Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China · family · Leads to settlement
Entry for Residence as Dependants
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 13 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Route for spouses, civil partners, dependent children and (for permanent-resident sponsors) elderly parents to reside in Hong Kong.
- Processing time
- The Immigration Department indicates it normally takes about six weeks to process a complete application; confirm current timing on the official page.
- Government fees
- A visa/entry permit fee applies on issuance. Refer to the Immigration Department fee schedule on the official page.
- Typical duration
- Stay normally aligned with the sponsor permitted period of stay; renewable alongside the sponsor.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 9 July 2026, the Entry for Residence as Dependants for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is a sponsor-led Hong Kong immigration route. Sources: official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/hong-kong/dependant-visa#answer
What is the Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China?
Entry for Residence as Dependants is a sponsor-led Hong Kong route. Indicative government fees are A visa/entry permit fee applies on issuance. Refer to the Immigration Department fee schedule on the official page; indicative processing time is The Immigration Department indicates it normally takes about six weeks to process a complete application; confirm current timing on the official page; typical duration is Stay normally aligned with the sponsor permitted period of stay; renewable alongside the sponsor. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The dependant route lets eligible family members of a Hong Kong sponsor reside in the territory. Sponsors admitted for employment, investment, study or under a capital-investment scheme can bring a spouse or civil partner and unmarried dependent children under 18. Permanent residents and people with no limit of stay can additionally sponsor parents aged 60 or above. Approval requires a genuine relationship, a clear record for the applicant, and a sponsor who can support the dependant well above subsistence level. Continuous ordinary residence of not less than seven years can lead to the right of abode.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓The sponsor is admitted for employment, investment, study or under a capital-investment scheme, or is a permanent resident or person with no limit of stay.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓The applicant is the spouse or civil partner, or an unmarried dependent child under 18, of the sponsor (or a parent aged 60 or above where the sponsor is a permanent resident or has no limit of stay).Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓Reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant and the sponsor.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓No security objection and no known record of serious crime in respect of the applicant.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓The sponsor is able to support the dependant living at a standard well above the subsistence level and provide suitable accommodation.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
Common blockers
- !The sponsor own status does not permit sponsoring the particular dependant category.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- !Inability to prove a genuine relationship.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- !The sponsor cannot demonstrate sufficient financial means or accommodation.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- !A security objection or record of serious crime in respect of the applicant.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Passports and personal particulars of applicant and sponsor.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ·Marriage or civil-partnership certificate, or children birth certificates, evidencing the relationship.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ·The sponsor proof of status in Hong Kong.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ·The sponsor financial evidence and proof of accommodation.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the sponsor status allows sponsoring the specific dependant category.
Build the evidence pack
Gather relationship documents and the sponsor financial and accommodation evidence.
Submit through the official channel
Submit the dependant application to the Immigration Department with the sponsor supporting forms.
After approval
After approval, the dependant enters and resides in line with the sponsor stay, building toward seven-year residence.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Entry for Residence as Dependants, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Hong Kong. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorUse official Entry for Residence as Dependants route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Entry for Residence as Dependants.
Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) · verified
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Frequently asked questions
Who can sponsor a dependant in Hong Kong?+
Sponsors fall into two broad groups. Those admitted for employment, investment, study or under a capital-investment scheme can sponsor a spouse or civil partner and unmarried dependent children under 18. Hong Kong permanent residents and people with no limit of stay can additionally sponsor parents aged 60 or above.
Does time as a dependant count toward the right of abode?+
Dependants admitted into Hong Kong are residing there, and the general rule is that a person who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in accordance with the law. Continuity of lawful ordinary residence is the key factor, so confirm your own circumstances against the official guidance.
My child is 19 — can I still bring them as a dependant?+
The dependant route covers an unmarried dependent child only where they are under 18, so a 19-year-old would not qualify as a dependent child under this route. Check the official Immigration Department page for any other arrangements that may apply.
Can I bring my civil partner to Hong Kong, not just a spouse?+
Yes. The dependant route lets an eligible sponsor bring a spouse or civil partner, provided you give reasonable proof of a genuine relationship. Confirm the documentary requirements on the official Immigration Department page.
How long does a Hong Kong dependant application take compared with a work visa?+
The Immigration Department indicates a complete dependant application normally takes about six weeks to process, whereas employment and talent routes such as the GEP and Top Talent Pass Scheme indicate about four weeks. Confirm current timing on the official pages.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Hong KongHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR)
Last checked: 1 June 2026