How to Sponsor Your Parents for Hong Kong Dependent Visas: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you wondering if your PR wife can sponsor your parents to have Hong Kong dependent visas even though you’re already dependent on her? The answer is unfortunately no. Hong Kong immigration law doesn’t allow for this type of sponsorship. However, if you complete seven years of continuous residence in Hong Kong and become a permanent resident, you can apply to sponsor your parents for dependent visas on the basis of dependency.
Sponsor Your Parents for Hong Kong Dependent Visas – Understanding the Process
A Hong Kong dependent visa is a type of visa that allows a dependent of a Hong Kong resident to live in Hong Kong. Dependent visas are available for spouses, unmarried children under the age of 18, and elderly parents over the age of 60 who can demonstrate dependency on their Hong Kong resident child.
Sponsor Your Parents for Hong Kong Dependent Visas – Are Your Parents Elderly & Dependent?
To sponsor your elderly dependent parents for Hong Kong dependent visas, you must first become a permanent resident of Hong Kong. This requires seven years of continuous residence in the city.
Once you’ve achieved permanent residency, you can apply to sponsor your parents for dependent visas on the basis of dependency.
The key requirement is that your parents must be over the age of 60 and dependent on you.
To prove dependency, you must demonstrate that you’ve been providing financial support to your parents. For instance, remitting funds from your bank account to your parents’ bank accounts overseas in the six months prior to you becoming a permanent resident would help establish dependency.
Note that your PR wife can’t sponsor your parents for dependent visas while you’re already a dependent visa holder.
You’ll need to achieve permanent residency in Hong Kong and sponsor your parents on your own.
Sponsor Your Parents for Hong Kong Dependent Visas – Supporting Resources
To learn more about how to sponsor your parents for Hong Kong dependent visas and related topics, check out the following resources:
Everyone, at some point during their time in Hong Kong, has had to deal with the hassle of visas down at the Immigration Department in Wanchai.
First, you have to get the damn thing, and then you need to extend it. Before long (maybe) you’ll change employers, possibly start a new business, get divorced, have a baby, meet your life partner, be made redundant or go on to make Hong Kong your permanent home. And at every stage, you’ll more than likely find yourself at Immigration Tower, wondering how the heck you’re going to get through it all.
The Immigration Department website is informative but not especially helpful. Online forums while well-intentioned are not totally reliable. The advice of friends is trustworthy, but not often entirely relevant and immigration consultants, seemingly two-a-penny these days, are not especially cheap.
So where CAN you get good, reliable, professional, easy to follow, step-by-step Hong Kong visa and immigration advice that is completely free of all costs?
Simple, just read on…..
Stop Worrying About Your Hong Kong Visa – Start Applying!
The reason why sorting out your visa situation can be such a pain is straightforward.
It’s called “Poacher vs Gamekeeper”.
You see, the definitive source of Hong Kong visa information is the Hong Kong Immigration Department itself.
So far, so good.
Their website is comprehensive, well written, informative and tells you clearly what documents you need to supply. Moreover, Immigration Officers are friendly and the service they provide is exceptionally well delivered. ImmD are a solid bunch of professional, government administrators doing a fantastic job at a very reasonable cost to you the service user.
Worrying About Your Hong Kong Visa ? – ImmD Won’t Help You!
However, the Immigration Department will never tell you everything you really need to know about how to go about your visa application. That’s because it’s their job only to inform you how to use the immigration service, not to advise you on it. It’s what the HKID don’t tell you that creates your visa anxiety and, after giving you just enough information to piece together your paperwork, they expect you to lift up your skirt, as it were, and show them everything you’ve got – warts and all. Then, and only then, will they decide your application.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department always hold the cards close to their chest for the exact visa circumstances you find yourself in. Offering anything even close to advice about how to manage your visa application would seriously impact on their ability to properly judge your case circumstances and their overall assessment of the facts, as you disclose them in your papers. So, you’ll get no joy from the HKID there!
They’re not going to tell you exactly how to sort out your dependant visa mess now that your rat fink husband has run off with your Helper, nor can you expect them to discuss with you the merits of each different type of company structure as a suitable sponsor for your inter-company transferee working visa application.
There’s no way they’re going to give you any advice at all on the merits of your case, whatever the type, nor will they, for example, make any suggestions whatsoever about how to argue away missing periods of residence in the seven years you claim that you’ve been living in our fine city. That’s not, when all is said and done, their job.
Worrying About Your Hong Kong Visa ? – Where To Turn?
It can be a real problem to get good, relevant advice, as no two Hong Kong immigration situations are ever the same. What worked in one set of circumstances doesn’t automatically follow in another. Friends and colleagues often have some personal experience with the Immigration Department (after all, we have all had dealings with Wanchai’s Finest, at one time or another during our lives here) but that experience itself is often quite limited and typically occurred quite some time prior (and things do change, let’s not forget).
Advice on public forums can be hit and miss and besides, who wants to put such an important life matter in the hands of (no doubt?) well meaning strangers? After all, your all-important Hong Kong immigration situation is not the same as the recipe for granny’s oatmeal bread!
You can turn to professional immigration advisors but their advice doesn’t come cheap and, more often than not, they want to handle your entire visa situation, not just the part of it you need help with (which is reasonable as, ultimately, they do have to be accountable for the application outcome).
So, just trying to figure out what to do and how to go about doing it can make your head spin and cause sleepless nights as the clock ticks down on your current visa, which will expire far too soon for comfort.
The Roadmap takes you, step-by-step, through the process for any type of Hong Kong visa application – helping you to navigate the labyrinth of the Immigration Department’s hidden application consideration criteria. Only available to subscribers to our mailing list, the Hong Kong Visa Application Roadmap works in tandem with The Hong Kong Visa Handbook and is equal in value to at least a one hour consultation with our firm – which would normally cost you 2,000 Hong Kong Dollars.
But for you, it’s absolutely free!
This is what you get:
1. Roadmap-Download
The 6 page Roadmap PDF, laying out the 4 process elements of any Hong Kong immigration case. This unique resource provides you with a comprehensive, actionable visa application plan.
2. 4-Video-Tutorials
The video tutorials are 15 minutes in length. You receive a video daily for 4 days, each one discussing sequentially 1 of the 4 elements of your Hong Kong visa application plan. Delivered by email, these bite-sized presentations bring the Roadmap to life and enable you, the layman, to easily apply professional visa advice to the exact specifics of your own case situation.
3. Your-Questions-Answered
As a subscriber to our mailing list, you are entitled to a personalised, podcast answer from me personally to any question you may have, as you build up your visa application plan. This 100% free service tops and tails perfectly your use of the Hong Kong Visa Application Roadmap allowing you to get the professional advice that you need in light of your particular visa case circumstances – free of any cost to you!
So, sign up now and get started down the path towards solving your Hong Kong immigration application headaches once and for all – anxiety-free with your all-important visa approval within easy reach.
Can You Extend Your Hong Kong Dependant Visa After Divorce?
First Published February 17, 2016
This is a Hong Kong immigration situation that happens a lot more frequently that you might imagine!
Updated August 2023
Can You Extend Your Hong Kong Dependant Visa After Divorce?
QUESTION
I would like to know if there is any possibility to extend your Hong Kong dependent visa after divorce from a spouse who used to be my sponsor.
Presently I am a student in Seoul, Korea though I have been visiting Hong Kong at least once or twice a year since 2014.
My current dependent visa expires 2016/10/09.
I would like to maintain my residency in Hong Kong and I hope your expertise in immigration matters might be of great help to me.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.
ANSWER
Unfortunately, in the wake of your divorce from your dependant visa sponsor, unless you have a continuing rationale for remaining in Hong Kong there’s not much you can do, especially if you actually live in another country at this time.
My best advice would be to return to Hong Kong, start working for a third party employer (you don’t need special permission to do this with your current dependant visa) and in 2013 when your dependant visa expires, ask your employer to sponsor your employment visa to continue your residence in Hong Kong.
This should not be too much of a problem to accomplish.
After that, so long as you remain in Hong Kong as an employment visa holder, you should be able to get to 7 years continuous ordinary residence and thereafter make an application for the Right of Abode.
There’s no silver bullet in your circumstances I’m afraid.
The process is uncertain, you’re not sure what exactly you need to prepare and there’s always that nagging doubt that they might even say NO to your application!
Hong Kong Visa Extension – How Long Will It Be For?
Moreover, you’re never really sure how long they’ll extend your visa for, the number of trips to Wanchai you’ll need to make, nor how much sitting around you’re going to have to do in a soulless government office while the Hong Kong Immigration Department do ‘their thing’, seemingly, year after year…
Hong Kong Visa Extension – Is There A Decent Free Resource to Help?
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a professionally prepared resource you could rely on to take away the hassle of the Hong Kong visa extension process? A resource that contained all the things needed to help you get the visa renewal monkey off your back, and even though it was prepared by a Hong Kong visa and immigration specialist consultancy, was completely free of charge?
Well, now there is.
Hong Kong Visa Extension Kit – Read On To Learn More…
The problem ultimately lies in the fact that the HKID website simply doesn’t provide all the answers to the questions which flow naturally from the process of a Hong Kong visa renewal.
Essentially, all the instructions and details of the information required to extend your visa are contained within a ‘one-size-fits-all’ visa extension application form. This makes it very difficult to suss out what the actual process is really all about. For example:
The form speaks of a ‘current employment letter’ – but doesn’t indicate what that letter should contain.
In some cases they want a copy of your HKID card – and often times, they do not.
The process calls for an employment contract for some lines of work – and for others, it’s simply not needed.
While the form clearly indicates that it should take about 2 weeks to finalise your case, it doesn’t say anything about applications made late in the day, just before your visa expires; it states nothing about what to do if you’re no longer working for your original employer; it makes no mention of how to manage the situation if you’ll be away on a long-planned holiday on the date that your current visa comes to an end.
This is because the role of the Hong Kong Immigration Department is to inform and decide, not to offer advice. Figuring out what to do in a round-peg- square-hole situation is your problem, not theirs.
This valuable resource contains all of the information, guidance and templates you need to process any kind of residence visa extension for Hong Kong – completely free of charge.
4 Download the templates, checklists, official forms and the visa-specific How-to-Apply Guide.
5 Prepare your extension application bundle.
6 Submit your case.
7 Get your approval!
Best of all, if you are uncertain about the specifics which apply in your own particular situation, as a member of our mailing list, you can ask me a question and I will give you a PodCast answer within 48 hours via the HongKongVisaGeeza blog.
It’s 100% unique, 100% professional and 100% free!
And, as always, your email information is absolutely safe with us.
So, if you’re looking for a fuss-free Hong Kong visa extension application with all of your questions answered, sign up now for the Hong Kong Visa Extension Kit right now.
Foreign nationals and residents of mainland China who wish to acquire specialized skills and knowledge through training may have their application for a Hong Kong training visa approved based on strict eligibility criteria. This post aims to provide an overview of the requirements for a training visa application in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Training Visa – Are You Eligible?
An application for a Hong Kong training visa may be considered positively if the following criteria are met:
There should be no security objections against the applicant and no record of serious crime.
The bona fides of the applicant and the sponsoring company need to be satisfied.
The sponsoring company must be a well-established entity capable of providing the training.
There should be a written contract between the sponsoring company and the applicant.
The sponsoring company must guarantee in writing the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant.
The proposed duration and content of the training program must be justified, and the training not available in the applicant’s home country.
Hong Kong Training Visa Approvability Test
The approvability of a training visa application in Hong Kong is based on the following factors:
The bona fides of the sponsoring entity providing the training.
Whether the training can be provided in the applicant’s home country or not.
The scope and length of the training are reasonable in all circumstances.
Training Plan – A Critical Element For a Hong Kong Training Visa
A detailed training plan that lists all activities included in the training program is a crucial requirement of a training visa application. The plan should include the following information:
Topics to be covered
Location of the training
Number of hours of training each day/week
Details of the trainer
The department involved
Submitting Your Hong Kong Training Visa Application
There are three ways to submit a training visa application:
Online
Via post from overseas or in person to the Receipt & Dispatch Unit of the Immigration HQ
As part of an application to Change Status or Visa Category if you are presently in Hong Kong as a resident or as a visitor
Via the nearest Chinese diplomatic mission in your country
The Hong Kong Training Visa Consideration Process
Once the application is submitted, the Immigration Department will start the process, which will be communicated through email/fax or post. The application process usually takes around 4-6 weeks. Once approved, the applicant will receive a notice of positive outcome and will be required to complete the approval formalities, including payment of a fee and obtaining a QR Code Approval Letter.
Hong Kong Training Visa Length of Stay Once Approved
The maximum period of stay for a training visa holder is 12 months, which is non-extendable. The actual period of stay is linked to the formal length of the training contract.
Resource Links
To further assist with your Hong Kong training visa application, here are some helpful links:
The Hong Kong training visa program presents an opportunity for foreign nationals and residents of mainland China to acquire specialized skills and knowledge through training in Hong Kong. Eligibility criteria for the application include the bona fides of the applicant and the sponsoring company, the availability of the training program, and a reasonable scope and length of the training. It is vital to submit a detailed training plan with the application, as it increases the chances of approval. Training visa holders can bring their family members along, and their length of stay is linked to the sponsor’s.
First Published On May 25, 2012, Updated (A Bit) August 4, 2023, The Again October 10, 2026
The Impact of Brain Drain on Hong Kong: the term “brain drain” first appeared in 1957 in a novel called Atlas Shrugged and the term refers to the loss of skilled researchers, analysts, the accomplished and the talented – for political, industrial and social reasons.
The Impact of Brain Drain on Hong Kong – The Struggle Is Real
It’s currently frequently utilized as a dramatized synonym for loss and could be outlined as “the world transfer of resources in the shape of human capital” and “the loss of abilities or human capital to society or to the country from which migration takes place“.
Brain drain appeared in Hong Kong in 1987 when a major wave of emigration was seen experienced due to the uncertainties surrounding Hong Kong’s future in light of the 1997 hand back to China. The trend endured in the following decade thanks to the concerns of some HK residents, particularly those educated and professionally talented, about the political future under Mainland Chinese sovereignty and the enlarging immigration opportunities to be had in the more well-liked destination nations.
The Impact of Brain Drain on Hong Kong – They Leave, They Return
An annual average of 55,000 émigrés left Hong Kong between 1989 and 1995. This resulting outflow of talent impacted on the economy of Hong Kong in four discrete ways. More recent, 140,000 young (and not so young) professionals and talents decamped from Hong Kong die to the 2019 Protests and the draconian Covid19 rules in place in Hong Kong through the end of 2022.
Loss of Efficiency
In order to compensate for the lack of professionally trained employees due to their emigration, junior staff were promoted ‘beyond their station’ to take up their vacancies. As such junior staff had neither adequate coaching nor experience for these higher level positions, the standard of service and operational effectiveness were significantly negatively impacted.
Productivity of Subordinates
The exit of the very skilled influenced the output of their subordinates due to the lack of their supervision. The economy so suffered an indirect loss of output.
Loss of Human Capital
Émigrés were often highly educated, had received significant job related training and were well-experienced in their work having typically been engaged with their employers or within their professionals since the end of their formal education. Their exit represented a great loss of human capital to Hong Kong’s economy.
Outflow of Capital
In the exit prior to the 1997 Handback, most émigrés left Hong Kong with their wealth. Depending on their destination of choice, quite a number of them had to commit significant sums of capital in their new countries in order to qualify for immigration overseas.
The Impact of Brain Drain on Hong Kong – HKSAR Gov – Takes It Seriously
To address the issues caused by brain drain in the 1980s and 1990s, the government of Hong Kong took concrete measures in the development and implementation of immigration policy.
These initiatives including retention, return migration, replacement and retraining. Among those measures, replacement was a comparatively simple and acceptable way to fill the vacancies of the émigrés. Aside from the swift growth of tertiary educational opportunities, the HKSAR Government has relaxed its limitations on the importing of professionally trained employees, particularly those from the Mainland, to fill manpower openings.
The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) remains the flagship initiative in Hong Kong’s talent admission architecture. First unveiled in the Chief Executive’s 2022 Policy Address and launched in late December 2022, the scheme was designed to counter outbound migration and rebuild Hong Kong’s professional workforce in the post-pandemic era.
Over the past four years, the TTPS has shifted from an emergency, volume-driven talent-attraction tool into an institutionalized, rigorously scrutinized pathway to Hong Kong residency. Tens of thousands of primary entrants and their dependants have relocated under the program. However, the policy focus of the Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Labour and Welfare Bureau has pivoted from headline approval figures to genuine economic contribution, physical residence, and substantive local integration.
The Three Eligibility Categories
The TTPS provides a direct route into Hong Kong without requiring a pre-existing job offer or commercial sponsorship at the time of initial entry.Applicants are segmented into three distinct categories based on earnings, academic pedigree, and professional tenure:
Category
Primary Eligibility Threshold
Quota
Initial Stay
Category A
Annual taxable income of $\ge$HK$2.5 million (or foreign equivalent) in the preceding 12 months.
Unlimited
36 months (3 years)
Category B
Bachelor’s degree from an institution on the Eligible Universities List + at least 3 years of work experience in the past 5 years.
Unlimited
24 months (2 years)
Category C
Bachelor’s degree from an institution on the Eligible Universities List within the past 5 years with less than 3 years of work experience.
Capped at 10,000 per year
24 months (2 years)
Category A: High Earners
Category A does not impose any formal educational requirement. It evaluates pure earning power. The threshold is strictly pegged to taxable employment remuneration (salary, guaranteed bonuses, vested stock options) or net enterprise profit earned by a company in which the applicant holds a substantial, controlling ownership stake.
Investment income, real estate capital gains, and passive dividend receipts are formally excluded. ImmD requires official tax assessment notes, demand notices, or audited corporate accounts. Notably, following administrative revisions, Category A entrants receive an initial stay of 36 months, recognizing their senior executive and entrepreneurial profile.
Categories B and C: Top University Graduates
Categories B and C rely on the government’s expanded list of eligible institutions, which spans roughly 200 universities compiled from the four major global university rankings (QS, Times Higher Education, Academic Ranking of World Universities, and U.S. News) alongside selected specialized mainland Chinese and international institutions.
A critical procedural rule remains non-negotiable: the qualifying credential must be a bachelor’s degree. Holding a master’s degree or PhD from an eligible institution does not qualify an applicant if their underlying undergraduate degree was awarded by an unlisted university. Furthermore, Category C excludes non-local graduates who obtained their degrees from Hong Kong-accredited full-time programs; those individuals must apply under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG).
Dependant Sponsorship and Family Rights
A primary advantage of the TTPS is its open family policy. Primary applicants may sponsor:
Legal spouses or recognized same-sex civil partners.
Unmarried, dependent children under the age of 18.
Sponsors must demonstrate genuine relationships, clear individual background checks, and the financial capacity to house and maintain all dependants without relying on public funds.
Unlike dependant regimes in jurisdictions such as the United States or Singapore, dependants under TTPS in Hong Kong enjoy unrestricted employment rights. Spouses may work for any Hong Kong employer, switch roles without immigration notification, or launch businesses. Dependent children are fully entitled to enroll in local government-funded schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) institutions, or international private academies.
The Renewal Phase: Economic Substance and Scrutiny
Initial entry under the TTPS is granted purely on status without requiring a commercial anchor. However, the extension of stay (submitted within four weeks to three months prior to expiry) is governed by strict economic nexus requirements. An entrant can only be granted an initial entry under the TTPS once in their lifetime; if they fail to renew, they cannot reapply as a fresh candidate.
Applicants must secure approval through one of two pathways:
Employment in Hong Kong:
The candidate must be actively employed in a role typically occupied by degree-holders.
The remuneration package must align with prevailing local market conditions.
Documentation includes formal employment contracts, local tax assessment notices (or employer tax returns), and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contribution statements.
Business Establishment or Participation:
The applicant must establish or join a genuine commercial enterprise in Hong Kong.
ImmD reviews business turnover, audited accounts, commercial office tenancy agreements, corporate banking flow, capital investment, and local headcount.
Shell corporations, zero-turnover nominee structures, and contrived self-employment arrangements are systematically rejected during renewal vetting.
Extension Patterns
Standard Extension:Approved applicants receive a 3+3 year extension pattern (or 2+3 years, depending on their original entry stream).
Top-Tier Employment Stream:Entrants who have resided in Hong Kong under the TTPS for at least two consecutive years and had an assessable salaries tax income of not less than HK$2 million in the preceding tax assessment year qualify for an immediate six-year extension of stay without interim condition limits.
Permanent Residency (Right of Abode)
TTPS holders and their dependants are on the statutory track to Hong Kong Permanent Residency (Right of Abode) under Section 2(4) of the Immigration Ordinance. Eligibility requires continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong for not less than seven years.
A major area of friction is the definition of “ordinary residence.” ImmD assesses whether Hong Kong has been taken up as the applicant’s settled home. Factors evaluated include:
Continuous physical presence and the underlying reasons for any temporary absences (e.g., regional business trips vs. residing permanently overseas).
Maintenance of a bona fide residential address in Hong Kong.
Local employment, corporate presence, and payment of Hong Kong direct taxes.
Relocation of the immediate family unit and schooling of children in Hong Kong.
Holding a TTPS visa while continuing to live, work, and pay taxes outside Hong Kong will not count toward the seven-year continuous residence requirement, breaking the continuity needed for Right of Abode.
Strategic Realities
The Top Talent Pass Scheme remains a major vehicle for human capital recruitment in Asia. However, the initial phase of unrestricted entry has evolved into an active audit period. Hong Kong authorities demand measurable economic participation—through corporate formation, professional staffing, tax revenue, or high-value executive services. For candidates possessing the qualifying pedigree or earning power, the TTPS offers flexibility; however, converting initial entry into long-term permanent settlement requires early planning, verified local employment, and an ongoing residential commitment.
Professional Help With Your Hong Kong Visa Application?
What I love about Hong Kong is our free market, bags of competition and loads of choices. Of course, this also applies to my profession too. I just love this picture and can’t resist sharing it here. Says it all really!
Navigating the complexities of immigration and visa applications can be a daunting task.
This is where professional help with your Hong Kong visa application becomes invaluable.
A professional immigration advisor can provide the necessary guidance and expertise to ensure a smooth and successful application process.
Hong Kong, known for its vibrant economy and strategic location, attracts thousands of individuals and businesses each year. However, the immigration process can be intricate, involving various documents, eligibility criteria, and application procedures.
This is where the role of a professional immigration advisor becomes crucial.
Professional immigration advisors are well-versed in the nuances of Hong Kong’s immigration policies. They understand the ins and outs of the application process, from the initial submission to the final approval. They can help applicants navigate the complexities of the immigration department’s requirements, ensuring that all necessary documents are correctly completed and submitted.
Moreover, professional advisors can provide invaluable assistance in dealing with unexpected issues that may arise during the application process. They have the experience and knowledge to handle any potential hurdles, from clarifying misunderstandings to addressing concerns raised by the immigration department.
The importance of professional help with your Hong Kong visa application extends beyond the application process itself.
Advisors can also provide guidance on the local business environment, employment opportunities, and residence arrangements, all of which are crucial for a successful stay in Hong Kong.
In addition, professional advisors can help applicants understand the financial implications of their move. They can provide advice on relevant financial considerations, such as the cost of living in Hong Kong, tax implications, and potential employment benefits.
The role of a professional advisor is not just about ensuring a successful visa application.
It’s about providing comprehensive support that helps applicants transition smoothly into their new life in Hong Kong. From understanding the local culture to navigating the job market, professional advisors provide invaluable assistance every step of the way.
Last words …
Professional help with your Hong Kong visa application is not just a luxury—it’s a necessity for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of Hong Kong’s immigration process. With their expertise and guidance, applicants can focus on preparing for their new life in Hong Kong, confident that their visa application is in good hands.
