Dependant Long Stay Visa Hong Kong: 🎓FREE Guide (2024)
This article outlines the criteria for eligibility, the application process, processing timeline, and other pertinent details regarding the Dependant Visa Scheme in Hong Kong.
The Dependant Visa functions as a relocation permit for the immediate family members (spouse and unmarried children below 18 years old) of foreign nationals who possess a valid Hong Kong visa for reasons such as employment, investment, training, or study, or who are permanent residents in Hong Kong.
Each family member requires a separate application, and the application must be sponsored by the primary visa holder.
The duration of the dependant’s stay in Hong Kong is linked to the sponsor’s approved period of stay. Essentially, the Dependant Visa holder is allowed to live, work, and study in Hong Kong for the same duration as the principal visa holder.
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Who can apply?
Depending on the sponsor’s residency status, eligible dependents may join them for residence in Hong Kong under the following categories:
Category A – Applicable to a sponsor who is a Hong Kong permanent resident or a resident with no limit of stay (e.g., a resident with the right to land or on unconditional stay):
- * Spouse
- * Unmarried children below 18 years of age (including legally adopted)
- * Parents aged 60 years and above
Category B – Relevant for a sponsor with a visa for employment as a professional, investment in/establishment of a business, training, studies in a full-time undergraduate or post-graduate program in a local degree-awarding institution, or permitted to stay under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme:
- * Spouse
- * Unmarried children below 18 years of age (including legally adopted)
Dependant Visa applications must meet the following conditions:
- 1. Provide reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant (i.e., dependant) and the sponsor.
- 2. Have no known records detrimental to the applicant.
- 3. The sponsor should demonstrate the ability to substantially support the dependants and offer suitable accommodation during their stay in Hong Kong.
This entry arrangement does not apply to the following categories of persons:
- 1. Chinese residents of the Mainland (except for those falling under Category B mentioned above).
- 2. Former Mainland Chinese residents in Macau who acquired residence through channels other than the One-way Permit Scheme.
- 3. Nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Cuba, and Korea.
What documents are required?
Required Submission Documents for Applicants:
1. Completed Dependant Visa Application Form: If the applicant is a child under 16, the form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian.
2. Dependants sponsored by individuals applying for visas (employment, investment, training, or study) need not fill a separate form. Instead, they can complete the built-in dependant section within the sponsor’s principal application form.
3. Passport Copies: Include a copy of the personal particulars page and, if applicable, the page with the latest arrival stamp/extension of stay label if currently in Hong Kong. Chinese residents without a travel document can submit a photocopy of their People’s Republic of China resident identity card.
4. Hong Kong Identity Card: Submit a copy if applicable.
5. Macau Identity Card: Include a copy for Macau residents.
6. Taiwan Residence: For residents of Taiwan, submit copies of household registration and Taiwan identity card.
7. Proof of Relationship: Provide documentation such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, family photographs, family letters, census record book, and Privilege Card for Single Child (if applicable) to establish the relationship with the sponsor.
Sponsorship documents required:
- 1. Completed Part B of the Dependant Visa Application Form
- 2. Copy of the sponsor’s Hong Kong identity card (if applicable)
- 3. Copy of the sponsor’s passport’s personal particulars page. If the sponsor is currently in Hong Kong, include the page with the latest arrival stamp/extension of stay label.
- 4. Proof of the sponsor’s financial standing, such as bank statements, savings account passbooks, tax receipts, and salary slips.
- 5. Proof of the sponsor’s accommodation, such as rental receipts.
Application Process and Timeline:
Dependant Visa renewal
To renew your Dependant Visa, submit your renewal application at least four weeks before your current stay limit expires. Your eligibility for residence as a dependent and your sponsor’s status as a genuine Hong Kong resident must still be met.
If approved, the extension of stay for:
- 1. Dependents of Hong Kong permanent residents or residents without a stay limit will typically follow a 3-3 years pattern for spouses and unmarried dependant children under 18, and a 2-2-3 years pattern for parents aged 60 or above.
- 2. Dependents of individuals admitted to Hong Kong for employment, studies, or through schemes like the Capital Investment Entrant or Quality Migrant Admission will align with their sponsors’ terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ensure a smooth process by preparing documents such as passports, proof of relationship, and financial statements.
Yes, dependents are eligible to work, contributing to Hong Kong’s dynamic workforce.
No age restrictions apply, making this visa accessible for dependents of all ages.
Processing times vary, but a well-prepared application can expedite the process.
Yes, dependents can access Hong Kong’s public healthcare system for their medical needs.
While not immediate, there are pathways to permanent residency for dependents over time.
