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Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) Visa

Non-local graduates refer to non-local students who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited local program in Hong Kong.

IANG Visa Hong Kong

Non-local graduates refer to non-local students who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited local program in Hong Kong. This also applies to Mainland Chinese.

Non-local graduates who submit applications to the Immigration Department within six months after the date of their graduation (i.e. the date shown on their graduation certificates) are classified as non-local fresh graduates. Non-local fresh graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in Hong Kong are not required to have secured an offer of employment upon application. They may be granted 12 months’ stay on time limitation without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met.

Returning non-local graduates who wish to return to work in Hong Kong are required to secure an offer of employment upon application.

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Entry of Dependants

Applicants admitted under the IANG may apply to bring their spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage,” opposite-sex civil partnership, or opposite-sex civil union entered into by them in accordance with the local law in effect of the place of celebration and with such status being recognized legally and formally by the local authorities of the place of celebration Note 2. Applicants may also apply to bring their unmarried dependent children under the age of Those who have been admitted or who are applying to be admitted under the IANG will sponsor any dependents who accompany them to the HKSAR. The following criteria as well as regular immigration procedures may favorably assess an application for admission of a dependant:

  1. There is reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the dependant and the sponsor;
  2. There is no known record to the detriment of the dependant; and
  3. The sponsor is able to support the dependant’s living at a standard well above the subsistence level and provide him/her with suitable accommodation in the HKSAR.

This entry arrangement does not apply to:

  1. Former Mainland Chinese residents residing in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) who have obtained Macao identity cards for less than seven years, unless they have acquired residence in the Macao SAR through the One-way Permit Scheme; and
  2. Nationals of Afghanistan and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of).

Eligibility Requirements of IANG Visa

1. Non-local graduates

  • Non-local graduates here refer to non-local students who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in the HKSAR.
  • Non-local graduates who submit applications to the Immigration Department within six months after the date of their graduation (i.e. the date shown on their graduation certificates) are classified as non-local recent graduates.
  • Non-local graduates who submit applications beyond six months of the date of their graduation are classified as non-local non-recent graduates.
  • Non-local recent graduates who wish to apply to stay and work in the HKSAR are not required to have secured an offer of employment upon application. They may be granted 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met. Those who intend to apply to stay and work in the HKSAR but have not yet secured graduation results may apply for extension of stay to wait for the promulgation of results. Non-local recent graduates who have not yet obtained their graduation certificate could apply to stay and work by producing proof from the institution confirming that they have graduated.
  • Non-local non-recent graduates who wish to return to work in the HKSAR are required to secure an offer of employment upon application. The applications will be favourably considered so long as the job is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration package is at market level. They may be granted 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met.

2. GBA campus graduates

  • GBA campus graduates here refer to persons who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time programme offered by a higher education institution in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area jointly established by universities of the Mainland and Hong Kong in accordance with the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools.

  • GBA campus graduates who submit applications to the Immigration Department within six months after the date of their graduation (i.e. the date shown on their graduation certificates) are classified as GBA campus recent graduates.

  • GBA campus graduates who submit applications beyond six months of the date of their graduation are classified as GBA campus non-recent graduates.

  • GBA campus recent graduates who wish to apply to come and work in the HKSAR are not required to have secured an offer of employment upon application. They may be granted 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met. GBA campus recent graduates who have not yet obtained their graduation certificate could apply to come and work by producing proof from the institution confirming that they have graduated.

  • GBA campus non-recent graduates who wish to come to work in the HKSAR are required to secure an offer of employment upon application. The applications will be favourably considered so long as the job is at a level commonly taken up by degree holders and the remuneration package is at market level. They may be granted 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay provided that normal immigration requirements are met.

In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, he/she requires a visa/entry permit to work in the HKSAR. While each application is determined on its individual merits, an applicant should meet normal immigration requirements (such as holding a valid travel document with adequate returnability to his/her country of residence or citizenship; be of clear criminal record and raise no security or criminal concerns to the HKSAR; have no likelihood of becoming a burden on the HKSAR, etc.) as well as the relevant specific eligibility criteria detailed above before he/she may be considered for the grant of a visa/entry permit. It should be noted that the eligibility criteria may be subject to change from time to time without prior notice.

Processing Time

Applications submitted under the IANG by recent graduates from outside the local area or from the GBA campus typically take two weeks to process after all necessary documentation is received. It takes four weeks once all the necessary documentation have been received for non-local non-recent grads and non-recent graduates from the GBA campus. However, the length of time required for processing will vary depending on the specifics of each application and the volume of applications received at a given time. During the June through August summer demand, a lengthier processing time may be necessary. The application cannot begin processing until all the necessary paperwork and information have been submitted to the Immigration Department.

The Immigration Department evaluates and processes each application. Applications are approved at the sole discretion of the government and are subject to policy changes. Even if an application meets all eligibility requirements, the Director of Immigration retains complete power to reject the application.

4-Step Application Process

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1

Book an appointment  for a detailed assessment and consultation  with our Immigration Specialist.

2

Based on the initial consultation and your profile, we will give you our reviews and advise you about the best option for your immigration needs.

3

Once you’re ready to proceed, we will prepare all necessary documents & complete the application and submit to Hong Kong Immigration.

4

We follow up and reply to inquiries coming from Hong Kong Immigration until the approval of the case. After approval, we deliver the visa to you.

Other Hong Kong Immigration Programs

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