Extension of Stay

Hong Kong visa/permit holders may apply for an extension of stay in the HKSAR within four (4) weeks before their limit of stay expires. Such application however will be considered only where it is satisfied that the circumstances upon which the applicant acquired his/her current immigration status remain unchanged.

The applicant who has been admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment may also apply for (or extend) the dependent visa for his/her spouse and/or unmarried dependent child under the age of 18.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for an extension of stay, the following eligibility requirements must be met:

• Applicant must be physically in Hong Kong;

• Applicant should not have any criminal records or security objections;

• The circumstances upon which the applicant acquired his/her current immigration status in Hong Kong remain unchanged.

Procedures and Timeline

In general, the processing time of an extension of stay is approximately 3 weeks upon submission of a complete application package to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The Hong Kong Immigration Department will verify the validity of the information submitted and may request additional evidentiary documents. In such case, the processing time will be prolonged.

If the application is approved, the Hong Kong Immigration Department will issue an extension of stay which must be collected from the immigration office in-person by the applicant or an authorized representative. 

Upon collection of the approved extension of stay, the applicant may remain in Hong Kong in accordance with the extended permission-to-remain date.

There are variations in the documentation requirements for each type of extension of stay for employment (i.e. GEP, ASMTP, ASSG, TechTAS, IANG, SLS, and entrepreneurs), but our team will help you build a personalized checklist according to your specific situation and that of your dependents, if any.