CUHK - HRO - General Information for Departments/Units

1. Entry Visa Requirements

Under the current Hong Kong immigration policies, there are in general three types of visas available for a person who does not have the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong to enter Hong Kong to engage in activities of the University (for purposes other than study), namely:

- - “Visit” - for leisure, social or business visits;
  - "Employment as Professionals" - for taking up employment (any involvement of fulfillment of an agreement for the provision of services and/or discharge of professional duties by an academic visitor, whether paid or unpaid, may be construed as employment); and
  - "Training" - for acquiring special skills and knowledge not available in the applicant's country/territory of domicile, for a limited period of not more than 12 months.

2. Visit Visa

A person permitted to enter Hong Kong as a visitor may generally engage in the following non-remunerative business-related activities:

(a) Concluding contracts or submitting tenders;
(b) examining or supervising the installation/packaging of goods or equipment;
(c) participating in exhibitions or trade fairs (except selling goods or supplying services direct to the general public, or constructing exhibition booths);
(d) settling compensation or other civil proceedings;
(e) participating in product orientation; and
(f) attending short-term seminars or other business meetings.

Besides, a person permitted to enter Hong Kong as a visitor may also attend an event to deliver speech(es)/ presentation(s) subject to the following conditions being met:

(a) he/she will not be remunerated for speaking/presenting at the event (other than provision of accommodation, passage, meals, etc. relating to the event, or the reimbursement of such expenses);
(b) the duration of the whole event should be no longer than seven days; and
(c) he/she can only attend one such event to deliver speech(es)/presentation(s) during each period of permitted stay.

For details of visit visa, please refer to information posted on the website of the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD)

"Academic visitors" of the University may enter Hong Kong for short-term stay by means of a Visit Visa insofar as they will only engage in the aforementioned activities. Visitors from about 170 countries and territories may visit Hong Kong visa-free for a period ranging from 7 days to 180 days. The list of foreign countries and territories and respective visit visa / entry permit requirements to Hong Kong are posted on ImmD’s website.

3. Employment Visa Entrance Schemes

A. Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)

Chinese residents of the Mainland who are not non-local graduates but possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to work in Hong Kong under the ASMTP.

B. General Employment Policy (GEP)

Applicants who are not non-local graduates but possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to work in Hong Kong under the GEP. The GEP does not apply to Chinese residents of the Mainland.

C. Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates (IANG)

Applicants who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally accredited programme in Hong Kong may apply to stay/return and work in Hong Kong under the IANG.

4. Application/Entry Procedures (Employment Visa and Training Visa)

4.1 Application Procedures for an Employment Visa

i. The University will act as the sponsor of the employment visa

ii.The appointee to complete the visa application form ID990A

(A blank form and the Notes on Visa Matters prepared by the University setting out the required supporting documents will be sent to the appointee together with the University's Letter of Appointment/Letter of Invitation)

iii. The appointee to return the duly completed form and supporting documents to the University

iv. The University to complete the sponsorship form ID990B

v. The University to submit the visa application materials to the ImmD on behalf of the appointee

vi. The University to notify the appointee upon approval of his/ her visa application and provide guidance on making online payment and downloading or printing the “e-Visa”. In case he/she has difficulties in arranging online payment, he/ she may authorise the University to pay and collect the “e-Visa” on his/ her behalf at the Immigration Headquarters.

4.2 Application Procedures for a Training Visa

An appointee who wishes to acquire special skills and knowledge not available in his/her country/territory of domicile may apply for a visa/entry permit to enter Hong Kong for a limited period of not more than 12 months for training.

i. The University will act as the sponsor of the training visa

ii. The appointee to complete the visa application form ID992A

iii. The appointee to return the duly completed form and supporting documents to the University

iv. The University to complete the sponsorship form ID992B

v. The University to submit the visa application materials to the HKID on behalf of the appointee

vi. The University to notify the appointee upon approval of his/ her visa application and provide guidance on making online payment downloading or printing the “e-Visa”. In case he/she has difficulties in arranging online payment, he/ she may authorize the University to pay and collect the “e-Visa” on his/ her behalf at the Immigration Headquarters.

4.3 Entry Procedures After Obtaining the Visa/Entry Permit

- - - For overseas passport holders, Macao/Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese nationals
    - For mainland residents

(see details here)

5. Enquiry Contacts

Hong Kong Immigration Department (General enquiry)

telephone dark red 2824 6111
fax dark red 2877 7711
email dark red This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Human Resources Office
Please refer to the contact details under the webpage of Contact Us > Benefits & Personnel Matters > Immigration Matters