A Practical Guide to Mainland Chinese Students: Hong Kong Study Visas and Post-Graduation Stay (IANG)

In a nutshell: Mainland students heading to Hong Kong for higher education need to apply for two documents — a student visa/entry permit issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (valid for the normal duration of the course, capped at six years, typically processed in six weeks)ImmD·Study^※, and an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao with a Type-D (stay) endorsement issued by the mainland Chinese public security exit-entry administration (multi-entry, with validity following the duration of the Hong Kong permit)National Immigration Administration^※. After graduation, students can apply for the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG). Fresh graduates must apply within six months of their graduation date, receive an initial 24-month stay with no quota or no sector restrictions, and typically follow a 3+3 year renewal patternImmD·IANG^※.

# What documents do mainland students need to study in Hong Kong? What does each document govern?

The answer: Two documents, each covering a different domain — the student visa/entry permit from Hong Kong's Immigration Department governs "whether you can legally stay and study in Hong Kong", and the Exit-Entry Permit with a Type-D endorsement from the mainland public security exit-entry administration governs "whether you can legally depart the mainland and travel to and from Hong Kong". Both documents are indispensable, and logically, the latter depends on the former.

According to the National Immigration Administration's official guide, the Type-D stay endorsement is for "individuals travelling to Hong Kong for assumption of duty, study, employment, residence, training, or as dependants joining relatives", and the application must be accompanied by "the corresponding original entry permit issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department"National Immigration Administration^※. This means the typical processing sequence is first to obtain the entry permit from Hong Kong via your university, and then to use that permit to apply for the Type-D endorsement at your local public security exit-entry administration. The two steps are interlocked and both are essential.

# How do you apply for a student visa from the Hong Kong Immigration Department? What is the process?

The answer: The admitting university submits the application to the Immigration Department on your behalf. The applicant completes form ID 995A, and the local sponsor completes form ID 995B. After receiving all documents, the Immigration Department generally takes about six weeks to process, and upon approval, the period of stay is granted in line with the course duration. Mainland students generally do not need to visit the Immigration Department themselves; instead, the international/ mainland student office of the admitting university handles the process centrally.

• Application Forms: The applicant completes ID 995A, and the local sponsor completes ID 995BImmD·Study^※.
• Local Sponsor Requirements: The sponsor must be 18 or older, a Hong Kong resident genuinely living in Hong Kong, familiar with the applicant, and financially capable of covering the applicant's living expenses — in practice, the admitting university usually acts as the sponsor in its institutional capacity, so mainland students generally do not need to find a local sponsor themselves.
• Processing Time: Upon receipt of all required documents, the Immigration Department generally requires six weeks to process a visa/entry permit application for studyImmD·Study^※.
• Period of Stay: Persons admitted to pursue a full-time locally-accredited post-secondary programme in Hong Kong are normally granted a stay in accordance with the normal duration of their course of study, subject to a maximum of six years, and contingent on the validity of their travel documentImmD·Study^※. This means that for a four-year undergraduate student, the initial grant of stay usually covers the entire length of the degree, eliminating the need for annual renewals.

Practical tip: After universities send out admission offers, they generally provide unified guidance to new mainland students on submitting visa materials around July–August. For specific material checklists, deadlines, and online system portals, follow the latest notices from the admissions office or international student office of your university.

# Can students take up part-time work or internships during their studies?

The answer: Yes, but with clear limits on hours and periods — on-campus part-time work during term time must not exceed 20 hours per week, and during the summer break (1 June to 31 August), there are no restrictions on working hours or location. This is one of the most frequently asked practical questions by mainland students studying in Hong Kong.

According to the Immigration Department's official statements, non-local students on undergraduate degree-level or above programmes may "take up part-time on-campus employment for no more than 20 hours per week throughout the relevant academic year"ImmD·Study^※; additionally, they may "take up employment during the summer months from 1 June to 31 August with no limit on the number of working hours or the location of employment"ImmD·Study^※. In other words:

• During term time: Part-time work is restricted to on-campus positions (such as research assistant, teaching assistant, library/ hostel duties), for ≤20 hours per week;
• During the three-month summer break: No restrictions on work location or hours; off-campus internships and corporate placements are freely allowed.

Note: The above are the general rules for non-local student visa holders set by the Immigration Department. Specific types of internships (e.g., off-campus internships during term time) may require additional permission. It is recommended to check with your university's international student office or office of student affairs for the latest details after enrolment to avoid breaching visa conditions.

# What is the IANG for working in Hong Kong after graduation? How do you apply?

The answer: The IANG (Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates) is a work-stay arrangement provided by the Hong Kong SAR government for non-local graduates who have completed a full-time locally-accredited programme and obtained a bachelor's degree or higher qualification — with no quota, no sector restrictions. Fresh graduates must apply within six months of their graduation date. They are granted an initial stay of 24 months without other conditions of stay. This is the primary legal pathway for mainland graduates to stay and work in Hong Kong.

According to the Immigration Department's official page:

• Eligible Persons: "Non-local students who have obtained a bachelor's degree or higher qualification from a full-time locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong", also including graduates of full-time programmes from Sino-foreign cooperative universities in mainland cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay AreaImmD·IANG^※.
• Application Deadline: Fresh graduates must apply "within six months of the date of their graduation," falling under the category of non-local fresh graduates; applications beyond six months fall under the returning graduate category, with slightly different rulesImmD·IANG^※. Fresh graduates do not need to have secured employment to apply; they can obtain the stay status first and then seek work.
• Processing for Those Without a Graduation Certificate: Applicants who wish to apply but have not yet formally received their graduation certificate can submit their application with a testimonial issued by their institution confirming graduationImmD·IANG^※ — suitable for graduates experiencing a time lag between thesis defence/exit procedures and certificate issuance.
• Initial Period of Stay: Those who meet the general immigration requirements are normally granted a stay of 24 months without other conditions of stayImmD·IANG^※ — during these 24 months, the holder is not required to be employed in a specific job and can freely search for work or change jobs.
• Quota and Sectors: "There is no quota under the IANG, nor any sector restriction"ImmD·IANG^※.
• Dependant Arrangements: Successful applicants can act as sponsors to bring their spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to Hong KongImmD·IANG^※.

# What are the conditions for IANG renewal? How long can it be renewed for?

The answer: For renewal (i.e., an extension application after the initial 24-month period expires), the applicant must have secured employment, and the nature and remuneration of the work must meet market standards for a degree holder; upon approval, the stay is typically extended in a "3+3 year" pattern, with no sector restrictions. This is the critical step transitioning the IANG from a "job-seeking buffer" into a long-term work visa.

According to the Immigration Department's official statements, renewal (and initial applications for returning graduates) requires the applicant "to have secured an offer of employment at the time of application, provided that the job is normally taken up by a degree holder and the remuneration package is at market level"ImmD·IANG^※; if approved, "applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay in Hong Kong on a 3+3 year basis, without being subject to other conditions of stay"ImmD·IANG^※.

Practical timing for extension applications: Following policy updates by the government in 2025, applicants may apply for an extension of stay and pay the relevant application fee within four weeks before their visa expiresGovHK·IANG Extension^※; upon receiving all required documents and the application fee, the Immigration Department generally processes the application in about two to three weeksGovHK·IANG Extension^※; the application must be submitted online with all supporting documents uploadedImmD·IANG^※. Application fees paid are non-refundable, regardless of the application outcomeGovHK·IANG Extension^※.

# Complete Timeline for Documentation for Mainland Students Studying in Hong Kong

The following table consolidates the key documentation milestones from admission to post-graduation stay into a single timeline for easy scheduling.

Note: The visa/endorsement policies and processing timelines described on this page may be adjusted from year to year. Official sources from the Immigration Department (immd.gov.hk) and the National Immigration Administration have been cited for each item; before formal application, please defer to the latest Immigration Department announcements, the guidance from your university's international student office, and the current regulations of the public security exit-entry administration in your registered locality. For application and tuition fee information, see A Comparison of Five Universities for Gaokao Applicants; for accommodation and living cost budgets, see Cross-Sectional Review of Accommodation and Living Costs at Five Universities.