Analyse the Requirements for a Hong Kong Student to Switch to a Work Visa Without Leaving the Territory

The Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) let non-local graduates of a full-time, locally accredited programme in Hong Kong apply to stay and work here. Recent graduates do not need a job offer when they apply. Non-recent graduates must secure an offer before applying.

This article relies on one page: the Immigration Department's "Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)" page, including its sections on extension of stay. It covers only the IANG rules for non-local graduates. It does not cover other visa routes.

Who the IANG applies to

The IANG page defines non-local students as persons who enter Hong Kong for education with a student visa or entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration. Only people in this group can be non-local graduates under the IANG.

The page says that a non-local graduate has an undergraduate or higher qualification from a full-time, locally accredited programme in Hong Kong. The qualification must be one of the following:

• a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree with a study period of not less than one academic year; or
• a qualification from a programme accredited at Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF) Level 5 or above, with QF Credit of 120 or above, and a study period of not less than one academic year.

The qualification should be awarded by an authorised post-secondary institution in Hong Kong. The page refers readers to an annex of the Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong [ID(E) 991] for the list of those institutions.

The page also says that, in general, a person needs a visa or entry permit to work in Hong Kong unless the person has the right of abode or the right to land. Each application is decided on its own merits, and the applicant should meet normal immigration requirements as well as the IANG criteria.

Nationality limits also apply. The IANG does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of). For nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam, the IANG applies only to graduates of UGC-funded universities' full-time locally accredited programmes in Hong Kong, excluding self-financing programmes, continuing and professional education programmes, and exchange or short-term study programmes. The page also covers GBA campus graduates under separate rules, which this article does not explain.

Recent and non-recent graduates

The page sorts graduates by when they apply, counting from the date on their graduation certificate.

Recent graduates apply within six months after that date. The page says:

• They are not required to have an offer of employment when they apply.
• They may be granted 24 months' stay on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay, provided normal immigration requirements are met.
• If they have not yet received their results, they may apply for extension of stay to wait for the results.
• If they do not yet have the graduation certificate, they can apply by producing proof from the institution that they have graduated.

Non-recent graduates apply more than six months after that date. The page says:

• They must secure an offer of employment when they apply.
• Applications will be favourably considered if 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 normal immigration requirements are met.

Documents

The applicant uploads these documents:

• a recent photograph;
• a valid travel document with personal particulars, date of issue and date of expiry;
• a Hong Kong identity card, if the applicant has one;
• an official transcript, a graduation certificate, or a supporting letter from the degree-awarding institution.

The employing company uploads these documents:

• an employment contract or letter of appointment stating the post, salary, other fringe benefits and employment period;
• a Business Registration Certificate;
• proof of financial standing, such as the latest audited financial report, a trading profit and loss account, or a profit tax return;
• a detailed business plan, but only for a company newly set up within 12 months.

The page says the company does not need to submit the Business Registration Certificate, proof of financial standing or a business plan if the company is listed on the Main Board or the Growth Enterprise Market of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. The same exemption applies if the company obtained an employment or training visa or entry permit for a non-local staff member in the 24 months before the application.

Documents in a language other than Chinese or English need a certified translation from a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator. The page also says that the ImmD may ask for more documents when necessary.

The page warns that making a false statement to an immigration officer is an offence.

Applying and fees

To apply, follow these steps:

1. Prepare all the required documents.
2. Pay the relevant application fee.
3. Submit the application online and upload the supporting documents.

The page says the application fee is non-refundable in any circumstance, whatever the result. The ImmD does not start processing until it has received all the required documents and the fee.

For entry applications, the page says recent graduates normally wait about two weeks and non-recent graduates about four weeks, after all documents and the fee are received. The page also says processing can take longer in the June to August summer rush, and that approval is discretionary. The Director of Immigration reserves absolute discretion to refuse an application, even if it meets all the criteria.

The IANG is a "specified scheme" under Schedule 2 of the Immigration Regulations (Cap.115A). The principal applicant and each dependant pay a non-refundable application fee and the corresponding visa issuance fee. The page refers readers to a separate New Fee Structure document for the amounts. The issuance fee is paid after approval, through the webpage link in the result notice, the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application, by credit card (VISA, Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB only), Payment by Phone Service, Faster Payment System, or Mainland e-wallets (Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay App only). The applicant then downloads or prints the e-Visa.

Staying and working

Persons admitted under the IANG normally get an initial stay of 24 months on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay. Under this condition, the page says, they are free to take up and change employment during their stay without seeking prior approval from the Director of Immigration.

Extending the stay

The page sets out these steps for an extension:

1. Submit the application within three months before the limit of stay expires.
2. Make sure the application is submitted at least six weeks before the limit of stay expires.
3. Be physically present in Hong Kong when you apply.

The page says that, when applying for an extension, non-local graduates must have secured an offer of employment at a level commonly taken up by degree holders, with a market-level remuneration package. Those who have established or joined a business in Hong Kong must produce proof of the business. Successful applicants will normally stay on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay, on the 3-3 year pattern. The page says the application fee is non-refundable in any circumstance, whatever the result.

Processing for an extension normally takes about two to three weeks after all documents and the fee are received. The page says not all extension applications will necessarily be approved.

The page is clear that applicants must leave Hong Kong before the limit of stay expires. This applies even while an extension application is being processed, unless the Director of Immigration approves otherwise under exceptional circumstances. A breach of a condition of stay, including overstaying, is a serious criminal offence, and offenders may be prosecuted and removed from Hong Kong.

A different route applies under the top-tier employment stream. A person admitted under the IANG who meets the extension criteria above may apply for assessment under this stream if, at the time of applying for extension of stay, they have been permitted to remain under the IANG for not less than two years and have an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment. The applicant must provide documentary proof of that income. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay, for six years.

Returning after leaving

Non-permanent residents do not need a re-entry visa or entry permit to return to Hong Kong. This applies if they return within the currency of their permitted limit of stay and their circumstances for holding residential status remain unchanged.

Right of abode

A person admitted under the IANG who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in accordance with the law.

Questions people ask

Do I need a job offer to apply as a recent graduate?

The page says recent graduates are not required to have secured an offer of employment when they apply. Recent graduates apply within six months after the date on their graduation certificate.

Is the application fee refundable?

The page says the application fee is non-refundable in any circumstance, irrespective of the application result.

Can I change employers during my stay?

The page says persons on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay, are free to take up and change employment during their permitted stay without prior approval from the Director of Immigration.

Sources

• Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG), Immigration Department, HKSAR Government

Checked 11 October 2026.

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