Hong Kong Visas Made Easy

26

Feb 2025

Hong Kong Immigration Department Increase Service User Fees MASSIVELY TODAY

Posted by / in Feature Article, Musing, VG Front Page / No responses

No way?

Hong Kong Immigration Department Increase Service User Fees

New Visa Fee Structure for Visa Applications Effective from 26 February 2025 (TODAY)

Starting from 11 a.m. on 26 February 2025 (the “commencement time”), applicants submitting an application under any of the visa types listed below, will be required to pay an application fee and a visa issuance fee upon approval, based on a two-tiered fee structure.

Applicable Visa Types

The new fee structure applies to the following visas type:

  • Top Talent Pass Scheme
  • General Employment Policy
  • Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals
  • Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
  • Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates
  • Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents
  • New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (excluding applications for unconditional stay or visit visas)
  • Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (excluding applications for unconditional stay or visit visas)
  • Technology Talent Admission Scheme
  • Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme

New Fee Structure

Upon submitting an application under one of the listed visa types, the applicant (principal or dependant) must pay an application fee.

If approved, the corresponding visa issuance fee must be paid according to the two-tiered fee structure before collecting the visa.

Type of Applicant Item (HK$)
Principal Applicant / Dependant Application Fee Per Applicant (non-refundable) 600
Visa Issuance Fee (for a stay of more than 180 days) 1,300
Visa Issuance Fee (for a stay of 180 days or less) 600

Calculation of “Relevant Period”

The “relevant period” under the new visa fees schedule is determined as follows:

Ordinary Visa / Entry Permit

The relevant period is the fixed limit of stay stated on the visa/permit.

Example: If the stated period is 36 months, 24 months, 2 weeks, or 7 days, that period applies.

If the stated period is 6 months or more, the visa issuance fee is HK$1,300.

Last Date Under Limit of Stay

Relevant period = Last date under the limit of stay – Date of visa issuance fee payment.

Example: If the last date under the limit of stay is 31 March 2025, and the payment date is 1 March 2025, the relevant period is 30 days.

Extension of Stay (No Change in Condition of Stay)

Relevant period = Last date under new limit of stay – Last date under original limit of stay.

Example: If the last date under the new limit of stay is 31 March 2025, and the original limit ended on 1 March 2025, the relevant period is 30 days.

Change of Condition of Stay (e.g., Change of Employment)

With no change to the limit of stay: Relevant period = Last date under the limit of stay – Date of visa issuance fee payment.

With extension of the limit of stay: Relevant period = Last date under new limit of stay – Date of visa issuance fee payment.

FAQs

1. Do I need to pay the new visa issuance fee if my application was submitted before the commencement time but approved after?

No. Applications submitted before the commencement time will be charged based on the original fee structure.

2. If my application was submitted and approved before the commencement time but I collect my “e-Visa” afterward, do I need to pay the new visa issuance fee?

No. The original fee structure applies to applications submitted before the commencement time.

3. Will the application fee be refunded if my application is refused or cancelled?

No. The application fee is non-refundable in any circumstance.

4. Will the application fee be refunded if I withdraw my application?

No. The fee is non-refundable, and paying the fee does not guarantee approval.

5. What electronic payment methods are accepted for fee payment?

The online payment service will accept:

  • Credit Cards (VISA, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB)
  • Payment by Phone Service (PPS)
  • Faster Payment System (FPS)
  • Mainland China Digital Wallets (Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay App)

6. Is there a deadline to pay the visa issuance fee after approval?

Yes. The time limit for payment is specified in the application result notification.

For more details on other visa application fees, please refer to the official Fee Tables provided by the Immigration Department.

Hong Kong Immigration Department Increase Service User Fees

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18

Feb 2025

I Was Convicted Of A Crime And Removed From Hong Kong – How Do My Visa Options Look Now?

Posted by / in Employment Visas, Refusals & Appeals, Visitor Visas, Your Question Answered / 21 responses

This post deals with the available visa options after being convicted and removed from Hong Kong

Life in Hong Kong can throw up many challenges, none too much greater than the following:

QUESTION

Hello, and thank you for the opportunity to ask my question! I have questions, but I will frame my situation first.

In June of this year, I made a big mistake and got in an altercation with another woman and ended up hurting her. In September, I was convicted of the crime of Wounding and sentenced to a prison term of 14 days in Hong Kong.

I had been working in Hong Kong for 2 years.

Prior to the conviction, I stopped working and remained in Hong Kong on a Visitor Visa while awaiting trial. My Visitor Visa was set to expire before the trial so I visited Immigration and requested an extension of 90 days. My extension was not granted and I was told to come back to Immigration following my court case. As I stated earlier I was then sentenced to a prison term, so I was unable to come to Immigration and my Visitor Visa expired whilst I was incarcerated.

Consequently, following the completion of my sentence, I was transferred to the Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre and made subject to a removal order. I chose the option of voluntary repatriation and took a flight home to New Zealand three days later.

Prior to departure, my HKID card was confiscated by the Immigration Department. I asked my case officer at Immigration (and several other officers), as well as the Enquiry section on the Immigration website, and they all gave me the same response about my potential to return to Hong Kong on either a Visitor Visa or Employment Visa: “Please be rest assured that the entry of every visitor to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region would be considered fairly and reasonably in accordance with the law”.

 Question #1

I am now in New Zealand, but I would like to return to Hong Kong in January 2013. I would like to return on a tourist visa and take care of many responsibilities and possessions I have left in Hong Kong. I just fear arriving in Hong Kong, being detained at the border and then being sent back to New Zealand.

Question #2

I have a job offer in Hong Kong and I would like to accept it. However, I also don’t know how Immigration is going to view my employment visa application. It would be embarrassing and damaging to accept the job offer and then have my employment visa rejected. Also, would Immigration inform my potential employer of the reason for the employment visa rejection?

Thank you very much for your time!

VisaGeeza.Ai – Making Hong Kong Immigration A Lot Easier

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PODCAST ANSWER
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17

Feb 2025

How Considered Advance Planning Might Save A Doomed Right Of Abode Application & Spare The Loss Of Several Years Continuous Ordinary Residence In Hong Kong

Posted by / in Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

This post explains how strategic advance planning can rescue a troubled Right of Abode application and preserve years of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong

First Published On December 9, 2013, still of interest today

Right of Abode

It happens a lot more often that you might imagine – inadvertent loss of ‘ordinary residence‘ setting back your application for permanent residence here in Hong Kong.

QUESTION

My wife and I came to Hong Kong to work in 2006. However she went to business school in Europe in 2009, sponsored by her Hong Kong employer.

So from her immigration record, the ordinary residence discontinued for the period of November 2009 to September 2010.

But throughout the past 7 years I myself have remained in Hong Kong and all our savings as well as properties are here and I recently got my own permanent ID (but my wife got refused).

My questions are:

(1) should my wife apply in-person again for a formal determination?  

(2) if her application gets refused again and if she quits her job to take care of kids at home, can she still have a HKID and continue the 7 year accumulation?

Thank you.

My Follow Up Questions

In this time (November 2009 – September 2010) did your wife:

(A) hold a residence visa in Hong Kong?

(B) have documentation from her employer showing that the time in Europe was only temporary and that her Hong Kong employment contract subsisted – even though she was not getting paid – and that she was expected to return to her job here immediately upon graduation?

(C) did she in fact return to that job in Hong Kong immediately upon graduation?

Follow Up Answers

A.  No. She came back a few times but on tourist visas

B. Yes. There is a letter from her employer stating explicitly that during 2009-10 she attended a company sponsored BSchool program in Europe during which period she was still considered an employee of the company.

C. Yes.

VisaGeeza.Ai – Making Hong Kong Immigration A Lot Easier

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How do lengthy employment secondments away from Hong Kong impact on continuity of ordinary residence for a right of abode application after 7 years?

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Can a newly qualified foreign national permanent resident of Hong Kong automatically secure the right of abode for his parents too?

How to apply for the right of abode in Hong Kong without any professional help – documents required

Am I compelled to apply for the right of abode after 7 years or can I maintain the status quoe of my current employment visa?

PODCAST ANSWER
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10

Feb 2025

Is Cancelling A Hong Kong Visa Application Possible And, If So, How Do You Go About Doing It?

Posted by / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Hadley Says…, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Refusals & Appeals, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 4 responses

It happens occasionally that cancelling a Hong Kong visa application might become a necessary course of action.

This post helps you undrstand the process and implications of cancelling a Hong Kong visa application.

For various reasons, an application for a Hong Kong visa, whether it be for tourism, business, employment, or any other type, may have to be cancelled midway through the entire process, which can sometimes be complicated.

So, the pertinent question arises: how does one go about the process of cancelling a Hong Kong visa application effectively and efficiently?

The answer to this query is quite straightforward and can be easily followed. If you find yourself in a position where cancelling your Hong Kong visa application is the only option, you simply need to draft a letter to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. In this correspondence, it is important to include your complete name, your passport number or Hong Kong ID card number, as well as the file reference for your visa application. This file reference, crucial for identification purposes, is something you would have received when you initially submitted your application or shortly thereafter.

Interestingly, there is no requirement for you to explain or justify your reasons for deciding to withdraw or cancel your Hong Kong visa application. The Immigration authorities only require that you state your intention clearly—that you no longer wish to pursue the visa application at hand.

After you have submitted your withdrawal request, which involves cancelling a Hong Kong visa application, you should wait for about two to three weeks. During this time, you will likely receive a formal letter back from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. This letter will typically confirm the receipt of your request to cancel your Hong Kong visa application and will also include an advisory note stating that your application has indeed been marked as cancelled in their records.

Overall, the process of cancelling a Hong Kong visa application is designed to be straightforward, ensuring that applicants can easily navigate these circumstances should they arise. Following these simple steps means that cancelling your Hong Kong visa application can be done with relative ease and peace of mind.

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05

Feb 2025

QOTW: What Do ImmD Make Of Getting Married Here When Applying For A Hong Kong Dependant Visa?

Posted by / in Family Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

Does a simple trip to ‘city hall’ solve all your Hong Kong dependant visa problems?

QUESTION  OF  THE  WEEK

I am American. I have just accepted a role in Hong Kong.

My employer is about to begin my visa paperwork to sponsor me for an employment visa.

However, my girlfriend is Australian and I want her to come with me and ideally also be able to work.

We are both 30 almost 31.

One option is a shot gun marriage here in the US.

However, I was wondering what the policy is on her coming to Hong Kong on a tourist/holiday visa and once in Hong Kong with me us getting married there?

Is that possible and if so once it has been performed can I get her added onto my visa as a spouse easily enough?

Any advice is greatly received.

ANSWER

The clear and obvious answer to this question is no; of course, you should never get married for these purposes. However, sometimes circumstances prevail where there is a genuine life partner relationship between a loving couple who are planning to get married in any event. But because of changes in the career fortunes of one of them, they find themselves in Hong Kong with the possibility of being separated due to their then single status, even though they are clearly committed to each other as life partners.

In this instance, you can find yourself in Hong Kong and determine that the situation you are in—resulting from separation—may be too much to bear. This can encourage you to bring forward the plans you already had regarding your marriage.

Clearly, as part of satisfying the Immigration Department’s requirement for your relationship to be deemed genuine, this will all make perfect sense if supported by the correct documentation that speaks to the nature of your relationship in those circumstances. So, while you might desire for this to be a shotgun wedding, this isn’t the case at all. It would simply be a matter of bringing forward plans you had initially.

In that respect, you would be deemed a genuine couple, even though you have found yourself in Hong Kong in a situation that prompted you to advance your nuptials. Once you’re married, it becomes a simple matter of taking your application bundle to the Immigration Department and seeking permission for your spouse to remain in Hong Kong as your dependent under your sponsorship. At that time, the Immigration Department will assess the genuine nature of your relationship. If you can demonstrate that you can provide a roof over her head and food on her table, the Immigration Department will usually grant a dependent visa for one year in the first instance. After that first year is up, she will be granted the same limit to stay that you would have as her employment visa-holding sponsor.

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23

Jan 2025

Can The Sponsor Of Your Hong Kong Employment Visa Hold Your Residence To Ransom?

Posted by / in 60 Second Snapshot, Employment Visas / 3 responses

Many foreign nationals holding Hong Kong employment visas labour under the misapprehension that their employer somehow controls their immigration destiny by virtue of the fact that they sponsor their residence in Hong Kong.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

This is a common misconception amongst foreign workers, especially if they find themselves in some kind of pay dispute or other point of conflict with their current employer, the sponsor of their existing employment visa for Hong Kong.

An employer sponsoring your employment visas cannot use the fact of their sponsorship to hold a gun to your head. The visa belongs to you, not them. They are just responsible for the sponsorship.

The employer’s obligation throughout the entire employment visa process is as follows:

(a) They must show they are justified, as a business, in engaging your services rather than those of a ‘local’ person.

(b) They must pay you at least market rate for the work you are doing for them and at a level commensurate with the minimum required for employment visa approvability.

(c) They must agree to sponsor your application by executing the official employment visa sponsorship form in your favour.

If the relationship sours for any reason and your employment terminates this is what happens to your visa:

• Your privilege to work ceases. You can no longer engage in any employment without making a new application to the HKID first.

• Your privilege to reside continues. The HKID will ordinarily allow you to remain in Hong Kong until your current limit of stay expires, whereupon you are required to leave Hong Kong. In the meantime, this usually affords you the time you need to take stock of your affairs and get yourself back in the driving seat en route to a new employment in Hong Kong.

Your continuing privilege to reside in the HKSAR includes the ability to look and interview for new a job and, if you are so minded, to begin the preparations for possibly starting your own business instead. Either way, so long as you do not actively start working for a new employer or join in a new business before the Director of Immigration has granted his permission for you to do so, the fact that your ex-employer is no longer sponsoring you is neither here nor there in regards to your continuing residence in Hong Kong.

The HKID do not engage in any blame games as to why a sponsored employment has come to an end and only look forward not backwards – so don’t be intimidated by an errant employer who believes they have some kind of leverage over you as the sponsor of your employment visa. The reality is, they have no such leverage whatsoever.

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22

Jan 2025

QOTW: My Husband Wants To Leave But I Want To Stay – Can I Remain Behind On My Hong Kong Dependant Visa Indefinitely?

Posted by / in Family Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

So what options are available to Hong Kong dependant visa holding foreign nationals when their spouses are leaving Hong Kong and they want to stay?

QUESTION  OF  THE  WEEK

I am here on a Hong Kong dependent visa with my husband.

He is planning to leave his employment in Hong Kong and return to his home country but I am thinking of staying for a couple more years.

What happens with my dependent visa (limit of stay expires in the middle of  2016) when he quits his job and leaves Hong Kong next month?

Can I, too, use my consents to reside in Hong Kong even though only via a dependent visa to look for an employer to then change my visa status?

ANSWER:

Your existing dependent visa allows you to remain in Hong Kong under the same conditions you enjoyed while living with your husband. If your visa is set to expire later this year and your husband is leaving in about a month, you can still stay in Hong Kong under the permissions of your dependent visa. This means you are allowed to seek employment, accept job offers, or even start a business.

Once your dependent visa expires, you will need to apply to the Immigration Department to change your status. You’ll need to provide a rationale for your continued stay in Hong Kong, which in this case would relate to your employment that was permitted under your dependent visa.

When considering your application, the Immigration Department will assess whether you possess special skills, knowledge, or experience that are not readily available in Hong Kong. Generally, if your work is of a professional nature and it’s evident that no local individual could reasonably be expected to fill the position, you may be granted an employment visa to remain in Hong Kong after your dependent visa expires.

I hope this helps!

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