A dependant visa allows the holder of a valid Hong Kong visa to bring immediate family members to live in Hong Kong.
Eligible dependants
- A lawful spouse (including a valid marriage under the Marriage Ordinance or one entered into outside Hong Kong)
- Unmarried, dependent children under 18
The length of stay for a dependant is generally tied to the main applicant's length of stay.
Conditions of stay in Hong Kong
All dependants may study in Hong Kong without first obtaining the Director of Immigration's approval. Dependants of permanent residents, and of persons admitted to work (including under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, QMAS, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and the IANG), are not prohibited from taking up employment in Hong Kong. However, dependants of persons admitted to Hong Kong to study may not take up employment unless they have obtained the Director of Immigration's prior permission.
Counting towards permanent residency
A dependant's years of residence in Hong Kong count towards the seven years of ordinary residence, accumulating independently of the main applicant. Once the seven-year requirement is met, a dependant can apply for a Hong Kong permanent identity card on their own, without the main applicant.
Same-sex spouses
In 2018 the Court of Final Appeal ruled in QT v Director of Immigration that same-sex civil partners should be treated equally in dependant visa applications. The Immigration Department has since accepted applications from same-sex spouses as dependants.