Visa Matters for Non-local students
According to the Education Bureau (EDB), for the purpose of admission to post-secondary programmes, definitions of local and non-local students are as follows:
Local students must provide valid identity documents to prove their local student’s status. Non-local students entering Hong Kong as visitors are strictly prohibited from enrolling in any school or university without a valid student visa or entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they maintain a valid and lawful visa status throughout their studies at the University.
| Local students |
|---|
The student is a holder of:
|
| Non-local students |
|---|
The student is a holder of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR:
|
Non-local students are generally required to possess a student visa to study in Hong Kong. However, if non-local students possess any of the following documents during their study period, a student visa or entry permit is not necessary:
As the processing time for visa applications takes 6 to 8 weeks, students are advised to complete the application form with relevant documents in accordance with the instructions provided by the University Admissions Office or Graduate School immediately after settling the tuition fee.
Students are advised to save their e-visa on their mobile device or to print it on an A4 paper for the inspection of concerned authorities if needed. For further information relating to the e-visa, please visit the following link: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/e-visa.html. Please be reminded that a valid travel document such as a passport is also required when visiting Hong Kong.
- Dependant visa / entry permit (for students who were 18 years old or above)
- Visa / Entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates
As the processing time for visa applications takes 6 to 8 weeks, students are advised to complete the application form with relevant documents in accordance with the instructions provided by the University Admissions Office or Graduate School immediately after settling the tuition fee.
Students are advised to save their e-visa on their mobile device or to print it on an A4 paper for the inspection of concerned authorities if needed. For further information relating to the e-visa, please visit the following link: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/e-visa.html. Please be reminded that a valid travel document such as a passport is also required when visiting Hong Kong.
Activate your Student Visa
Students will receive a Landing Slip issued by the Immigration Department when they first enter Hong Kong with a student visa. The Landing Slip specifies the expiry date of the Student Visa. Students should keep the Landing Slip properly with the Student Visa.
Students will receive a Landing Slip issued by the Immigration Department when they first enter Hong Kong with a student visa. The Landing Slip specifies the expiry date of the Student Visa. Students should keep the Landing Slip properly with the Student Visa.
Apply for HKID Card
According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177) in Hong Kong, non-local students who have been permitted to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days are required to apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID Card) within 30 days of arrival. Students are required to carry their HKID card with them at all times while in Hong Kong. Please make an appointment and pre-fill the form on the Hong Kong Immigration Department website.
Students are also required to provide the visa/entry permit, passport, identity documents and admission letter when they visit the Registration of Persons Office for the interview appointment. The issuance of an HKID card is free of charge to new arrivals.
In case the HKID card has been lost, the student should report to the Police immediately and apply for a replacement at the Immigration Department within 14 days.
Timeline for submitting the required documents to Registry via Moodle:
For more information, please refer to the "New Students" group on Moodle and the admissions package provided by the Registry on Orientation Day.
| Document to be submitted | Submission Time |
|---|---|
| A Copy of Landing Slip and Notification Slip for Entry Visa/Permit | Within 2 weeks after the commencement in the first semester of study in the University |
| A Copy of HKID card | Within 2 months after the commencement in the first semester of study in the University |
Students are reminded that it is their responsibility to apply for an extension of their student visa before it expires. If the current student visa is set to expire before they complete their studies within the normative study period or if they are unable to complete their studies within this period, they must apply for a visa extension through the Immigration Department.
To apply for an extension of stay, students must first obtain a supporting document issued by the Registry and submit their application to the Immigration Department no later than 4 weeks before their current visa's expiration date. For detailed information about the visa extension process, please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department's official website.
To apply for an extension of stay, students must first obtain a supporting document issued by the Registry and submit their application to the Immigration Department no later than 4 weeks before their current visa's expiration date. For detailed information about the visa extension process, please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department's official website.
Students who have changed their local and non-local student status or visa type (e.g., from holding a student visa to a dependent visa, or vice versa) during their study period at the University should report to the Registry (Undergraduate programmes) or Graduate School (Postgraduate programmes) respectively for updating this change in the University's records.
If the application is received after the start date of a semester/term, any adjustment in the tuition fee arising from the change in local/non-local student status will be effective from the following semester/term.
If the application is received after the start date of a semester/term, any adjustment in the tuition fee arising from the change in local/non-local student status will be effective from the following semester/term.
A student may apply to withdraw from studies or be terminated from studies by the University for various reasons. The University will inform the Immigration Department of a student's withdrawal or termination of studies from the withdrawal or termination effective date.
Upon withdrawal or termination of studies, the student will be required to leave Hong Kong before the expiry of their limit of stay or within 4 weeks from the date of termination/withdrawal of the study, whichever is earlier; otherwise, the student will be committing an immigration offence of breaching their conditions of stay.
Upon withdrawal or termination of studies, the student will be required to leave Hong Kong before the expiry of their limit of stay or within 4 weeks from the date of termination/withdrawal of the study, whichever is earlier; otherwise, the student will be committing an immigration offence of breaching their conditions of stay.