The dependant visa is an important mechanism within Hong Kong’s immigration system that safeguards family reunion. While the principal applicant holds a Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) visa, a Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) visa, an IANG visa or an NCE visa, eligible immediate family members may apply for a dependant visa to come to Hong Kong — this is crucial for applicants considering relocating with their families.
§1 Eligible Dependants
According to the current policy of the Immigration Department, the following persons may apply for a dependant visa:
Legal spouse: a marriage entered into under the Marriage Ordinance, or a marriage lawfully entered into outside Hong Kong and recognised by Hong Kong. Following the 2018 Court of Final Appeal QT case, same-sex civil partners may also be considered under certain conditions (see §6).
Children under 18 who are unmarried and dependent: this includes biological children, lawfully adopted children, and stepchildren (where the principal applicant is married to the child’s parent).
Other family members (parents, siblings, adult children, etc.) cannot come to Hong Kong as dependants; they must apply separately for a visit visa or an independent immigration visa based on their own eligibility.
§2 Required Supporting Documents
The processing time for a dependant visa is usually 4–8 weeks, and it may be submitted together with or separately from the principal applicant’s visa application.
§3 Rights of Dependants in Hong Kong
Employment: A dependant spouse may work or change jobs freely in Hong Kong without a separate work visa. This leads many families to adopt the strategy of “the principal applicant taking the top talent route while the spouse works in Hong Kong.”
Education: Dependant children may attend government, aided, Direct Subsidy Scheme or private schools in Hong Kong without a separate student visa. This includes international schools.
Healthcare: Dependants may use Hong Kong’s public healthcare services (subject to fees charged to non-Hong Kong residents, until the principal applicant becomes a Hong Kong permanent resident).
§4 Permanent Residency Clock Rules
A dependant’s period of residence in Hong Kong is counted independently towards the seven-year ordinary residence requirement for permanent residency. Once the dependant meets the seven-year ordinary residence condition, they may choose to:
- Apply for permanent residency together with the principal applicant
- Apply independently after the principal applicant has been granted permanent residency (without the principal applicant needing to accompany the application)
- Continue their stay as a dependant and apply at a later date
Note: The permanent residency clock for a dependant visa starts from the date the dependant first enters Hong Kong as a dependant, not from the principal applicant’s starting point. If the dependant arrives in Hong Kong one year after the principal applicant, the dependant’s seven-year period will also end one year later than the principal applicant’s.
§5 Potential Limitations of a Dependant Visa
- A dependant’s limit of stay is tied to the principal applicant’s visa. If the principal applicant’s visa expires or is cancelled, the dependant’s visa also becomes invalid
- The principal applicant must prove they have sufficient financial capacity to support the dependant. This is the most common reason for a dependant visa being refused
- If the principal applicant and the dependant separate or divorce, the continuation of the dependant visa will be affected
§6 Same-Sex Spouses — Changes after the QT Case
In 2018, the Court of Final Appeal ruled in QT v. Director of Immigration that the Immigration Department’s refusal to issue dependant visas to same-sex civil partners constituted sexual orientation discrimination, violating the equal protection principles of the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance.
Subsequently, the Immigration Department updated its dependant visa assessment policy: a same-sex spouse who can demonstrate that their relationship is “a valid marriage, civil union or registered partnership outside monogamy” may be considered for a dependant visa. The applicant must provide documentary proof of a civil partnership lawfully formed overseas.
As of early 2025, several dozen same-sex spouse dependant visa applications have been approved. However, it should be noted that the Immigration Department’s assessment criteria are still evolving, and not all same-sex partnerships are necessarily approved.
This article is an independent editorial study and does not constitute legal advice. For actual applications, please consult a licensed Hong Kong immigration consultant or lawyer.
Turn this guide into your next step
If you are comparing visa routes, budgets or timelines, email us a question. We point you to public policy sources such as the Immigration Department.