Hong Kong (China)Graduate visa

Hong Kong graduate visa in Hong Kong (China)

IANG is a Hong Kong immigration scheme for foreign graduates of local institutions which allows them to stay in the city for employment immediately after graduating, or to return later if they already have a job offer. Graduates of the joint campuses of mainland China and Hong Kong institutions in the Greater Bay Area are also eligible; the scheme is not tied to quotas or to a particular sector.

Source: Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department (immd.gov.hk)

Who can obtain the status / routes of entry

Three categories of applicant — all without sector restrictions or quotas.

Recent graduates

The application is made within six months of the date of graduation shown on the degree certificate
A job offer is not required at the time of application
A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from a full-time accredited programme in Hong Kong lasting at least one academic year, or a qualification at HKQF level 5 or above with at least 120 credits
The application may be made regardless of how many years ago the qualification was obtained

Non-recent graduates

The application is made more than six months after the date of graduation
A concluded employment contract is required at the time of application
The position must be at a level normally held by degree holders, and the salary must be at the market level

Graduates of Greater Bay Area (GBA) campuses

A bachelor's degree or above from a full-time programme of an institution jointly established by mainland China and Hong Kong universities in the cities of the Greater Bay Area
The same recent graduate / non-recent graduate rules apply as for local graduates
The list of campuses is maintained by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong

What it costs

Fee for considering the application — for the applicant and for each dependant	600 HKD
Fee for issuing the visa where the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days	1 300 HKD
Fee for issuing the visa where the permitted period of stay is 180 days or less	600 HKD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	2 500 HKD

Documents to gather

From the applicant, from the employer and from each dependant, if there is one.

A photograph of the applicant and a valid travel document
A Hong Kong identity card (if held)
The official academic transcript, degree certificate or a letter from the institution confirming completion of the programme
A letter of consent from the current employer or from the relevant mainland Chinese authority — for nationals of mainland China
An employment contract or letter of appointment stating the position, salary, benefits and term of employment
The employer's business registration certificate and proof of its financial standing
The company's business plan, if it was registered less than 12 months ago
The employer's registration and financial documents are not needed if it is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange or has already obtained a work visa for another foreign employee in the last 24 months
For dependants — proof of the family relationship (a marriage certificate, a birth certificate and the like) and a travel document

How the process runs

The route of a recent graduate: degree, application, consideration, visa.

1
Check eligibility
A bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree obtained from a full-time accredited programme in Hong Kong lasting at least one academic year is required, or a qualification at HKQF level 5 or above with at least 120 credits. Graduates of Greater Bay Area campuses jointly established by mainland China and Hong Kong institutions also qualify.
2
Apply online
within 6 months of the date of graduation for recent graduates, later for the rest
Recent graduates apply without a job offer. Those who apply more than six months after graduating must already hold, at the time of application, an employment contract for a position at graduate level with a market salary.
3
Pay the fee for considering the application
600 Hong Kong dollars for the applicant and for each dependant; the fee is not refunded, whatever the outcome.
4
Wait for the decision of the Immigration Department
about 2 weeks for recent graduates, 4 weeks for the rest
During the peak period from June to August consideration may take longer.
5
Pay the fee for issuing the visa and receive the e-Visa
The fee is 1,300 Hong Kong dollars where the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days, and 600 dollars where it is 180 days or less. Once it is paid, the e-Visa can be downloaded by the applicant; 24 months of stay are granted initially, limited only by the period of stay and with no other conditions.

Timelines and rights

Work

One may take up employment and change employer during the permitted period of stay without prior approval.

Who you can bring with you

Dependants are sponsored by the holder of IANG status.

A spouse, or a partner in a same-sex or opposite-sex civil union or partnership officially recognised in the place where it was entered into

The genuineness of the relationship must be proven, along with the absence of adverse information about the partner and the sponsor's ability to support them appreciably above the subsistence level and in suitable accommodation. Work and study in Hong Kong are allowed without separate permission.

Unmarried children under 18

The same requirements apply to the sponsor. The application to extend dependant status is lodged within the three months before it expires, and extension is possible for as long as the sponsor remains a bona fide resident of Hong Kong and the circumstances on which the sponsorship was based do not change.

Renewal and the grace period

The application for extension is lodged no later than three months and no less than six weeks before the period of stay expires. At the time of application an employment contract for a position at graduate level with market pay is required, or proof of running a business in Hong Kong. Extension is normally granted on a three plus three years pattern. Those who have spent at least two years under IANG and received at least 2,000,000 Hong Kong dollars of assessable income in the previous tax year may be granted an extension of six years at once — this is the top-tier employment stream.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After at least 7 years of continuous ordinary residence in the Hong Kong SAR one may apply for the right of abode.

Frequently asked questions about Hong Kong graduate visa

Who can apply under IANG?

The applicant must have obtained a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree (or a qualification at HKQF level 5 or above with at least 120 credits) from a full-time accredited programme in Hong Kong, or have graduated from a Greater Bay Area campus jointly established by mainland China and Hong Kong universities. The scheme has no quota and is not tied to any sector. It is not available to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea.

Is a job offer needed in order to apply under IANG?

No, provided the application is made within six months of the date of graduation — such applicants are treated as recent graduates. Those who apply later need a concluded employment contract for a position at graduate level with a market salary.

How much does it cost to apply, and how long does it take?

The fee for considering the application is 600 Hong Kong dollars for the applicant and for each dependant. Once the application is approved, a further payment is due for issuing the visa — 1,300 dollars where the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days, or 600 dollars where it is 180 days or less. Consideration takes about two weeks for recent graduates and four weeks for the rest; delays are possible from June to August.

Can the family be brought to Hong Kong on IANG status?

Yes, a spouse or a partner in an officially recognised civil union and unmarried children under 18 may be sponsored. The genuineness of the relationship must be proven, along with the ability to support the dependant appreciably above the subsistence level and in suitable accommodation. Dependants are not prohibited from working or studying in Hong Kong.

How is the status extended after the first two years?

The application for extension is lodged no later than three months and no less than six weeks before the status expires. An employment contract for a position at graduate level with market pay is required, or proof of running a business. Extension is normally granted on a three plus three years pattern. Those who have spent at least two years under IANG and received at least 2,000,000 Hong Kong dollars of assessable income in the previous tax year may be granted an extension of six years at once.

How does IANG differ from the General Employment Policy (GEP)?

Recent graduates under IANG do not need a job offer at the time of application, and once they hold the status they may change employer without the approval of the Immigration Department. Graduates already working in Hong Kong under the GEP or the ASMTP may carry on working without applying for IANG immediately, provided they do not plan to change employer or take on additional work; applying for IANG makes sense in order to gain the right to change job freely.

Other ways to move to Hong Kong (China)

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Hong Kong (China).

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.