A Hong Kong spouse visa is a permission that allows one’s dependant to enter the territory. It is a permit issued to the family member of the person who will reside in the Hong Kong SAR for employment, business, and other purposes.
The dependents visa and the Hong Kong marriage visa are not the same, because they can used for different conditions. Here are the conditions for a Hong Kong dependent spouse visa.
Should you wish to find out more about immigration, or other kinds of visas and entry passes, consult with our experts at FastLane Group in Hong Kong.
Content Outline
The Hong Kong Dependent Spouse Visa Conditions
A spouse accompanying a visa holder or a residence permit is called a dependent.
An entry arrangement that enables an individual to enter HKSAR based on sponsorship from a permit holder does not apply in the case of:
- Mainland China residents with specific exemptions (mainly if the sponsor was admitted for some purposes),
- Former Mainland China residents who live in Macao Special Administrative Region with Macao ID cards for less than 7 years (unless they are people who reside in Macao under the one-way plan),
- Afghanistan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Nationals.
Our Hong Kong-based immigration experts can give you more details about the requirements of the dependent entry permit, and the conditions of the spousal visa in Hong Kong in case of Chinese residents subject to the above-mentioned exceptions.
In addition, we can provide instructions on immigration specifics of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as well.
Hong Kong Spouse Visa Requirements And Regulations
The following list is the dependent categories who can apply for a Hong Kong spouse visa :
- The applicant is the spouse or the other member in a same-sex civil union or partnership;
- The applicant is a dependent child under 18 years old and unmarried;
- The applicant is a parent who is 60 years old and above (only in certain situations when the sponsor is not subject to a stay limit in Hong Kong).
The application for a spouse visa in Hong Kong will most probably be favored in the following circumstances:
- The applicant and the sponsor have a genuine relationship.
- The applicant suffers no disadvantage whatsoever.
- The sponsor will be able to help the non-employed applicant in Hong Kong to be above the minimum subsistence level;
- The sponsor can offer the applicant an accommodation in Hong Kong.
The applicant and the sponsor are expected to present enough legitimate evidence that they are involved in an approved relationship as part of the mandatory documentation requirements.
It is necessary for the dependent to put Part A of the visa application form but Part B should be done by the sponsor.
The resident duration of the dependent person is the same as the sponsor. The spouse visa holder in Hong Kong does not have to obtain any special permission in order to study in HKSAR.
The dependents are permitted to find employment in HKSAR but not the dependants of the sponsors who are in Hong Kong for education.
Fees And Processing Time For Spouse Visa Application In Hong Kong
Main Costs for Spouse Visa in Hong Kong:
- Visa Application Fee: HK$230 (This is the mandatory fee for the visa itself).
- Marriage Registration (if getting married in Hong Kong):
- HK$715 (during regular office hours)
- HK$1,935 (outside regular office hours)
- Translation Fees (if applicable): Additional costs may apply if documents require certified translation to English.
Processing Time:
- Generally 6 weeks, but the final decision rests with the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
The Spouse Visa applicants should be aware that whether they will be granted the visa or not is at the discretion of the Director of Immigration.
An application for an extension of stay can be made within four weeks before the expiry.
For those couples that decide to marry in Hong Kong, our team of experts at FastLane can provide details about the Hong Kong marriage visa and the procedure must be followed for the legal registration of the marriage.
Frequently Answered Questions
The spouse of another foreign national who will be accompanying the Sponsor (the foreign national who enjoyed the right to stay in Hong Kong first) will also have responsibilities and conditions to follow.
You will be required to apply for your part of the visa while the spouse will apply as a Sponsor.
Yes. The other person sharing the same-sex civil partner or union can also apply for a spouse visa in Hong Kong when this civil union is entered into in accordance with the laws in place and it is officially recognized by the authorities of the location where the treaty was entered into.
Yes, if you are admitted to the college on your own merits and by an officially recognized educational institution. There is no such thing as restrictions or even permission for dependants who wish to study in Hong Kong. This normally applies to dependents other than the spouse (for instance, children who join the parent and are expected to continue their studies) the spouse is free to further his/her studies.
You would be eligible to work only if you are the spouse of :
- a permanent Hong Kong resident
- an individual who has not specified a limited time of residence
- an individual who got into Hong Kong under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme or Quality Migrant Admission Scheme or others.
Taking up employment in Hong Kong as the spouse of a student who holds a foreign national ID cannot be considered unless the Director of Immigration approves your case.
As an applicant, a spouse is expected to sustain the relationship with the Sponsor, so the marriage relation/condition stays the same. In the case of the sponsor’s death, the spouse visa cannot be continued. For every case, the Sponsor (your spouse) must possess Hong Kong permanent residence and continues to live in the HKSAR.
If the Sponsor is a permanent resident at the time of the child’s birth, he would be eligible to apply for permanent residency if the child is born in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the child shall continue to be in this status until the age of 21 years old, beyond which it will have to submit the application for permanent residence status on its own merit.
When neither parent has a permanent residence status in Hong Kong (nor a Chinese national), a child born in Hong Kong will not be recognized as a HKSAR permanent resident just because he or she was born in the territory.
Living In The Hong Kong SAR
When you choose to relocate to Hong Kong, you need to understand the regulations that you must follow as a new resident. At the basic level, paying attention to whether you still fulfill the required criteria for your vis type is the most crucial part.
Registering for the identity card will be one of the first steps you need to do as the spouse to the Sponsor who is already a lawful resident in Hong Kong. Every Hong Kong resident from the age of 11 and above, should have an identity card unless any relevant exemptions apply.
The permanent identity card bears the exact right of stay in Hong Kong whereas the Hong Kong identity card is not precise in this regard. The first step leads to the identity card, which should be followed later with the second permanent identity card (this is after a minimum lawful period) for the right of abode.
If you want to find out more about the spouse visa in Hong Kong, contact us in Hong Kong. Our team is ready to address all the immigration queries such as visas and passes, and help you to reunite your family.