Notes to Non-local Students and Instructions for Student Visa/Entry Permit Application | PolyU SPEED
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Notes to Non-local Students and Instructions for Student Visa/Entry Permit Application

 

Notes to Non-local Students

  1. Introduction

In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, he/she requires a visa/entry permit to study in the HKSAR. When an applicant possess only a tourist visa, they can neither be registered as students nor be allowed to commence study until a visa/ entry permit is obtained.

 

Definition of Local / Non-local Students

According to the Education Bureau (EDB), for the purpose of admission to post-secondary programmes, the definition of local and non-local students is as follows:

 

Local student

Holders of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR (ImmD):

  1. HKID Card (Permanent)
  2. Documents issued by ImmD showing right to land / right of abode in Hong Kong
  3. One-way Permit for entry to Hong Kong
  4. Full-time employment visa / work permit
  5. Dependant visa / entry permit, holders who were below 18 years old when first issued with such visa / entry permit
  6. Visa / Entry permit for Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
  7. Visa / Entry permit for Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
  8. Visa / Entry permit for Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents
  9. Visa label for unconditional stay

 

Non-local student

Holders of the following documents issued by ImmD:

  1. Student visa / entry permit
  2. Visa / Entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
  3. Dependant visa / entry permit, holders who were 18 years old or above when first issued with such visa / entry permit

Please visit http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/imm-policy-study.html for information regarding the immigration policy on study in Hong Kong.
 

Student Visa / Entry Permit Applications

To apply for a student visa / entry permit, PolyU SPEED will act as the sponsor of your application. You are required to:

 

Please refer to the following pages for details on student visa/ entry permit application.

 

  1. Accommodation

Non-local students are required to arrange their own accommodation in Hong Kong.  You are advised to make the necessary arrangements for your residential place before your arrival. 
 

  1. Insurance

You will be responsible for your own medical and dental costs during your stay in Hong Kong.  You are therefore required to take out an appropriate travel and health insurance scheme.
 
In addition to the student health services* provided by the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) and the public medical services, CPCE has also arranged a Group Personal Accident Insurance for all CPCE registered students.  The insurance only covers bodily injury occurs during activities organised by CPCE.  Therefore all non-local students must enrol in an appropriate insurance plan to protect themselves in case of accidents. 

* Website: https://sao.cpce-polyu.edu.hk/en/our-services/facilities-and-support-services/student-health-services/index.html


The insurance plan should cover the entire study period with the start date and end date matching the student’s flight departure date/ return flight arrival date and the following items:

  • Medical expenses (including out-patient, hospital expenses and accident) 
  • Personal accident (as the result of any illness, injury, disability or accident) 
  • Personal liability covering the legal liability of causing the death of a third party or property damage due to negligence
  • Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains (due to accident/ illness/ other causes). 

 

  1. Flight Arrangement

You can arrange your flight as soon as the travel dates are confirmed but it is advisable that payments should only be made after you have received your student visa.  You should also pay attention to the terms and conditions of your air tickets, particularly the air tickets at special fares. 

 

You are expected to arrive at Hong Kong at least one week prior to the start of the semester.  When planning to return home, most non-local students depart after they finish the examinations of the last semester/ term of study.  The examination schedule will be announced in the middle of the semester/term in due course.  You are strongly advised NOT to confirm your return flight until you receive the examination timetable.  However, if you have to confirm the return date at the time you purchase the air ticket, please schedule the flight at the end of the examination period.

 

  1. Fees and Living Expenses

Apart from the tuition fees, non-local students should keep the following costs in mind when you study in Hong Kong: air tickets, accommodation, visa application fee, insurance, daily expenses (food, transportation, laundry, etc.), textbooks and stationery. 

 

  1. Working in Hong Kong

Subject to the conditions of stay granted per the student visa/ entry permit issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, non-local students are normally not allowed to take up any employment, whether paid or unpaid; or establish or join in any business in Hong Kong. 

 

With effect from 1 November 2024, non-local students (excluding exchange students) of full-time programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year could take up employment in Hong Kong during the currency of their limit of stay or within the effective period as specified in the “No Objection Letter” (NOL) issued to them (if applicable), whichever is the shorter.
Website: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/imm-policy-study.html



Student Visa Application

  1. All non-local students who enter Hong Kong for the purpose of education are required to obtain a valid student visa/ entry permit before coming to Hong Kong.  To apply for a student visa/ entry permit, you are required to submit the following documents to the Hong Kong Immigration Department via PolyU SPEED.  Please upload the following documents to Visa Document Upload at PolyU SPEED Online Application for Admission (OAA) system within 7 days after the payment deadline of the registration fee as stated on the debit note

 

  1. Completed student visa application form ID995A (Sample 1) * with:-

    [ ID995A form download：https://www.immd.gov.hk/pdforms/ID995A.pdf]

  2. A copy of financial proof (Sample 2) * [you are required to produce a financial resource statement issued by your bank within 3 months which indicates that you have enough money to cover the tuition fees and living expenses for your period of study in Hong Kong.]

    If the financial proof is not under your name, your sponsor is required to provide a declaration of sponsor testifying that he/ she will financially support your study in Hong Kong and a copy of the sponsor’s Mainland Chinese Identity Card or passport (including the signature page).
  3. A copy of your valid travel document(s) or identity document(s):
    •    For students from Mainland China: Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and Mainland Chinese Identity Card (front and back pages) (Sample 3) *

    •    For students from Macao: Macao Identity Card (front and back pages) and Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR (Sample 4) *

    •    For students from Taiwan: Recent Taiwan Household Registration Record (Sample 5) * endorsed by Taiwan House Office (front and back pages), Taiwan Identity Card (front and back pages), and Passport (valid until at least 6 months after the end of the study period in Hong Kong)

    •    For students from other Countries: Passport (until at least 6 months after the end of the study period in Hong Kong)

  4. HK Identity card (if any)
  5. Photograph

  6. A copy of the notice of offer/ acceptance letter from PolyU SPEED 

  7. Please DO NOT submit any hard copy of the supporting documents. All  submitted documents will not be returned. Please retain the hard copy of the supporting documents for reference.

 

  1. To avoid unnecessary delay in processing your visa/ entry permit application, please provide all the required supporting documents to us in one go.  

 

  1. According to IMMD, your study visa applications must be submitted by the education provider being the sponsor of your application.
  2. Upon receipt of all the above documents from you, the School will submit your application together with the visa sponsorship application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (IMMD).  It normally takes 6 weeks to process a visa/entry permit application for study upon receipt of all the required documents. 
  3.  A visa handling fee of HK$370 will be charged by the school being the sponsor of your applications.  You will be advised of the payment details by e-mail.
  4. In addition, upon the approval of your visa applications by IMMD, you are required to pay the prevailing visa fee payable to the Government of HKSAR.  With effect from 8 September 2025, the visa fee is HK$330. To settle the visa fee and to download the e-visa and relevant documents, the CPCE Academic Registry will provide you with the visa reference number. You will be advised of the details upon the approval of your visa applications. 
  5. If your visa application is successful, PolyU SPEED will send you an email notification with a link to download your e-Visa from the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s website.
  6. After downloading the “e-Visa” from the website, you MUST check and ensure that your name, study institution/programme and study duration shown on the documents are accurate.  If you find any discrepancy, please inform the School by email to spadmission.nl@speed-polyu.edu.hkimmediately for the re-issuance of the relevant documents.  Any incorrect information may result in denial of entry.

 

Activation of “e-Visa” & Uploading of Landing Slip

9. Upon receipt of your “e-Visa” (i.e. Notification Slip for Entry Visa/ Permit), please bring along it, either save it in soft copy on a personal mobile device or print it on a sheet of A4 white paper, and your valid travel document(s) for arrival clearance upon entry to Hong Kong.  

 

  1. For students from the Mainland China, upon receipt of the “e-Visa” [together with an “Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao” (EEP)], you should apply for a relevant exit endorsement from the Public Security Bureau office where your household registration is kept.  If you do not obtain a valid EEP, you are advised to apply for it beforehand.  You should bring along your EEP together with the "e-Visa” for arrival clearance upon entry to Hong Kong.
  2. For students from Macao, you should bring along your “e-Visa” and Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR for arrival clearance upon entry to Hong Kong. 
  3. For students from Taiwan: you should bring your Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents and Passport for arrival clearance upon entry to Hong Kong as a visitor. To complete the remaining process, you must attend Immigration office to make payment and collect the Entry Permit.
     
    If you authorize a representative to collect the Entry Permit, the representative should produce his/her Hong Kong identity card/valid travel document, a letter of authorization from you, visa approval letter and a fee. After receiving the Entry Permit, you should bring your Entry Permit and Passport for arrival clearance upon entry to Hong Kong.

 

Please upload your landing slip to your student account “my.SPEED” for updating your visa expiry date after landing.
(Log in àPersonal Information à Update Visa Expiry Date)

 

For enquiry on student visa/ entry permit application, please contact our Office by email to spadmission.nl@speed-polyu.edu.hk. 
 

October 2026

 

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