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Hong Kong SAR: Mandatory Online Applications for Certain Talent Admission Schemes Introduced

March 31, 2023

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Country / Territory

  • Hong Kong SARHong Kong SAR

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At a Glance

  • Starting April 2, 2023, the Immigration Department (ImmD) of Hong Kong SAR will only accept initial visa and extension of stay applications for certain talent admission schemes on the online platform.
  • Applicants will only be able to submit, pay and collect their e-Visa through the online platform.
  • Eligibility and approval criteria will remain the same.
  • Though processing may be faster under the online system, affected applicants lose the flexibility of filing in-person applications where urgent travel plans could be brought up to the immigration officers’ consideration.

The situation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) of Hong Kong SAR announced that starting April 2, 2023, initial visa and extension of stay applications under four talent admission schemes will only be accepted through the ImmD’s online portal.

A closer look

CHANGE DETAILS IMPACT

Mandatory electronic submission for:

      • the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme;
      • the Technology Talent Admission Scheme;
      • the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG); and
      • the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents.
    • Timing constraint. Renewal applicants will only be able to file applications four weeks from visa expiry.
    • Additional limitation. In addition, renewal applicants can only generate the relevant application form a maximum of four weeks before their visa expiry, further limiting preparation time and potentially leading to filings closer to the visa expiry date.
      • Fragomen is inquiring with ImmD about the possibility of early filing for certain affected renewal cases and will report on developments.
    • Affected renewal applicants lose the flexibility of filing in-person applications where urgent travel plans could be brought up to the immigration officers’ consideration.
    • Affected applicants must ensure that their renewal  application is fully prepared ahead of the visa expiry, so that the application forms can be generated as soon as the four-week window opens.
    • Visa holders in Hong Kong SAR must cease work upon visa expiry if their renewal application is not finalized beforehand and can only resume work once the renewal is approved.
Online submission of supplemental documents, payment and collection
    • Supplemental documents. Applicants will be required to upload supplementary documents and inquire about the status of their applications using the online system.
    • Payment and collection. Applicants will be required to pay for and collect their e-Visa through the electronic portal.
    • Applicants benefit from the convenience and accessibility of using the online system which allows applicants to submit, pay and inquire about their visas online instead of the current in-person process.
    • Applicants may benefit from faster processing times because of the streamlined online application process compared to having to submit documents, pay fees and collect approvals in-person.

Background

The government introduced the e-Visa arrangement (which allows for submissions of applications and visa fee payments online); and the electronic issuance of an e-Visa (which removes the need for physical labels for entry visa/permit and extension of stay), in 2021.

Most recently, in November 2022, the ImmD extended electronic services for all visa application types, including visas/entry permits for visits, employment, investment, training, residence and study.  

With this change in making the platform mandatory for certain applications, the ImmD is continuing its staged approach in introducing electronic services for visa applications.

Looking ahead

It is likely that the government will require more mandatory online applications for other Talent Admission Schemes and ultimately require all visa applicants to submit applications online, completely ceasing all in-person applications.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].

Country / Territory

  • Hong Kong SARHong Kong SAR

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