Since the outbreak of the epidemic in Hong Kong, cross-border travel has been restricted, and many Hong Kong residents have returned to the mainland, making it difficult to travel conveniently between the mainland and Hong Kong. For those living outside Hong Kong, the extension and activation of visas have become a troubling issue, as even if they successfully apply for an extension online, they need to enter Hong Kong within a specified time to activate it (generally within 3-6 months). According to past policies, if the visa is not activated within the limited period, it will become invalid and need to be reapplied, which also carries the risk of a break in the visa. Additionally, activating the visa in Hong Kong means undergoing at least 14 days of quarantine, which imposes high time and financial costs on applicants. Many parents have complained to Hong Kong's Happy Life that their children have applied for dependent visas, but the children are too young and they do not want them to suffer during quarantine. They are asking if there is any way to avoid entering Hong Kong for activation, or if parents can activate the visa on behalf of their children.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department has once again optimized the visa extension process!

The Hong Kong Immigration Department announced that after optimizing the policy in 2020, it has once again optimized the application process for visa extensions!

Who is eligible for the new policy:

1.General employment policy (including employment and entrepreneurs coming to invest in Hong Kong);
2.Talent input program for the mainland;
3.Outstanding talent entry program:
4.Non-local graduate employment arrangements in Hong Kong/returning to Hong Kong for employment;
5.Input of second-generation Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents;
6.Technology talent entry program;
7.Capital investor entry program;
8.Residency as a dependent;
9.Students studying full-time courses.

How to apply:

Eligible individuals can submit applications online or via an app from areas outside Hong Kong.

They can authorize a guarantor/representative in Hong Kong to apply for an extension of stay in the current manner.

Non-permanent residents outside Hong Kong need to fill out a specific form to submit their extension application, namely the ID92 form.