It is required by the laws of Hong Kong that any person wishing to come to Hong Kong to study, but who does not have the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong, must first obtain a student visa or entry permit for study from the Immigration Department. Dependent visa holders and people with Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) DO NOT need to apply for a separate student visa to study in Hong Kong.
To apply for entry into Hong Kong for study, applicants must nominate a local sponsor; this can be either the educational institution where the applicant has been admitted to study, or a person aged 18 or over currently living in Hong Kong.
City University of Hong Kong (“the University”) may act as the applicant's local sponsor if he/she has been accepted by the University to study in a locally-accredited local programme that is:
Applicants who are granted entry into Hong Kong to study will be permitted to stay for the normal duration of their study programme.
Further details can be obtained from the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
Students who wish to seek visa sponsorship from the University should complete and submit a Request for Visa Sponsorship form. The forms for each programme of study are available via the links below:
Admission Route / Student Type | Submit the Request for Student Visa/Entry Permit Sponsorship via the link specific to your programme |
---|---|
Undergraduate Programmes (For students admitted through the PRC National University Entrance Examination 憑中國大陸高考成績入學) | https://banweb.cityu.edu.hk/pls/PROD/hwvsapplacs_cityu.P_Login |
Undergraduate Programmes | https://banweb.cityu.edu.hk/pls/PROD/hwskalog_cityu.P_DispLoginNon Note: please log in your Admission Application account and submit the request. |
Taught Postgraduate Programmes | |
Research Degree Programmes | |
Professional Doctorate Programmes | |
Inbound Student Exchange Programmes | https://banweb.cityu.edu.hk/pls/PROD/hwieapplacs_cityu.P_Login Note: please log in your Inbound Student Exchange Application account and submit the request. |
Visiting / Visiting Research Students | https://banweb.cityu.edu.hk/pls/PROD/hwvsapplacs_cityu.P_Login |
Current CityU Students | AIMS: Student Services > Request for Student Visa/Entry Permit Sponsorship |
After submitting the request, students should provide the required documents (see “Required documents” section below for a full list of documents) to the Global Engagement Office (GEO).
As it can take 8 weeks or more for student visas/entry permits to be processed, students are advised to submit their applications according to the dates listed below:
Admission Route / Student Type | Semester A (September Intake) | Semester B (January Intake) |
---|---|---|
Inbound Exchange Students / Visiting Students | 1st July | 1st November |
Undergraduate Programmes | One week after your acceptance fee payment deadline as listed in your Admission Offer. Example: Acceptance fee payment deadline: 17th May Student visa application should reach GEO by 24th May | N/A |
Taught Postgraduate Programmes, Research Degree Programmes and Others | As soon as possible |
Applicants must send the ORIGINAL VERSIONS of the following documents:
Applicants must send PHOTOCOPIES ONLY of the following documents:
*DO NOT staple the documents together when submitting documents
Global Engagement Office
Room 3210, 3/F, Cheng Yick-chi Building
City University of Hong Kong
Tat Chee Avenue
Kowloon
Hong Kong SAR
A payment of HK$600 will be charged. Payment can be made by either of the methods below. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Upon receipt of the applicant’s visa / entry permit application with all required documents, the University will issue the Application Form ID995B for Entry for Study (Sponsor) in Hong Kong and forward the application to the Immigration Department for approval.
When the student visa / entry permit has been granted, the University will collect the visa / entry permit label on the applicant’s behalf from the Immigration Department and send it to the applicant via courier at the address provided in the Request for Student Visa / Entry Permit Sponsorship.
After receiving your visa / permit label, applicants must affix it to their travel document using the self-adhesive backing.
Applicants who are permanent residents of mainland China should also apply for the Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and an exit endorsement from the Public Security Bureau after obtaining the Hong Kong entry permit label. They should affix the entry permit label to a blank page in their EEP, or if they have the credit-card sized version, they can bring the entry permit label with them when they enter Hong Kong.
Student visa / entry permits must be validated upon entry to Hong Kong. Remember to present your student visa / entry permit to the immigration officer at the checkpoint. A landing slip bearing your name, travel document number, arrival date, conditions and limit of stay in Hong Kong will be issued to you upon arrival. Students should not lose the landing slip as it is a proof of their condition of stay in Hong Kong.