Dependant Visa Hong Kong: Eligibility Criteria

The Dependant Visa is essentially a relocation visa for the immediate family members (spouse and unmarried children below 18 years of age) of foreign nationals who hold a valid Hong Kong visa for employment, investment, training or study in Hong Kong or who are permanent residents in Hong Kong.

A separate application needs be filled for each family member and must be sponsored by the principal visa holder.

The dependant’s length of stay in Hong Kong is tied to the sponsor’s length of stay. In other words, the Dependant Visa holder can live, work and study in Hong Kong for the period during which the principal visa holder is permitted to stay in Hong Kong.

1. Who can apply?
2. What documents are required?
3. Application procedure and timeline
4. Dependant Visa renewal
5. Can Dependant Visa holders work in Hong Kong?
6. Permanent residence in Hong Kong

Who can apply?

Depending on the residency status of the sponsor, the following dependants may apply to join him/her for residence in Hong Kong.

• Category A – For a sponsor who is a Hong Kong permanent resident or a resident who is not subject to a limit of stay (i.e. 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 – For a sponsor who has been issued a visa for: employment as a professional, for investment to join in/establish a business, for training, for studies in a full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programme in a local degree-awarding institution, or who is permitted to remain in Hong Kong as an entrant under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme:
  • Spouse
  • Unmarried children below 18 years of age (including legally adopted)

A Dependant Visa application must fulfill the following conditions:

• There must be reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant (i.e dependant) and the sponsor
• There should be no known record that is detrimental to the applicant
• The sponsor should be able to demonstrate that he can substantially support the dependants and provide suitable accommodation during their stay in Hong Kong

This entry arrangement does not apply to the following categories of persons:

• Chinese residents of the Mainland (except for those who fall under Category B mentioned above)
• Former Mainland Chinese residents residing in Macau who have acquired residence in Macau through channels other than the One-way Permit Scheme
• Nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Cuba and Korea

What documents are required?

Documents to be submitted by applicants:

• Completed Dependant Visa Application Form. For a child applicant under the age of 16, the form must be signed by the parent or legal guardian of the child.
• Dependants whose sponsors are applying for visas either for employment as a professional, for investment to join in/establish a business, for training or for studies, need not fill in the separate Dependant Visa Application Form. This is because the application forms for employment visas, investment visas, training visas and visas meant for studies have a built in section for dependants and can be completed along with the sponsor’s principal application and submitted together.
• A copy of the personal particulars page of your passport. If you are currently staying in Hong Kong, a copy of your passport page containing the latest arrival stamp/extension of stay label in Hong Kong. If you are a Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document you may submit a photocopy of your People’s Republic of China resident identity card.
• A copy of your Hong Kong identity card (if any)
• A copy of your Macau identity card (if you are a resident of Macau)
• A copy of your household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card (if you are a resident of Taiwan)
• A copy of proof of your relationship with the sponsor, e.g. marriage certificates, birth certificates, family photographs, family letters, census record book and Privilege Card for Single Child (if applicable)

Documents to be submitted by sponsors:

• Part B of the Dependant Visa Application Form
• A copy of the sponsor’s Hong Kong identity card (if any)
• A copy of the personal particulars page of the sponsor’s passport. If the sponsor is currently staying in Hong Kong, a copy of the sponsor’s passport page containing the latest arrival stamp/extension of stay label in Hong Kong
• A copy of proof of the sponsor’s financial standing, e.g. bank statements, savings accounts passbooks, tax receipts and salary slips
• A copy of proof of sponsor’s accommodation, e.g. rental receipts

Note:

In the case of built in applications, where both the sponsor as well as the dependant are applying at the same time, it may not be possible for the sponsor (i.e. principal applicant) to furnish certain details like salary slips or rental receipts.

In such cases, the principal applicant’s sponsor should provide affirmation by furnishing a copy of the principal applicant’s employment contract stating salary, benefits etc. or any other document that demonstrates the principal applicant’s ability to support his/her dependants.

All documents submitted must be in English or Chinese or translated into English or Chinese by a certified translation body. The Immigration authorities reserve the right to demand further documents from the applicant or sponsor as and when necessary.