In general, non-permanent residents (other than foreign domestic helpers, imported workers, Mainland residents admitted as student, entrants admitted under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, and their dependants) may apply for extension of stay in the HKSAR within 4 weeks before their limit of stay expires. Such applications will be considered only where it is satisfied that the circumstances upon which the applicant acquired his/her current immigration status remain unchanged.
Processing Time
Routine applications will normally be finalised within two to three weeks upon receipt of all necessary documents.
Application Form
Applicants must submit a completed and signed form ID 91. If the applicant is under the age of 16, the form should be signed by the applicant’s parent or legal guardian. For applicants on dependant status, form ID 481A which is duly completed and signed by the sponsor should also be submitted. If the applicant is the spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union entered into by him/her in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration Note of the sponsor, the applicant should complete and sign form ID 481B. All of these forms can be obtained free of charge from the Immigration Department Headquarters and the Immigration Branch Offices.
The forms can also be downloaded here.
Supporting Documents
Depending on the applicant’s current immigration status, the following forms and documents (original) are required upon submission of the application:
- General Employment Policy Entrants
- Forms/Documents Required
- Original and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSARPhotocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity cardCompleted form ID 91Supporting letter from the current employer stating the applicant’s position, total monthly remuneration and period of employment@Completed form ID 990B and supporting documents listed in Part VII(B) of the Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong [ID(E) 991]^Documentary proof of the applicant having an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of tax assessment, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous tax assessment year issued by the Inland Revenue Department or relevant tax documents*@For extension of stay without change of employment^For extension of stay with change of employment*For extension of stay applications under the top-tier employment stream
- Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents EntrantsForms/Documents RequiredOriginal and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSARPhotocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity cardCompleted form ID 91Completed form ID 990B and supporting documents listed in Part VII(B) of the Guidebook for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong [ID(E) 991]^Supporting letter from the current employer stating the applicant’s position, total monthly remuneration and period of employment*^For first time extension and subsequent extension with change of employer*For subsequent extension without change of employer
- EntrepreneursForms/Documents RequiredOriginal and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSARPhotocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity cardCompleted form ID 91Supporting letter from the current company stating the applicant’s contribution to Hong Kong (including the amount of capital invested and to be invested in the coming three years, the number of posts created for local employees with post titles and those to be created in the coming three years, etc.)Photocopy of Business Registration CertificateLetter indicating valid support by a government-backed programme**For applicants who wish to establish or join in, or has established or joined, in a start-up business supported by a government-backed programme. For examples of government-backed programmes, please refer to paragraph 3(c)(ii) of Part II of the Guidebook for Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong [ID(E) 1000]
- Non-Mainland StudentsForms/Documents RequiredOriginal and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSARPhotocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity cardCompleted form ID 91Current school letter addressed to the Immigration Department confirming that the student requires extension of stay to continue study
- DependantsForms/Documents RequiredOriginal and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSARPhotocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity cardCompleted form ID 91Photocopy of the sponsor’s valid travel document (showing personal particulars and current permission of stay) or Hong Kong Permanent Identity CardCompleted form ID 481ACompleted form ID 481B (for dependent spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union entered into by him/her in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration Note)Applicant’s birth certificate (for children born in the HKSAR to non-permanent residents only) *Applicant’s Form ID 235B (for children born in the HKSAR to non-permanent residents only) *Parents’ marriage certificate (for children born in the HKSAR to non-permanent residents only) **For first time application only
Notwithstanding that the documents and information required have been furnished, applicants may still be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with the application(s) when necessary.
Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.