The Hong Kong dependant visa lets a qualifying resident bring their spouse and unmarried children under 18 to live in the territory, and, if the sponsor is a permanent resident, parents aged 60 or above as well. The Immigration Department charges HK$600 to apply, plus a visa issuance fee of HK$1,300 for stays longer than 180 days.1Immigration Department. New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes What you can bring, and what your family members can do once they arrive, both hinge on the type of visa you hold.
Who You Can Sponsor
Sponsors fall into two groups.
If you hold permanent residency, the right to land, or unconditional stay, you can sponsor your spouse, your unmarried children under 18, and your parents aged 60 or above.2Immigration Department. Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong This is the only category that lets you bring elderly parents.
If you hold an employment visa, investment visa, training visa, or student visa, or entered as a capital investment entrant, you can sponsor only your spouse and unmarried children under 18.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong Parents are not eligible under these categories.
Which Relationships Count as Spousal
Hong Kong recognizes same-sex civil partnerships, civil unions, and marriages performed outside the territory for dependant visa purposes, provided the relationship was legally registered with a competent authority in the place of celebration, is evidenced in a written instrument, and involves a mutual commitment akin to a spousal relationship. Opposite-sex civil partnerships and civil unions entered into overseas are recognized on the same basis.2Immigration Department. Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong De facto partners, cohabitants, and fiancé(e)s do not qualify.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong
Sponsor Financial and Character Requirements
You must be able to support the dependant at a standard “well above the subsistence level” and provide suitable accommodation.4GovHK. Online Application for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong The Immigration Department also checks whether there is any known record against the dependant, so a criminal history or security concern can be grounds for refusal.2Immigration Department. Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong
Documents and Fees
The application uses two forms: Form ID 936A, completed by the dependant, and Form ID 936B, the sponsor’s certificate and undertaking. Both come from the Immigration Department website.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong
Alongside the forms, you will need:
- Certified copies of the marriage certificate or birth certificate that establishes the relationship, with a certified translation if the document is not in English or Chinese.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong
- Financial evidence such as recent bank statements, employment contracts showing salary, and tax returns, enough to show the sponsor earns a recurring income sufficient to support the household above a basic standard of living.
- A signed tenancy agreement or property deed for suitable accommodation; some applicants also submit floor plans or photographs.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong
The application fee is HK$600 per dependant and is not refunded if the case is rejected. If approved, the visa issuance fee is HK$1,300 for stays longer than 180 days, or HK$600 for stays of 180 days or fewer.1Immigration Department. New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes For a dependant joining a spouse on a multi-year employment visa, the total comes to HK$1,900.
How to Apply and How Long It Takes
You can file online through the GovHK portal or by post to the Receipt and Despatch Unit of the Immigration Department at Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O.5Immigration Department. Offices in Immigration Headquarters The online portal lets you track case status after submission.4GovHK. Online Application for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong
The department generally aims to process a complete application within four weeks. Cases needing further verification take longer, and delays in responding to requests for supplementary information push the decision date back.
On approval, the department issues an e-Visa that you download and print through GovHK or the Immigration Department mobile app. There is no physical visa label to collect.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong
What Dependants Can Do in Hong Kong
Work Rights
Work rights depend entirely on the sponsor’s status, and this is where confusion is most common.
Dependants of Hong Kong permanent residents, or of residents not subject to a limit of stay (right to land or unconditional stay), can take up employment or start a business freely. No separate work approval is required.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong
Dependants of sponsors on employment visas, investment visas, student visas, or capital investment entrant status can work or start a business only after obtaining the Director of Immigration’s permission.3Immigration Department. Entry for Residence as Dependant in Hong Kong Working without that permission is a breach of conditions of stay and can lead to visa revocation or criminal penalties.
School and Healthcare
Children on a dependant visa can attend any type of school in Hong Kong without a separate student visa, including government schools, government-aided schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, international schools, and private schools.6International Schools in Hong Kong. Studying on a Dependant Visa A dependant child can also apply to extend the visa to finish their studies if they turn 18 during the school year, provided they still hold dependant status with the sponsor.
Once a dependant registers for a Hong Kong Identity Card, they qualify for subsidized medical services at public hospitals and clinics. HKID holders qualify for these rates regardless of whether they are permanent residents.7GovHK. LCQ2 – HKID Card Holders Eligible for Subsidised Medical Services Apply for the HKID promptly after arrival so access is not delayed.
Length of Stay and Renewal
A dependant’s length of stay is normally aligned with the sponsor’s remaining visa period.8GovHK. Online Application for Extension of Stay – for Persons Staying in Hong Kong as Dependants If the sponsor has two years left on their employment visa, expect a two-year dependant visa. Each renewal generally matches the sponsor’s latest extension.
You can file for an extension within four weeks before your current limit of stay expires.8GovHK. Online Application for Extension of Stay – for Persons Staying in Hong Kong as Dependants At renewal, the department checks that the sponsorship relationship still exists, that the sponsor is still a genuine Hong Kong resident, and that the sponsor can still support the dependant above the subsistence level and provide accommodation.
If the Sponsor’s Circumstances Change
The dependant visa is tied to the sponsor. The Immigration Department specifically flags changes in the marriage relationship and the death of a sponsor as circumstances that result in loss of sponsorship.9Immigration Department. General Employment Policy If the sponsor’s employment visa is not renewed or they leave Hong Kong permanently, the dependant’s right to remain will be reassessed. A sponsor switching employers while remaining on a valid employment visa generally does not disturb the dependant visa, since the question is whether the sponsor is still a bona fide Hong Kong resident.
Path to Permanent Residency
A dependant who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong continuously for at least seven years can apply for permanent residency. The rule applies to Chinese citizens and non-Chinese citizens alike, though non-Chinese applicants must also show they have taken Hong Kong as their place of permanent residence.10Immigration Department. Frequently Asked Questions – Right of Abode
“Ordinary residence” is more than holding a valid visa. Prolonged absences can break the continuity of the seven-year period, so keep detailed records of travel and time spent in the territory if permanent residency is the goal. Once granted, your right to live and work in Hong Kong no longer depends on a sponsor.
Overstaying and Unauthorized Work
Overstaying a dependant visa is a criminal offense under Section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance, carrying a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to two years in prison.11Immigration Department. Hong Kong Visas – Visit / Transit FAQ The penalty applies regardless of how brief the overstay. Forgetting to renew is not a legal defense, though it can be raised in mitigation. Working without the required permission from the Director of Immigration is a separate breach and can lead to similar consequences.
If your visa is close to expiring and you have not yet filed for an extension, do so now. Filing within the four-week window before expiry is the safest route, and a late application is still far better than an overstay.