Registration

Visa Application

The Immigration Ordinance of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) stipulates that unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, s/he requires a valid visa/entry permit from the Immigration Department to study in the HKSAR.

Timeline for Student Visa Application

 

Non‐ local students who are not in possession of any valid visa/entry permit to study in the HKSAR are required to apply for a student visa. The application process normally takes around 6‐8 weeks. The Immigration Department will take longer time during the summer peak season. Students are advised to submit visa applications with all documents required within 3 weeks from the issuance date of the admission notification. Please refer to the table below for the application timeline:

Non‐ local students who are unable to present a valid visa at the time of registration will not be allowed to register.
Student Visa Application Process
Step 1:

Apply for Student Visa1
Step 2:
Duly completed application with the supporting documents will be sent to the Immigration Department for handling

The Immigration Department will take around 6-8 weeks to handle a duly completed visa application with all required supporting documents.
Step 3:

Visa Application Approved

  • Visa label will be collected by the Graduate School upon receipt of collection notification from the Immigration Department.3
Step 4:

Graduate School verifies visa label and sends it to students by courier within 5 working days
Step 5:

Receive and activate the visa label

  • Students from Mainland China: apply for an “Exit‐entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao” (EEP) (往來港澳通行證) with the relevant “exit endorsement” issued by the relevant Public Security Bureau Office in the Mainland.

  • Students from other countries/regions: affix the visa label onto your valid passport/travel document before entering Hong Kong.

  • Visa label will be activated upon students' arrival at Hong Kong. Please take note of the Non‐stamping Immigration Clearance Arrangement for Hong Kong Non‐permanent Residents.
Notes:
  1. Students who would like to apply for a dependant visa for their spouse or unmarried dependant children under the age of 18 are required to submit the application directly to the Immigration Department.
  2. Students are reminded to ensure the validity of their address for receiving the visa label to avoid unnecessary delays.
  3. As stipulated by the Immigration Department, a visa label will normally be valid for 3 months upon collection and students are required to enter Hong Kong with the visa label within this 3‐month period. The University will collect visa labels and dispatch them to non‐local students around 6 weeks prior to their admission date, even though the Immigration Department may have approved the visa application earlier.
 
List of Supporting Documents for Student Visa Application
Students from Mainland China
Students from Mainland China
  1. “Application for Visa Sponsorship”.
  2. Form ID995A (click here for a sample of the duly completed form - please read the “Guide Book for Entry for Study in Hong Kong” before completing the form).
  3. A clear copy of your identity card (front and back) and a copy of your passport/travel document, if you have one.
  4. A copy of the Admission Notification.
  5. A copy of the Letter of Award of your Postgraduate Studentship (only for Research Postgraduate Students who have been awarded a studentship).
  6. Evidence of your financial standing to prove that you will be able to support your study and living in Hong Kong, e.g. a clear copy of bank statements, savings account passbooks or tax receipts.
    Research postgraduate students who are awarded a studentship are not required to provide evidence of their financial standing.
    For taught postgraduate students, if the financial proof belongs to a person who will support you financially, please also provide:
    ‐ proof of the relationship between you and that person, e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate; and
    ‐ an undertaking signed by that person that s/he will support you financially.
  7. Visa handling fee (HK$450) by credit card payment via the Application System (please select “Visa status checking/change visa address”).
In addition to the above documents, part‐time students are required to provide the following additional documents:
  1. a plan of your travel between Hong Kong and your residence;
  2. explanation on why you select to study the Programme at this University instead of programmes in your home country/region;
  3. an undertaking that you will depart from Hong Kong after you complete the programme; and
  4. a support letter from your current employer, if applicable.
Students from Macau
Students from Macau
  1. “Application for Visa Sponsorship”.
  2. Form ID995A (click here for a sample of the duly completed form - please read the “Guide Book for Entry for Study in Hong Kong” before completing the form).
  3. A clear copy of your identity card (front and back) and a copy of your passport/travel document, if you have one.
  4. A copy of the Admission Notification.
  5. A copy of the Letter of Award of your Postgraduate Studentship (only for Research Postgraduate Students who have been awarded a studentship).
  6. Evidence of your financial standing to prove that you will be able to support your study and living in Hong Kong, e.g. a clear copy of bank statements, savings account passbooks or tax receipts.
    Research postgraduate students who are awarded a studentship are not required to provide evidence of their financial standing.
    For taught postgraduate students, if the financial proof belongs to a person who will support you financially, please also provide:
    ‐ proof of the relationship between you and that person, e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate; and
    ‐ an undertaking signed by that person that s/he will support you financially.
  7. Visa handling fee (HK$450) by credit card payment via the Application System
    (please select “Visa status checking/change visa address”).
  8. A copy of your Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to Hong Kong SAR (澳門居民往來香 港特別行政區旅遊證).

In addition to the above documents, part‐time students are required to provide the following additional documents:

  1. a plan of your travel between Hong Kong and your residence;
  2. explanation on why you select to study at this University instead of programmes in your home country/region;
  3. an undertaking that you will depart from Hong Kong after you complete the programme; and
  4. a support letter from your current employer, if applicable.
Students from Taiwan
Students from Taiwan
  1. “Application for Visa Sponsorship”.
  2. Form ID995A (click here for a sample of the duly completed form - please read the “Guide Book for Entry for Study in Hong Kong” before completing the form).
  3. A clear copy of your identity card (front and back) and a copy of your passport/travel document, if you have one.
  4. A copy of the Admission Notification.
  5. A copy of the Letter of Award of your Postgraduate Studentship (only for Research Postgraduate Students who have been awarded a studentship).
  6. Evidence of your financial standing to prove that you will be able to support your study and living in Hong Kong, e.g. a clear copy of bank statements, savings account passbooks or tax receipts.
    Research postgraduate students who are awarded a studentship are not required to provide evidence of their financial standing.
    For taught postgraduate students, if the financial proof belongs to a person who will support you financially, please also provide:
    ‐ proof of relationship between you and that person, e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate; and
    ‐ an undertaking signed by that person that s/he will support you financially.
  7. Visa handling fee (HK$450) by credit card payment via the Application System
    (please select “Visa status checking/change visa address”).
  8. A copy of your household registration in Taiwan (台灣戶籍影印本).

In addition to the above documents, part‐time students are required to provide the following additional documents:

  1. a plan of your travel between Hong Kong and your residence;
  2. explanation on why you select to study at this University instead of programmes in your home country/region;
  3. an undertaking that you will depart from Hong Kong after you complete the programme;
  4. a support letter from your current employer, if applicable; and
  5. a copy of a notarized declaration of identity for visa purpose.
    (Students have to affix the student visa label on the original notarized declaration of identity for visa purpose in order to enter Hong Kong.)
Students from other countries/regions
Students from other countries/regions
  1. “Application for Visa Sponsorship”.
  2. Form ID995A (click here for a sample of the duly completed form - please read the “Guide Book for Entry for Study in Hong Kong” before completing the form).
  3. A clear copy of your identity card (front and back) and a copy of your passport/travel document.
  4. A copy of the Admission Notification.
  5. A copy of the Letter of Award of your Postgraduate Studentship (only for Research Postgraduate Students who have been awarded a studentship).
  6. Evidence of your financial standing to prove that you will be able to support your study and living in Hong Kong, e.g. a clear copy of bank statements, savings account passbooks or tax receipts.
    Research postgraduate students who are awarded a studentship are not required to provide evidence of their financial standing.
    For taught postgraduate students, if the financial proof belongs to a person who will support you financially, please also provide:
    ‐ proof of the relationship between you and that person, e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate; and
    ‐ an undertaking signed by that person that s/he will support you financially.
  7. Visa handling fee (HK$450) by credit card payment via the Application System
    (please select “Visa status checking/change visa address”).

In addition to the above documents, part‐time students are required to provide the following additional documents:

  1. a plan of your travel between Hong Kong and your residence;
  2. explanation on why you select to study at this University instead of programmes in your home country/region;
  3. an undertaking that you will depart from Hong Kong after you complete the programme; and
  4. a support letter from your current employer, if applicable.

For more information about student visa/entry permits, please refer to the FAQs.