# Hong Kong IANG Visa: Staying After You Graduate
> How non-local graduates can stay and work in Hong Kong under the IANG scheme: eligibility, fees, documents, extensions, and PR pathway.
**URL:** https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/hong-kong-iang-visa-staying-after-you-graduate
**Last Updated:** 2026-05-30
**Tags:** resources, discussion
---
If you've just finished a degree in Hong Kong and want to stay on to work, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) is the route most graduates use. It lets you remain in the HKSAR for an initial 24 months without needing a job offer first, and it can be extended for years until you qualify for permanent residency.
*Last updated: May 30, 2026*
## What the IANG visa is and who it's for
The Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) is a dedicated immigration scheme run by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. It was launched in 2008 to keep non-local talent in the city after graduation, and it has become the dominant post-study work route: as at the end of April 2025, the Immigration Department had received 177,567 IANG applications and approved 172,043 of them.
The scheme is designed for people who:
- Hold a non-local passport (i.e. not a Hong Kong permanent resident).
- Have completed a full-time, locally-accredited programme at undergraduate level or above in Hong Kong, OR completed a programme at a Hong Kong university's Greater Bay Area (GBA) campus under the current pilot.
- Want to stay (or return) to take up or look for employment.
The GBA campus pilot was extended by an additional two years in the 2024 Policy Address, and as of April 2025, 2,825 IANG applications had come from GBA campus graduates.
## Eligibility in detail
The Immigration Department splits IANG applicants into two groups, and the difference matters.
Non-local recent graduates are those who apply within six months after the date shown on their graduation certificate. They do not need a job offer to apply. This is the most common path for students transitioning straight from study to work.
Non-local non-recent graduates are those applying more than six months after graduation, including people who have returned home and want to come back later. They must have a confirmed offer of employment in Hong Kong at the time of application. There is no upper time limit since graduation, so even graduates from several years ago can apply, provided they have secured a job.
A few nationality restrictions apply:
- IANG does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
- For nationals of Laos, Nepal, and Vietnam, IANG is only available if the qualification was obtained at a University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded university (excluding self-financing, continuing education, or exchange programmes) or via a GBA campus.
If you graduated from a self-financing institution and hold one of those passports, you'll need to look at a different visa category, such as the General Employment Policy.
## What you get with IANG
The terms are unusually generous compared with most working visas in the region.
- Initial stay of 24 months on time limitation only, with no other conditions of stay.
- No job offer required for recent graduates at the application stage.
- Free to take up and change employment during your permitted stay without seeking prior approval from the Immigration Department.
- Can sponsor a spouse (or partner in a legally recognised civil partnership or union) and unmarried dependent children under 18 as dependants.
- Counts toward the seven years of continuous ordinary residence required for Right of Abode (permanent residency).
The initial limit was raised from 12 to 24 months following the 2022 Policy Address, which is what makes the scheme genuinely workable for fresh graduates testing the job market.
## Document checklist
Gather these before starting your online application. The Immigration Department will reject incomplete submissions, and missing documents are the single biggest cause of delay.
- Completed application form (ID 990A) and supplementary sheet (ID 990B) if applicable, generated through the online portal.
- Recent passport-sized photograph.
- Copy of the personal particulars page of your travel document, plus pages showing the latest arrival stamp or e-Visa.
- Copy of your Hong Kong identity card (if you already have one as a former student).
- Graduation certificate from the Hong Kong (or GBA campus) institution. If you haven't received it yet, a proof-of-graduation letter from the institution is accepted.
- Academic transcript covering the full programme.
- For non-recent graduates: employment contract or offer letter showing position, salary, and duration.
- Proof of financial means to support yourself during the initial stay if you don't yet have a job (bank statements, sponsor letter, etc.).
- Application fee payment.
If you are still awaiting final results when your student visa expires, you can apply for an interim extension of stay on student condition while the IANG application is pending.
## Fees and processing time
Fees were revised in early 2025 and are higher than the long-standing flat rate that many older guides still quote. The Immigration (Amendment) Regulation 2025 took effect at 11 a.m. on 26 February 2025.
| Item | Amount (HKD) |
|---|---|
| Non-refundable application fee (Specified Schemes, incl. IANG) | 600 |
| Visa/entry permit issuance fee (valid more than 180 days) | 1,300 |
| Visa/entry permit issuance fee (valid 180 days or less) | 600 |
The application fee is charged when you submit, regardless of outcome. The issuance fee is only payable if your application is approved.
Payment methods accepted on the online portal include Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB, PPS, FPS, and Mainland e-wallets (Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay App).
Processing time:
- Initial IANG applications by recent graduates: about two weeks from receipt of all required documents and the fee.
- Extension of stay: normally two to three weeks, with longer waits during the June to August summer rush.
The visa is issued as an e-Visa. You can print it on A4 paper or store it on a mobile device, and the encrypted QR code is scanned at the immigration counter on arrival.
## How to apply, step by step
1. Confirm eligibility. Check whether you are a recent or non-recent graduate, and whether your nationality and institution combination is covered.
2. Assemble documents. Scan everything in advance as PDFs or JPEGs that meet the portal's size limits.
3. Create an account on the IANG online portal at gov.hk/iang, operated by the HKSAR Immigration Department.
4. Complete the online form and upload supporting documents.
5. Pay the HKD 600 application fee via the portal.
6. Wait for processing (around two weeks for recent graduates).
7. Pay the issuance fee (HKD 1,300 for the initial 24-month visa) once approved.
8. Download the e-Visa and either print it or save it to your phone.
9. If you're applying from outside Hong Kong, enter Hong Kong and have the QR code scanned at immigration.
10. Apply for a Hong Kong identity card within 30 days of landing if you don't already have one.
For extensions of stay, you must be physically present in Hong Kong at the time of application, and you can submit within three months before your current limit of stay expires.
## Extensions and the path to permanent residency
IANG has historically followed a "2+3+3" pattern: an initial 24 months followed by successive three-year extensions. In practice, this means most graduates who continue in steady employment can stay for the full seven-year qualifying period without switching to another visa.
A caveat that emerged in 2025: there were reports that some IANG holders whose employment contracts were close to expiry did not receive three-year extensions as smoothly as the pattern suggested, and the issue was raised in the Legislative Council on 11 June 2025. If your contract is short or about to end, line up either a contract renewal or a new offer before applying for extension, and keep documentation of your career progression and salary.
Non-Chinese nationals can apply for the Right of Abode (permanent residency) after ordinarily residing in Hong Kong continuously for not less than seven years, under Schedule 1 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap 115). The Immigration Department finalises 95% of Right of Abode applications within three months of receipt of all necessary documents.
Time spent in Hong Kong as a student before your IANG visa counts toward the seven years, provided the residence was continuous and ordinary. Long absences for work assignments overseas can complicate this assessment, so keep travel records.
## Common pitfalls
- Missing the six-month window. If you let more than six months pass after the date on your graduation certificate without applying, you flip into the non-recent category and will need a job offer. Plan accordingly if you intend to travel home first.
- Using outdated fee figures. Many blog posts and even some university career pages still quote the old HKD 230 flat fee. The correct figures since 26 February 2025 are HKD 600 application plus HKD 1,300 issuance for a multi-year visa.
- Self-financing programme + restricted nationality. Graduates from Laos, Nepal, and Vietnam from self-financing institutions are not eligible. Check this before assuming IANG will work for you.
- Applying from outside Hong Kong for an extension. Extensions require physical presence in Hong Kong. If you'll be travelling near your expiry date, return early.
- Assuming a three-year extension is automatic. Recent cases suggest that holders with very short remaining contracts may receive shorter extensions. Prepare a stable employment package before renewing.
- Forgetting about dependants. If your spouse or children will join you, file their dependant visa applications around the same time as yours. Processing is separate and adds weeks.
- Not tracking continuous residence. If permanent residency is the goal, log every departure from Hong Kong with dates. The Immigration Department's seven-year test looks at continuity and the centre of your life.
## Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer to apply for IANG?
Not if you apply within six months of the date on your graduation certificate. After that window, yes, you need a confirmed offer.
Can I switch jobs on IANG?
Yes. IANG holders can take up and change employment freely during their permitted stay without notifying or seeking prior approval from the Immigration Department.
Can I apply if I graduated several years ago?
Yes. There is no upper time limit since graduation. You'll be treated as a non-recent graduate and will need an employment offer.
Can I bring my family?
Yes. Spouses (including partners in legally recognised civil partnerships or unions) and unmarried dependent children under 18 are eligible as dependants.
How long until I can apply for permanent residency?
Seven years of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong. Your student years usually count toward this.
What if I'm still waiting for my graduation certificate?
You can apply for IANG using a proof-of-graduation letter from your institution. If your student visa is expiring before results are released, apply for an interim extension on student condition.
Who do I contact at the Immigration Department?
Phone (852) 2824 6111 or email enquiry@immd.gov.hk. The official IANG page is at immd.gov.hk under Services > Visas.
If you're settling into Hong Kong long-term and want to function comfortably in Cantonese-speaking environments (or pick up Mandarin for cross-border work), learning the language through the news, shows, and YouTube channels you already consume helps it stick. [Try Migaku](https://migaku.com/signup) if that approach suits how you actually live in the city.