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10 Must-Have Resources for a Successful Hong Kong Permanent Residency Application

September 1st, 2012

Posted by / in Long Stay & PR, Musing, Resource, VG Front Page / 91 responses


 

Download the slides from my accompanying talk here. Watch my accompanying talk here.

Now that you’ve lived in Hong Kong for a minimum of 7 years continuously, you’ll no doubt be turning your attention to your eligibility for the right of abode and making preparations for a permanent residency application.

To help guide you  in this effort, I have compiled all-in-one place 10 key resources on how to go about preparing, filing and then managing an application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card.

Please let me know in the comments below if you find them useful!

INFOGRAPHIC – Pathways to Permanent Residency in the HKSAR

PODCAST  – Hong Kong Right of Abode Application – Consider Your Strategy & Plan Early

FACT SHEET – Your Hong Kong Right of Abode Application

CHECKLIST – Verifying Your Eligibility for a Permanent Hong Kong Identity Card

VIDEO – Time Spent Outside of Hong Kong With Work – the Impact on Your Right of Abode after 7 Years

PODCAST – Work in HK for 5 Years – Leave for 2 – Then Return – Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes?

VIDEO – Arguing Away Missing Periods of Residence in Your Hong Kong Permanent Residency Application

CASE STUDY – Right of Abode Approval Even With  a  Two Year Continuous Absence from Hong Kong

CASE STUDY – The Twists & Turns of an Unusual Hong Kong Permanent Residency Application

CASE STUDY – Winning a Hong Kong Right of Abode Approval in Record Time – Just 4 Days!

PODCAST  – Overseas Chinese & the Right of Abode in Hong Kong

Please remember, if you ever have any Hong Kong visa or immigration related question, please feel free to Ask A Question and I’ll be happy to give you a PodCast answer within 48 hours, completely free of charge!

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The Impact of Brain Drain on Hong Kong and Resulting Immigration Policy Development

The Visa Geeza on RTHK Radio Three

Can you expect the Hong Kong Immigration Department to be flexible in a work visa application if you expect to qualify for the Right of abode a few short weeks later?

From eel farms to chicken sexing – all in a day’s work for the Hong Kong Visa Geeza!

VISIT OUR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE or VISIT OUR FREE D-I-Y VISA GUIDE

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The Hong Kong Visa Geeza (a.k.a Stephen Barnes) is a co-founder of the Hong Kong Visa Centre and author of the Hong Kong Visa Handbook. A law graduate of the London School of Economics, Stephen has been practicing Hong Kong immigration since 1993 and is widely acknowledged as the leading authority on business immigration matters here for the last 24 years.

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RESPONSES
  • Sarah

    26 Oct 2023 pm31 1:43pm
    01

    I have finally filed taxes in my 6th year, but in previous years did not make the significant amount of money to file… How crucial is it to include all 7 years of tax returns?

    Thanks for your support through the years!

    • The Visa Geeza

      26 Oct 2023 pm31 2:58pm
      02

      Start the process without them and see if ImmD ask for them after submission.

  • PP

    16 May 2023 pm31 3:39pm
    03

    hi team, I complete my 7 years of my first landing to HK on June 28 but I will be travelling on that day.
    As per discussion on this forum, can I still apply on June 1 as I will be in HK on on that day (submission day). Or is it the case that on both submission day and 7 year anniversary day, I mandatorily need to be present in HK?
    Also I couldnt see this 28 day rule anywhere on ImmD website, does it have a source? Thank you in advance for your answer

    • The Visa Geeza

      24 May 2023 am31 1:37am
      04

      ImmD do not promote the 28 day in advance of the anniversary date. It’s an admin window we have fathomed across 30 years of practice. If you submit before your anniversary you must be in HK on or after the day of your anniversary. Otherwise you have not completed a full 7 years residence until you get back. ImmD will just deny you and tell you to submit again.

      • PP

        25 May 2023 pm31 5:41pm
        05

        Noted, Will submit once back to HK then after a week. Thanks for your reply

  • Arc

    5 Nov 2022 pm30 4:37pm
    06

    Hi! I have reached my 7th year in HK last August but I was away since January 2020 and was not able to come back to HK due to the pandemic and travel restrictions. I was able to come back last October since quarantine in HK has become lenient.

    Am I still eligible for permanent residency? Currently, I am resident of HK as a dependant and still continuously paying my taxes and I am still working with the same company here in Hong Kong since 2015.

    • The Visa Geeza

      8 Nov 2022 am30 8:57am
      07

      Without knowing ALL the details, it sounds to me on the basis of what you describe, that you should be still eligible for PR in HK.

  • Jasvir singh

    28 Sep 2022 pm30 10:31pm
    08

    My dependent visa 4 yerars after divorce and new job crate employee visa counties 3 years now permanent visa allowed tel me plz

    • The Visa Geeza

      2 Oct 2022 pm31 12:20pm
      09

      I’m sorry – I simply cannot understand your question. Please rephrase it fully

  • Chris

    6 Sep 2022 am30 11:43am
    10

    Hi,

    I am eligible for Permanent Residency in early November 2022, but also plan to leave my current job in mid november 2022 (with my sponsored employment visa expiring in 2023). I intend to stay in Hong Kong to look for a new job. Therefore, will it be fine to:
    1. Inform the ImmD upon my resignation that I have resigned but plan to stay in Hong Kong to look for a new job, and
    2. Apply for my permanent residence in early October 2022 (28 days before my 7 year anniversary).

    Would the resignation have any impact upon being able to stay in Hong Kong / my permanent residency application.

    Thank you

    • The Visa Geeza

      14 Sep 2022 am30 11:18am
      11

      Yes. I have replied personally to you the details.

  • Dave

    4 Jul 2022 pm31 2:20pm
    12

    Hi

    Is the 7 year anniversary counted from the date the first residence visa was issued or the date of first landing in Hong Kong on that visa?

    I also understand that you can apply a month before the 7 year anniversary. Do you need to physically be in Hong Kong on the date you submit your application or on the anniversary date? What happens if you then needed to travel when the anniversary date hits……would the application be rejected or just shelved until you return?

    Thanks

    • The Visa Geeza

      5 Jul 2022 am31 10:00am
      13

      1 – from the date of first resdience visa activation by landing under that status

      2 – maxmumim 28 days before

      3 – yes physical presence needed in HK at the time you submit AND also on or just after your 7 year anniversary.

      If you’re not in HK on/after your 7 year anniversray they will close the case and take no further action.

  • Jo

    15 Apr 2022 pm30 2:53pm
    14

    Hi, I’ve been living in Hong Kong continuously and will hit my 7 year mark in August 2022. However, I saw in your checklist that #4 copies of all tenancy agreements are required. I do not have copies of my leases for the first 3 apartments I lived in (the 1 month serviced apartment my work put me up in + the 2nd / 3rd apartment I’d moved to; am currently on apartment #5). What do you recommend in this case? I’m not sure if I reach out to my old landlords that they will be responsive.

    • The Visa Geeza

      27 Apr 2022 am30 8:04am
      15

      Don’t worry about it too much. So long as you were physically in HK for the majority of the time the criticality of TAs falls away.

  • Em

    22 Mar 2022 am31 10:50am
    16

    Hi
    I have been living in Hong Kong on working visa and it’s going to reach my 7th year in Hong Kong by the end of March 2022, is it possible to start the application of PR now?

    Also, what would be the best document as the proof of 7 years continuous residence in Hong Kong. Is the passport with all the working visa stamps good enough?

  • Andrew

    23 Feb 2022 am28 10:35am
    18

    Hi there,

    I will reach my continuous 7 years with Working visa in Hong Kong in November 2022. However, I am now overseas since December 2021 and will not return until April 2022. I am still working in the same HK based company but working on a project in a different country. Due to the company travel restrictions, this is considered a personal rather than business trip.
    My questions:
    1. Will the 4 to 5 months away from HK risk my eligibility to apply for the PR?
    2. Since I am away for 4 months, does it mean I have to wait for 7 years and 4 months before applying for the PR?

    Note: I am still paying for my rent in HK and still receive my salary in HK and pay the taxes as normal.

    Thanks.

    • The Visa Geeza

      24 Feb 2022 am28 9:11am
      19

      1 – No
      2 – No

      On the facts as I understand them, your eligibility for a Permanent Hong Kong Identity Card will be maintained.

  • wasi

    21 Nov 2019 am30 3:16am
    20

    hi sir, im wasi from hong kong I live in hk last 5 years and my visa stats is marriage visa I already got my last 3 years visa but my wife my relationship is not good if shes apply divorce and id shes win then can I able get hk permanent id or immigration deport me.plz help me

    • The Visa Geeza

      25 Nov 2019 am30 9:38am
      21

      If your dependent visa is good until after the 7 year mark then the fact of divorce will not impact on your eligibility for PR so long as your DV lasts all the way through and past your 7 year mark.

  • Saima

    19 Aug 2019 pm31 3:23pm
    22

    Hi .. I am saima from Pakistan .. actually next month I need to apply for permanent residency because the completion of 7 years … but the question is I only stayed in HK for 2 years and rest years in Pakistan because of my son… my son was having his treatment from Pakistan.. he can’t walk but after treatment he can walk … the treatment is still going on… and this is my valid reason to stay in Pakistan… can I get permanent residency after justifying??

    • The Visa Geeza

      19 Aug 2019 pm31 4:05pm
      23

      I doubt it but it depends. You will only know if you try.

  • RVDHK

    27 Oct 2018 am31 8:15am
    24

    Hi,

    I have been living in HK for the last 6 years on work visa. Now i have left my job and my visa is expiring next month. My next job offer and visa sponsorship may happen after my current visa expiry. In the mean time I am planning to stay in HK on a visit visa. Will it affect my PR application? Will my current visa expiry and a small gap in its renewal negatively impact my chances of getting a PR next year? Please advise.

    Thanks & Regards
    RVD

    • The Visa Geeza

      2 Nov 2018 pm30 1:04pm
      25

      Yes it will. Under no circumstances should you allow yourself to slip into visitor status as it can lead to the loss of of your continuous ordinary residence.

  • ryan lau

    27 Jun 2017 pm30 9:03pm
    26

    Absence for 6 months

    If I work in mainland China and come back once a month to Hong Kong will that be fine?

    • The Visa Geeza

      28 Jun 2017 pm30 12:39pm
      27

      Fine for what?

  • usma

    29 Jan 2017 pm31 4:08pm
    28

    hi how are you , I am from Pakistan , I have one company in hk ,, but due to my nationality I cant open my account after a very long interview , then my chinies frined help me for shanghai account but that account is belongs to my comoany account in hk by handeling some lawyer .. I have question whats the way to get pr can I use my company registration for help getting pr if yes please tell me , if any other way .. I am business man imprt from china and send to Pakistan . I hav same company in Pakistan also .. waiting for your reply
    regard
    usma

    • The Visa Geeza

      31 Jan 2017 pm31 8:32pm
      29

      You can’t do any of this. Immigration in Hong Kong doesn’t work in this fashion. Please review this website to check the process for the various immigration projects in Hong Kong.

  • Surja

    13 Oct 2016 am31 11:21am
    30

    Hi there me and my husband both have right to land in hongkong I wonder if we can hire a domestic helper as We have no permanent residency now tq

    • The Visa Geeza

      13 Oct 2016 pm31 12:37pm
      31

      Yes you can, so long as you live and work in Hong Kong presently.

  • Alex

    12 Sep 2012 am30 6:52am
    32

    Hi
    I have worked in hk for 5 and a half years and need to leave hong kong for a new job abroad. I have bought a property here and my wife Is already a PR having lived here for more than seven years and my son is a hk resident having been borned here.
    What can I do to successfully apply for PR. In my new job, I will be coming back to Hk quite frequently.
    Thanks for yr advice.

    • The Visa Geeza

      12 Sep 2012 pm30 3:36pm
      33

      Hello Alex – effectively you need to put in place all of the criteria that the HKID need to conclude that your absences from Hong Kong in the run in to the 7 year mark are of a merely temporary nature only (as evidenced by what you leave behind to return back to at the point of each departure). If your family are remaining here whilst you work abroad that will be sufficient so long as your absences from Hong Kong are no longer than 6 months and you maintain your dependant visa at all times (I assume you have such a visa given that your wife is a permanent resident). I have covered this topic previously in this blog post. Good luck and thanks for your question!

  • pacita soriano

    3 Sep 2012 pm30 1:00pm
    34

    I just want to ask , a domestic helpers in Hong, if we stay here for 7 yrs, how much money they need to be qualified to apply for a permanent resident in HONgKong…been working here for 15yrs…thanks a lot and more power….

    • The Visa Geeza

      4 Sep 2012 am30 9:12am
      35

      Hi there – thanks for stopping by and asking your question. At this time, Foreign Domestic Helper visa holders are not eligible to apply for permanent residency as the time spent in Hong Kong under this type of visa does not constitute ‘ordinary’ residence. The situation is subject to litigation presently so things might change. Keep your eye open for big news on this subject in the coming weeks and months ahead.

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