--- title: "Hong Kong Student visa requirements 2026: 6-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/student-visa/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- Hong Kong · Student # Hong Kong Student visa **First stay:** 6 yrs Student Visa / Entry Permit Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 6 yrs (Non-local students admitted to eligible post-secondary programs are generally granted stay matching normal program duration, subject to maximum six years on entry and passport validity; school-level terms differ.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Not open to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Nepal and Vietnam. Exception: nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam may apply for full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above at a UGC-funded institution, but not for self-financing programmes, continuing and professional education or exchange and short-term studies. Chinese residents of the Mainland and Taiwan have separate conditions.) - **Work:** Limited (Study only by default. Students in full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above that last at least one academic year may work part-time on campus for up to 20 hours a week, take summer jobs from 1 June to 31 August with no limit on hours or place, and take internships of up to one academic year or one-third of the normal programme length, whichever is shorter. Exchange students cannot take the on-campus or summer jobs.) ## Key facts Student visa is a student route for Hong Kong. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Government fees:** HKD 330 ≈ $42 - **Processing:** Up to 42 days - **First stay:** 6 yrs ## Cost, time and long term To apply: government fee HKD 330 ≈ $42; decision: up to 42 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: HKD 330 ≈ $42** - HKD 330 (≈ $42) Ordinary visa or extension of limit of stay fee (not a specified scheme). **Renewal: Renewable** Persons admitted for study can apply to extend their stay, within 4 weeks before their limit of stay expires, to continue their studies. [Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html) **Permanent residence: General rule: 7 years of residence** Time studying in Hong Kong is not among the excluded periods, so it can count toward the 7 years of continuous ordinary residence needed for the right of abode. Time as a foreign domestic helper, an imported-labour contract worker or a refugee, or spent unlawfully or in breach of a condition of stay, does not count. [Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/residents/immigration/roa/eligible-position-non-chinese.html) **Processing: Up to 42 days** Normally takes six weeks once all required documents are received. [Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Needs a place at a school or university in Hong Kong - Work rights are limited - Not open to passports from Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea and 3 more ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The student is admitted to an eligible registered private school, accredited post-secondary program, qualifying exchange or registered non-local course. - Age ranges apply to school-age applicants; nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea cannot apply, and nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam only for UGC-funded programmes at undergraduate level or above. - A Hong Kong local sponsor is required. - An individual sponsor must be an adult bona fide resident, acquainted with and financially capable of supporting the student. #### What you must show - The student demonstrates funds for fees, living expenses and accommodation. #### Documents - School acceptance is required. ## When you become tax resident How Hong Kong decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 6 years at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **More than 60 days in a year of assessment (aggregated visits to Hong Kong)** Non-Hong Kong employment: visits to Hong Kong totalling more than 60 days in the year of assessment make the pay for those services assessable on a days-in-days-out basis; any part of a day counts. - **Foreign-source income:** **Territorial** Hong Kong taxes under the territorial concept: salaries tax, property tax and profits tax apply to income arising in or derived from Hong Kong, whether the person is resident or not. [All tax rules for Hong Kong](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Entry permit for eligible study at recognized Hong Kong schools, universities and registered higher-education programs. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of HKD 330 (≈ $42) · Ordinary visa or extension of limit of stay fee (not a specified scheme). (source 2) #### Requirements - The student is admitted to an eligible registered private school, accredited post-secondary program, qualifying exchange or registered non-local course. (source 1) - Age ranges apply to school-age applicants; nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea cannot apply, and nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam only for UGC-funded programmes at undergraduate level or above. (source 1) - A Hong Kong local sponsor is required. (source 1) - An individual sponsor must be an adult bona fide resident, acquainted with and financially capable of supporting the student. (source 1) - The student demonstrates funds for fees, living expenses and accommodation. (source 1) - School acceptance is required. (source 1) #### Stay - Non-local students admitted to eligible post-secondary programs are generally granted stay matching normal program duration, subject to maximum six years on entry and passport validity; school-level terms differ. - First stay: up to 72 months, decided case by case. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Not open to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Nepal and Vietnam. Exception: nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam may apply for full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above at a UGC-funded institution, but not for self-financing programmes, continuing and professional education or exchange and short-term studies. Chinese residents of the Mainland and Taiwan have separate conditions. Not open to: Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam. #### Work Study only by default. Students in full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above that last at least one academic year may work part-time on campus for up to 20 hours a week, take summer jobs from 1 June to 31 August with no limit on hours or place, and take internships of up to one academic year or one-third of the normal programme length, whichever is shorter. Exchange students cannot take the on-campus or summer jobs. #### Family Parent/guardian arrangements may be required for students under 18; dependants are a separate application. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Students](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Fee tables: visas, extension of limit of stay and other services](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/fee-tables/index.html) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong · checked 2026-10-11 3. [The Position of Non-Chinese Citizens (right of abode)](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/residents/immigration/roa/eligible-position-non-chinese.html) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Notes for Guidance: Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card](https://www.immd.gov.hk/pdforms/ROP(E)149_o.pdf) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11 ## Student visa and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Student visa | – | 6 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Study visa (ED)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/nonimmigrant-ed-study/) Thailand | – | 3 mo, renewable | No | | [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/student/) Japan | – | 4.3 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Student visa · Non-formal](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e30-education/) Indonesia | – | 4 yr, renewable | No | | [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/student-visa/) United Arab Emirates | – | – | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Student visa? A fee of HKD 330 (≈ $42). Ordinary visa or extension of limit of stay fee (not a specified scheme). ### How long can I stay on the Student visa? Non-local students admitted to eligible post-secondary programs are generally granted stay matching normal program duration, subject to maximum six years on entry and passport validity; school-level terms differ. ### How long does the Student visa take to process? Normally takes six weeks once all required documents are received. ### Can I work on the Student visa? Limited. Study only by default. ### Can I bring my family on the Student visa? Parent/guardian arrangements may be required for students under 18; dependants are a separate application. ### Who can apply for the Student visa? Not open to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Nepal and Vietnam. Exception: nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam may apply for full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above at a UGC-funded institution, but not for self-financing programmes, continuing and professional education or exchange and short-term studies. Chinese residents of the Mainland and Taiwan have separate conditions. Not open to: Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam. ### Does the Student visa lead to permanent residence in Hong Kong? The general rule for permanent residence in Hong Kong is 7 years of residence. ### How are Student visa holders taxed in Hong Kong? No special regime in our records is tied to the Student visa. The standard rules apply: Hong Kong taxes under the territorial concept: salaries tax, property tax and profits tax apply to income arising in or derived from Hong Kong, whether the person is resident or not. Income arising outside Hong Kong is not charged under those taxes; salaries tax follows where the employment services are rendered. ## More in Hong Kong [QMAS](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/qmas/) [Top Talent Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/ttps/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/working-holiday/) [Entrepreneur visa (GEP)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/investment-entrepreneur/) [Mainland talent (ASMTP)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/asmtp-mainland-professional/) [Work visa (GEP)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/gep-professional/) [Tech professionals (GEP-TP)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/gep-technical-professionals/) [IANG graduate visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/iang/) ## Study visas elsewhere [🇰🇷 D-4 language study](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/d4-language-trainee/) [🇦🇺 Student visa 500](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/australia/student-500/) [🇳🇿 Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/new-zealand/fee-paying-student/) [🇰🇭 Student extension (ES)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cambodia/es-student-extension/) [🇱🇰 Education visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/sri-lanka/education-residence-visa/) [🇮🇳 e-Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/india/e-student-visa/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Students](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Fee tables: visas, extension of limit of stay and other services](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/fee-tables/index.html) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong · checked 2026-10-11 3. [The Position of Non-Chinese Citizens (right of abode)](https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/residents/immigration/roa/eligible-position-non-chinese.html) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Notes for Guidance: Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card](https://www.immd.gov.hk/pdforms/ROP(E)149_o.pdf) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.