Student Visa / Entry Permit
As required by the laws of Hong Kong, any person wishing to study in Hong Kong without the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong must first obtain a student visa or entry permit from the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
(Please note that 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.)
Apply through the University
All student visa applicants are required to have a local sponsor.
CityU may act as the local sponsor for students who are accepted to study in an eligible locally-accredited programme at CityU (EXCLUDING courses offered by the School of Continuing and Professional Education).
If you wish to seek visa sponsorship from the University, please complete and submit an online Request for Visa/Entry Permit Sponsorship form using the link specific to the programme type.
| 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) to the Global Engagement Office.
Application Timeline
As it can take 8 weeks or more for student visa/entry permit 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 | By 1st June | By 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 | |
Required Documents
Please prepare the requested documents according to the submission sample and checklist.
- Submission sample and checklist
- DO NOT staple the documents together when submitting documents.
Mailing Address
After you have prepared all the required documents, please mail them to:
Global Engagement Office
Room 3210, 3/F, Cheng Yick-chi Building
City University of Hong Kong
Tat Chee Avenue
Kowloon
Hong Kong SAR
Administrative Fee
A non-refundable and non-transferable administrative fee HKD 600 will be charged by the University. This administrative fee does not include the visa fee payable to the Immigration Department.
An application fee for visa will be charged by the Immigration Department. Students studying at CityU from AY 2024-25 onwards are required to settle the visa fee directly with the Immigration Department after their application is approved.
Acceptable payment methods:
- CityU Pay: : Students are encouraged to settle the payment through CityU Pay, the integrated online payment portal of the University which supports the following digital payment methods.
- Bank Draft Deposit: Students can also mail a bank draft made payable to" City University of Hong Kong" in Hong Kong dollars together with the visa application to us.
What Happens Next
The University will issue the ID995B form and forward the visa application to the Immigration Department for approval. Kindly note that only a full and complete set of visa application with all required documents enclosed will be sent to the Immigration Department.
The Immigration Department will issue the electronic version of the “Notification Slip for Entry Visa / Permit” (e-Visa) when a student visa/entry permit is approved.
The University will notify the applicant via email when their application is approved. The applicant can then proceed to settle the visa fee to be charged by the Immigration Department and download their e-Visa.
Applicants can print the “e-Visa” or save a soft copy on their mobile devices for immigration clearance upon entry to Hong Kong.
Applicants who are permanent residents of mainland China should present the “e-Visa” to the public security bureau office in the Mainland where their household registration is kept, and apply for an “Exit-entry Permit for Traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macau” and a relevant exit endorsement before entering Hong Kong.
Student Visa / Entry Permit Validation
Student visa / entry permits must be validated upon entry to Hong Kong. Visa / entry permit holders must present the e-Visa to the immigration officer at the control point. A landing slip bearing your name, travel document number, arrival date, conditions, and limit of stay in Hong Kong will be issued upon arrival. Students should not lose the landing slip as it is the proof of their condition of stay in Hong Kong.
Important Notes
- The University will not be able to sponsor a student visa / entry permit application if the application is incomplete.
- The Hong Kong Immigration Department may request additional information and documents while processing the student visa / entry permit application.
- Student visa / entry permit holders are subject to the following conditions of stay:
- Students must attend the educational institution, i.e. City University of Hong Kong, and undertake the programme or course of study as named in the letter of admission issued by the University.
- Students must not take up any employment, whether paid or unpaid, or establish or join any business, unless students have secured prior approval from the Immigration Department (see Part-time Work & Internship).
- Students must attend the educational institution, i.e. City University of Hong Kong, and undertake the programme or course of study as named in the letter of admission issued by the University.
- It is the student's sole responsibility to:
- obtain a valid student visa / entry permit before entering Hong Kong.
- maintain a valid travel document.
- understand and comply with the terms and conditions of his/her student visa / entry permit while studying in Hong Kong.
- notify the Global Engagement Office if there is a change for any reasons in his/her academic circumstances during the visa application process (for example, accepting another programme, having difficulty to enrol in the University on schedule, or declining the admission offer).
- obtain a valid student visa / entry permit before entering Hong Kong.
- The University reserves the right to withdraw sponsorship and report to the Hong Kong Immigration Department if a student's study and/or enrolment status at the University has changed.
- Applicants are reminded that their student visa / entry permit for studying in the University and their permission to remain in Hong Kong will end upon expiry of their approved stay or four weeks after termination of studies, whichever is earlier."
