Recently, the Hong Kong Immigration Department has launched new measures, allowing holders of the Hong Kong IANG visa to remotely apply for IANG renewal outside of Hong Kong without needing to activate it in Hong Kong. Under the new measures, eligible applicants can submit their applications through the Immigration Department's website or through their guarantor/authorized representative in Hong Kong according to the current application process for extending the stay period. Approved applicants can download the "electronic visa" for extending their stay after payment, and the entire process can be completed outside of Hong Kong.

In simple terms, the IANG visa renewal no longer requires activation in Hong Kong!

But can everyone apply online without needing to activate in Hong Kong?

I would like to remind everyone: the new measures only apply to those renewing their visas, not everyone can apply online without needing to activate in Hong Kong. For example, first-time applicants for the IANG visa are not included, so if you are applying for the IANG visa for the first time, you still need to activate it in Hong Kong!

Additionally, according to the Immigration Department's regulations, individuals in the following situations cannot apply online to extend their stay:

1.Individuals who are in Hong Kong as visitors at the time of application.

2.The current visa's stay period is more than 4 weeks away from expiration.

3.The current visa's stay period has already expired.

At this point, I must remind friends who previously submitted a return application under the "Non-Permanent Resident Return" policy and were issued a visa. If you did not enter Hong Kong to activate the visa within the validity period, the visa you hold is ineffective, and the stay period written on the visa is also ineffective. At this time, because the stay period of your previous visa has expired, you cannot apply online for renewal.

4.Travel documents will expire within 3 months.

5.Since entering or after the last extension of stay, if the applicant's situation has changed, such as changing employers/guarantors/schools/courses (except for non-local graduates staying in Hong Kong/returning to Hong Kong for employment arrangements (i.e., "IANG visa") applicants). Therefore, friends who need to change employers for their talent visa renewal cannot apply online, and in the case of needing to change employers, the applicant must be in Hong Kong at the time of application.

6.Individuals who have been notified by the Immigration Department that their next application for extending the stay period will require review.

7.Individuals currently staying in Hong Kong under the IANG visa arrangement but have not yet been employed by a Hong Kong company.

So, friends who want to apply for renewal under the new measures should pay attention to whether their situation allows them to submit an application online. If not, they need to plan their time in advance.