The training visa in Hong Kong is a great immigration scheme for those employers who seek to have a foreign national come to Hong Kong for a period of 6 to 12 months to receive a specific training schedule.

The training visa is actually a subcategory of the work visa, specifically-designed for those who are required to come to Hong Kong to receive training in skills related to their current work, or for international students who are doing an internship. However, there are certain requirements and restrictions for the training visa application which you have to be aware of and be well-prepared for before the application process begins.

The basics

Comparatively speaking, with the right documentation, training visas are easily issued by the authorities in Hong Kong, and the nature of the accreditation test for training visas is whether the original form of the subject is being sponsored by the applicant’s home country or not, while the range and period of the training have to be generally considered reasonable in all circumstances.

Scope and schedule of planned training

Under a training visa for Hong Kong, the maximum stay period of the applicant can be for 12 months, but in most cases is granted for 6 months. The final approved duration of stay will entirely depend on scope and schedule included in the presented training plan within the application.

The main purpose of this visa type is to allow applicants a way to come to Hong Kong to receive specific education and training, which should both be obtained from the employing company in Hong Kong. The extent of the relationship does not have to be fixed. However, the Department of Immigration believes there is a logical link between the parties sending such applications and the companies in Hong Kong that will eventually perform or deliver the training locally.

Therefore, it can be said that the training plan within the application is essential, and serves as the single most important documentation within the process. It not only largely determines the duration of stay, but also provides the necessary grounds for the approval of such a visa to a specific individual. Therefore, a carefully crafted and detailed training plan must be submitted as part of any training visa application for any chance for it to be eventually successful.

Eligibility criteria of Training Visa Hong Kong

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• The applicant should have no record of criminal offence and no security objection.
• The credentials of the applicant as well as the sponsoring company should be satisfactory.
• The company that is sponsoring the applicant must be a well-established company, capable of sponsoring the training.
• There must be a signed contract between the applicant and the sponsoring company.
• The sponsoring company must guarantee in writing that the applicant will receive the training on the company premises,and will return to their home country after the training period is over. The company also needs to take the responsibility of the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant.
• The proposed content and duration of the training program must be justifiable.

Can dependents be included in the training visa application? 

Yes, it is possible to include your spouse or partner and dependent children under 18 on the training visa Hong Kong, under the current dependent policy.

Your application to include your dependents will be favourably viewed if:

• You can provide evidence that there is a genuine relationship between your dependent and you. For instance, if you want to include your spouse on your training visa application, you may need to provide a marriage certificate.
• There must be no detrimental record of the dependent.
• You must be able to financially support your dependents and provide them suitable accommodation in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong training visa extensions

Since the Hong Kong Immigration department has set requirements and very specific grounds for granting approvals initially, it can be quite difficult to secure an extension of the training visa afterwards. Hence, it is paramount to submit a training visa application in which the entire training plan can be carried out fully, with all its stipulated scope and activities, and that the next required staying period will generally not be granted for up to 12 months.

As the training visa allows the applicant to come to Hong Kong for specific training only, it is usually not possible to extend the approved visa after the initial training period ends, and visa holders are required to depart Hong Kong and return to their native land after its expiration.

A further point to note is that it is allowed and possible for the accompanying family members of training visa holders to have principal and safe dependent visas, while they are currently staying in Hong Kong.

Frequently Asked Questions