Visa Matters for Non-local Students

According to the Registration of Persons Ordinance, non-local students must apply for a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID card) at the Immigration Department within 30 days of arrival.  You are, therefore, required to apply for an HKID card in person at the Immigration Department as soon as possible upon arrival.  You may make an advanced booking via the Immigration Department's 24-hour Appointment Booking Service for Hong Kong Smart Identity Card application at (852) 2598 0888 or at www.gov.hk/icbooking.  In making an appointment, you need to enter the number of your travel document as the number of the identity document.

Please produce your travel document for the application.  There is no charge for the issuance of HKID cards to new arrivals.  The processing normally takes about 10 working days (i.e. excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays).

Once you get the HKID card, you are entitled to use the government medical services at local rates.  You should complete and return Form AR1 with a copy of the HKID card to the Academic Registry in person at the AR Service Centre.  You are required to carry your HKID card at all times in Hong Kong.  In case you have lost it, you should report to the Police immediately and apply for a replacement at the Immigration Department within 14 days or, if it is lost or damaged outside Hong Kong, within 14 days of your return.  A fee will be charged for the replacement.

 

 

A "non-local student" is defined as one who requires a student visa to study in Hong Kong or is staying in Hong Kong under the "Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates". Non-local students who possess only a visitor or a tourist visa cannot commence their studies until they have obtained student visas.

For dependant visa / entry permit holders who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa / entry permit by the Director of Immigration, they will be regarded as non-local students, and should follow the regulations for non-local students.

 

For holders of IANG Visa, Dependent Visa, Working Permit or etc

If you wish to change your current visa type to a student visa, you should submit your student visa application, with a handling charge of HK$600, to the Academic Registry (AR) at least 8 weeks before your visa expires.  You should complete the dedicated application form provided by the Immigration Department (IMMD) and submit it together with other support documents required in hardcopy to the AR Service Centre located at M101.  For details, please visit the IMMD website at  https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html. 

 

 

No, it is by law that people entering Hong Kong as visitors are not allowed to study at any school/university without holding a valid student visa issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.  Our University will not accept a student for enrolment if he/she cannot present a valid travel document together with a student visa at the time of enrolment.

  

Non-local students from the Mainland, Macao and overseas will be issued a self-adhesive student visa label. Students are required to activate the student visa label by entrance to Hong Kong on or before the date stated on the student visa label.

If you are from the Mainland, you must apply for an "Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao" (EEP) and a relevant exit endorsement from the Public Security Bureau office where your household registration is kept.  The visa label should be affixed onto a blank endorsement page of the EEP for arrival clearance upon your entry to Hong Kong.  In case your EEP bearing the relevant exit endorsement is in electronic format, you should present the electronic EEP together with the visa label for immigration arrival clearance.

If you are from overseas or Macao, you must affix the visa label onto your passport or "Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR" (for Macao students) and enter Hong Kong on the strength of the documents.

If you are a full-time student from Taiwan, you will be issued a single-journey entry permit.  You must present it at the Immigration Counter and enter Hong Kong on the strength of the entry permit.  If you are a part-time student from Taiwan, you will be issued a multiple-journey visa label.  You must affix the visa label onto your Declaration of Identity for Visa Purposes (a copy of which should have been furnished to the Immigration Department upon your visa application).

You should present your student visa label (affixed on relevant travel documents) or entry permit (for full-time students from Taiwan) at the Immigration Counter when you arrive in Hong Kong.  Please ensure that the Immigration Officer puts an immigration stamp on your passport/travel document or issues a landing slip to you stating "Student - Permitted to remain until (a student status due date in a format of DD-MM-YYYY)".

 

 

After entering Hong Kong on the strength of the single-journey entry permit, you may apply for a "Multiple Entry Permit" (MEP) and transfer of endorsement onto the MEP to facilitate future travel to and from Hong Kong.  For details on the application for MEP, please contact the Extension Section of the Immigration Department.

  

It is your responsibility to apply for student visa extension before it expires.

Full-time students

You should extend your student visa by following the procedures below:

• You can apply for a supporting letter for an extension of stay via eStudent 5 weeks before your current student visa expires. 

1. Prepare scanned copies of the required documents:
   - Biodata Page of Travel Document (Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (EEP) (往來港澳通行証)                 (front and back sides) / Passport); 
   - Student Visa Label or e-Visa (Notification Slip for Entry Visa/Permit 入境签证/进入许可通知书); and 
   - Landing Slip (for student).
2. Visit eStudent at https://www38.polyu.edu.hk/eStudent/ and login to your account using your ‘NetID’ and ‘NetPassword’.
3. Apply for a supporting letter following the Guidelines of Online Application for Student Visa Extension via eStudent. 
4. Download the supporting letter upon receipt of the notification email regarding its availability. 

• Submit the application for student visa extension within 4 weeks before your student visa expires, together with the following documents, to the Immigration Department either in person or via the online service at the website of the Immigration Department (https://www.gov.hk/esapplication).

• The supporting letter from the AR;
• A completed application form ID91;
• Your travel document; and
• Your Hong Kong Identity Card.

• Upon receipt of all necessary documents, it normally takes the Immigration Department 2 to 3 weeks to process your application.
• Once your application has been approved, the Immigration Department will contact you to collect your new student visa label and No Objection Letter (NOL).  You should be in Hong Kong at the time of application and collection of extension of stay label.
• Upload the e-Visa (the electronic "Notification Slip for Conditions of Stay") and input the extended visa expiry date in the ‘Provision of the Latest Student Visa Information’ in the ‘Application Details’ Section in your application on eStudent after your application is approved by IMMD to confirm your legitimacy as a student at PolyU. 

If you encounter any problems in accessing the (AR165) Application for Supporting Letter for Extension of Stay to Continue Studies at PolyU (For Non-local Students Only), please contact us at ar.visa@polyu.edu.hk. 

 

Part-time students

 

You have to submit an application for a new student visa at least 8 weeks before your visa expires. Please follow the procedures as stated in Q17. 

 

According to Immigration Ordinance, if you cannot complete a full-time programme at either degree or sub-degree level within the normal programme duration, consideration may be given to extend your stay for up to one year so as to complete the programme. You can follow the procedures as stated in Q6 to submit your visa extension request to AR Current Visa team (ar.visa@polyu.edu.hk) after you have got approval from your programme hosting department / faculty/ school, please understand this visa extension decision and your extended student visa validity is subject to IMMD. 

(For Ug and TPg students)

Students admitted in or after 2020/21 academic year will be deregistered from the programme if they exceed the normal duration of the programme, unless approval is obtained from the programme hosting department / faculty / school.

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any.

 

For details about visa extension, please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department webpage (Q10 – Q14).

 
 

If you have lost your travel document whilst in Hong Kong, you need to follow the procedures below:

• Get a reported loss memo from the Hong Kong Police and a supporting letter from the Academic Registry;
• Upon receipt of the above documents, the Immigration Department will issue a bearer letter and a visa label to you;
• Mainland students need to bring along the bearer letter and the visa label to the China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited (香港中國旅行社) for replacement of the EEP and the relevant exit endorsement.  Other non-local students need to bring along the bearer letter and the visa label to their country's consulate for replacement of the travel document.
  
  
  

(For Ug and TPg students)

If you are studying a full-time programme at degree level or above with a study period of not less than one academic year, you may take up a study- / curriculum-related internship arranged or endorsed by the programme offering department.  The internship duration is up to one year, or one-third of the normal duration of the relevant full-time study programme, whichever is shorter.  You may also take up part-time on-campus employment for not more than 20 hours per week throughout the year and summer jobs during the summer months (i.e. 1 June to 31 August) without any limit in relation to working hours and location.  You are, however, not allowed to roll over unused hours of part-time on-campus jobs from one week to another.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any.

 

 

(For Ug and TPg students)

Eligible students may receive up to two No Objection Letters (NOLs) notifying them of the relevant arrangements upon approval of their applications for student visa:

• Full-time students will be issued an NOL to allow them to take up part-time on-campus employment and summer jobs.  This NOL will be valid as long as their student visa is valid.
• If their study programmes allow or require them to take up a study-related internship, they will be issued a separate NOL for it.  But this NOL will only be valid for one academic year while they remain a student studying the same programme, and their limit of stay in the HKSAR remains unexpired.  We will inform eligible students to collect the renewed NOL at an appropriate time every year.

There is no need for eligible students with the appropriate NOLs to seek individual permission from the Director of Immigration for a study-/curriculum-related internship arranged or endorsed by your department, part-time on-campus employment or off-campus summer jobs.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any.

 

 

In this case, the NOLs in respect of the current programme or institution will cease to be valid.  Your eligibility for study-/curriculum-related internship, part-time on-campus employment and summer jobs will be assessed afresh. New NOLs, if applicable, will be issued.

  

Mainland students may request the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section of the Immigration Department direct for the issuance of a fresh NOL free of charge.  Other non-local students may approach Extension Section for the same arrangement.

  

(For Ug and TPg students)

Yes, you need to seek prior permission from the Director of Immigration beforehand.  Otherwise, you will be committing an offence of breaching your conditions of stay.  To seek permission, you should follow the procedures below:

• Seek approval from your programme offering department at least 3 weeks before starting the activities, by providing the following information:

• Name of the organisation and its registration number;
• Period of the service (with the start date and end date);
• How frequently will you undertake the service and the servicing hours within the above period;
• Nature of the service and post;
• Details of remuneration or subsidy you will be given if any;
• An official letter from the organisation that covers the above details, if any; and

• Your programme offering department will submit your application to the Immigration Department via the Academic Registry.
• The Academic Registry will advise you of the outcome of your application by email.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any.

 

(For Ug and TPg students)

Yes, you need to seek prior approval from the Immigration Department by following the procedures below:

• Seek approval from the transfer-in department by submitting the relevant AR form (for details, please read the relevant section of the Student Handbook).
• Once the department approves your application, the Academic Registry will seek approval from the Director of Immigration on your behalf and advise you of the outcome of your application by email.
• Collect your renewed No Objection Letter(s) (NOLs) from the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section of the Immigration Department (for mainland students) or Extension Section (for other non-local students) before taking up study-/curriculum-related internship and any employment (as the NOLs in respect of the current programme or institution will cease to be valid).
• No auto-extension on the student visa, regardless of approval or not from the Immigration Department.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any. No auto-extension on the student visa, regardless of approval or not from the Immigration Department.

 

 

If you transfer to another locally accredited full-time programme before completing the current one, you will normally be allowed to extend your stay, via visa extension application, to pursue the new programme so long as you would not be able, with such extension, to accumulate 5 years or more of continuous residence in Hong Kong.

 

(For Ug and TPg students)

Yes, you must do so by following the procedures below:

• Seek approval from your programme offering department by submitting the relevant AR forms (for details, please read the relevant sections of the Student Handbook).
• Once the department approves your application, the Academic Registry might report your application to the Director of Immigration and inform you by email of the decision of the Immigration Department.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any. Once the department approves your application, the Academic Registry might report your application to the Director of Immigration and inform you by email of the decision of the Immigration Department.

 

You need to submit your student visa application by post, together with the following documents to the Immigration Department via the Academic Registry at least 8 weeks before you resume your study.

• Duly completed student visa application form ID995A (see sample) with:-

• One recent passport-size photo (55 x 45 mm) adhered to the relevant page of the student visa application form;

• A copy of your travel document(s)* or identity document(s):

• For students from Chinese Mainland: Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) (front and back sides);
• For students from Macao: Macao Identity Card (front and back pages) and Visit Permit for residents of Macao to HKSAR;
• For students from Taiwan: Recent Taiwan Household Registration Record (front and back pages), Taiwan Identity Card (front and back pages) and passport;
• For students not from the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan or Macao: Passport

• A copy of financial proof(i.e. a recent bank statement indicating that you have enough money to cover the tuition fees and living expenses for one year of study in Hong Kong).  If the financial proof is not under your name, your sponsor is required to provide written consent testifying that he/she will provide financial support to your study in Hong Kong.  In this case, a copy of your sponsor's passport (including the signature page) should be provided; and

• An explanation if you cannot complete your study within the normal duration of the programme

^{* Please make sure that your travel document is valid for at least one year.  For students from Chinese Mainland, you should check the validity of your EEP.}

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Part-time students are required to provide the following documents in addition:-

• Supplementary form (download);
• Proof of your current employment (e.g. employment letter, tax returns, etc);
• A copy of the notarized Declaration of Identity for Visa Purpose (for students from Taiwan).

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To avoid unnecessary delay in the processing of your visa application, please provide all the required supporting documents to the following address in one go.

The Academic Registry Service Centre
Room M101, Li Ka Shing Tower,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Hung Hom, Kowloon.

[Please mark "Visa Application (Student Name & No.)" on the envelope]

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Upon receipt of all the above documentsfrom you, the Academic Registry will submit your application to the Immigration Department.  It normally takes 8 weeks for processing your application.  The Immigration Department will not be able to start processing the application unless all the required documents and information have been received.  Please refrain from making enquiries about the progress of the application unless it is absolutely necessary, as it may delay the processing of the application.  A visa fee of HK$600 will be charged for each application.  You are required to settle this fee later.

If your visa application is successful, the Academic Registry will send you an email with the download link of the e-visa and the IMMD reference number. (Please read Q4 above for steps to activate your student visa.) 

For enquiry on visa extension, please contact the Academic Registry by email to ar.visa@polyu.edu.hk.

 

 

If your student visa has not yet expired at the time you return to Hong Kong, unless your student visa is terminated by the Immigration Department, you do not need to apply for a new student visa to resume your study after deferment or zero subject enrolment.  You should follow the procedures outlined in Q6 to extend your visa before it expires.  However, if you have discontinued or withdrawn from your study at PolyU or you have been de-registered from your programme, you may need to apply for a new student visa to resume your study.

  

In such cases, your registration on the programme, including subject enrolment, will be declared null and void and your registration/student status with the University will be removed.  The Academic Registry will inform the Immigration Department of the termination of your study at the University.  This may lead to the cancellation of your student visa or refusal of your re-entry to Hong Kong by the Immigration Department.  You may need to re-apply for a student visa even if your registration status is reinstated subsequently.

 

 

Once it is confirmed that you have discontinued, withdrawn your study at PolyU or have been de-registered from your programme, the Academic Registry will inform the Immigration Department accordingly.  According to Immigration Regulations, you must leave Hong Kong before the expiry of your limit of stay or within 4 weeks from the date of termination of the study, whichever is earlier; otherwise, you will be committing a criminal offence of breaching your conditions of stay.

  

(For Ug and TPg students)

If you are going to change your study load which leads to a change in your student status (e.g. from full-time to part-time), your visa status may be affected.  You must seek prior approval from the Director of Immigration by following the procedures below:

• Seek approval from your programme offering department by submitting the relevant AR form, if appropriate (please refer to the relevant section of the Student Handbook).
• Once the department approves your application, you have to seek approval from the Director of Immigration via a new student visa application.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any. 

 

(For Ug and TPg students)

If you wish to take up exchange activities for 1 year or more, you must seek prior approval from the Director of Immigration.

Once the department approves your exchange application, she will inform the Academic Registry to seek approval from the Director of Immigration on your behalf.  You will be advised of the outcome of your application by email.

 

(For Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards)

Students should refer to the Research Postgraduate Student Handbook from the Graduate School on the regulations if any.

 

Under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG), you can apply to stay in or return to Hong Kong after you obtained a degree or higher qualification in a full-time and locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong. You will normally be granted a stay of 24 months on time limitation without any condition upon application, provided that you meet the normal immigration requirements. During the stay, you are free to take up employment or pursue studies in Hong Kong without the need to seek prior approval from the Immigration Department.

You need to submit the application either in person or via the online service at the website of the Immigration Department (https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/nonpermanent/applyiang/npr.htm) directly, to the Immigration Department together with any of the following documents which prove that you have completed your study:

• A transcript of studies;
• A testimonial.

You may apply for any of these documents upon the release of the overall assessment results.  For details, please refer to relevant sections in the Student Handbook. Research Postgraduate students admitted from the 2018/19 cohort onwards should consult your programme hosting department for the date of finalisation of overall assessment results.

 

 

If you intend to apply to stay in Hong Kong under the IANG but have not yet received the result of graduation, you may apply for an interim extension of stay at the Immigration Department.  You need to bring along the travel document and HKID card upon application.  The Immigration Department will normally grant a 3-month interim extension to eligible students.

The interim visa, however, does not entitle you to study or work in Hong Kong.  You should apply for such an extension only after you have completed all coursework and examinations.  And once it is confirmed that you need to continue to study, you should apply for student visa extension immediately (Please read Q6 above for steps to extend your student visa).  Before your application for student visa extension, or for staying under the IANG, is approved by the Immigration Department, you should not attend classes at the University or start working in a job.

To apply for the stay under the IANG or the interim extension, you do not need a supporting letter from the Academic Registry.