to the FAQ at “Resources & Contacts” of this webpage.
