Dependant Visa Application Support (Hong Kong)

A Dependant Visa Application Support in Hong Kong supports an application to the relevant authority for the approval or registration sought. The Hong Kong Immigration Department administers dependant visa applications under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) and the Director of Immigration's published policies. Dependant visas are formally called 'entry for residence as dependant' and are granted by entry permit (for persons requiring permission to enter Hong Kong) or by visa endorsement. The visa entitles the dependant to reside in Hong Kong for the duration of the principal's permitted stay, with conditions including typically the right to take up employment or engage in business without prior approval of the Immigration Department. The principal visa holder — the person whose presence in Hong Kong provides the legal basis for the dependant's visa — must hold a recognised immigration status in Hong Kong. Eligible principal categories include: holders of employment visas under the General Employment Policy (GEP) or the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP); holders of investment visas under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES); holders of IANG visas under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates scheme; holders of admission visas under the various talent admission schemes including the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS); and holders of approved dependent status who have subsequently obtained their own independent status. Eligible dependants who can apply for a dependant visa are: a legally married spouse of the principal visa holder; and unmarried natural children, legally adopted children, or stepchildren of the principal visa holder who are under 18 years of age. Same-sex spouses face procedural complexity in the dependant visa context, as the Immigration Department's standard practice has been to treat marriage as defined under domestic law; the Court of Final Appeal has issued judgments on related issues and the position continues to evolve. Section 7 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) empowers the Director of Immigration to grant, refuse, cancel, or vary permission for persons to enter or remain in Hong Kong. Section 11 of Cap. 115 governs the conditions that may be attached to any permission to remain, including conditions requiring the dependant to depart if the principal's permission ceases. The support letter is a key document in the dependant visa application. The Immigration Department uses it to assess the principal's financial capacity to support the dependant without recourse to public funds, the genuineness of the relationship, and the adequacy of the accommodation in Hong Kong. The letter must be accurate, detailed, and consistent with the other supporting documents submitted with the application. The Immigration Department processes dependant visa applications at its offices in Immigration Tower, Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, and at regional offices in Kowloon and the New Territories. Application forms — including Form ID(E) 992 for dependant entry permit applications — are available from the Immigration Department's offices and its official website. Processing times for dependant visa applications vary from approximately four to eight weeks for straightforward cases, though complex applications or those requiring additional documentation may take longer. The Immigration Department does not guarantee processing times, and applicants should plan accordingly. The Evidence Ordinance (Cap. 8) governs the admissibility and authentication of documents in Hong Kong proceedings. Section 22 of Cap. 8 addresses the proof of public documents from overseas jurisdictions; foreign documents including marriage certificates and birth certificates from overseas jurisdictions may require apostille certification or notarisation before submission to the Immigration Department.

A Hong Kong Dependant Visa Application Support Letter is required whenever an eligible family member of a principal visa holder applies to the Immigration Department for permission to reside in Hong Kong as a dependant.

When a person holding an employment visa under the General Employment Policy (GEP) or the ASMTP wishes to bring their spouse and children to Hong Kong, the employer's Human Resources department or the employee themselves must prepare a support letter for the dependant visa application. Without a credible support letter demonstrating financial capacity and confirming the employment relationship, the Immigration Department may decline to grant the dependant visa or may issue a visa with restricted conditions.

When a recent graduate holding an IANG visa has secured employment in Hong Kong and wishes to bring their spouse to join them, a support letter from the IANG holder (and ideally also from their employer confirming the IANG holder's employment and salary) is required. The IANG holder must demonstrate that their income meets or exceeds the threshold required to support a dependant.

When a person admitted under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), or another talent admission scheme wishes to bring their family to Hong Kong, the dependant visa application requires the principal to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency consistent with the requirements of their specific admission scheme.

When a principal visa holder changes employer — and therefore obtains a new employment visa specifying the new employer — the dependant's visa remains linked to the principal's status. If the principal obtains a fresh employment visa in a new employer's name, the dependant should ideally apply for a simultaneous extension of their own dependant status. A support letter reflecting the new employment is required for the extension application.

When a newly married couple is reuniting in Hong Kong — where one spouse is already a principal visa holder and the other has been living abroad — the newly married spouse's application for a dependant visa requires a support letter from the principal confirming the marriage, the financial capacity to support the new spouse, and the accommodation available in Hong Kong. The marriage certificate (and any required apostille or legalisation) must accompany the support letter.

A Hong Kong Dependant Visa Application Support Letter must address the following key elements to satisfy the Immigration Department's requirements under Cap. 115 and the Director of Immigration's policies.

The identity and status of the principal visa holder must be clearly stated, including: full legal name as on the HKID or entry permit; HKID number or entry permit reference; current immigration status and permitted period of stay in Hong Kong; and the basis of the principal's immigration status (e.g., employment visa under GEP, IANG visa, TTPS entry).

The employment details of the principal must confirm: the name and address of the employer (if employed); the principal's position and job title; the commencement date of employment; and the monthly salary in HKD. For self-employed principals or investors, the business registration details, nature of business, and income evidence must be provided.

The financial capacity statement must demonstrate that the principal's income is sufficient to support both themselves and the dependant applicant without recourse to Hong Kong public funds. The Immigration Department does not publish a specific minimum income threshold for dependant visas, but in practice the principal's income must comfortably cover the cost of accommodation, living expenses, and the dependant's needs. Recent payslips, bank statements (typically 3–6 months), and the employer's confirmation of salary are the primary financial evidence.

The identity and relationship of the dependant applicant must be stated, including: the dependant's full legal name; date of birth; relationship to the principal (spouse or child); and the nature of the relationship evidence (marriage certificate reference for a spouse; birth certificate reference for a child). Where the dependant is a stepchild or adopted child, the relevant legal documents evidencing the relationship must be referenced.

The accommodation confirmation must state the address of the accommodation in Hong Kong where the dependant will reside with the principal, and confirm that the accommodation is adequate for the household. Supporting evidence — a tenancy agreement or property title documents — should be attached.

For employer-issued support letters (where the employer is writing on behalf of the principal employee), the letter must be on the employer's official letterhead, signed by an authorised signatory (typically the HR Director or a director of the company), and stamped with the company's official chop. The employer's business registration number should be included to confirm the legitimacy of the employing entity.

The letter should conclude with a statement of support for the dependant's visa application and an undertaking to notify the Immigration Department if the principal's employment or immigration status changes in a way that may affect the dependant's eligibility to remain in Hong Kong.

Related documents: Alongside the Support Letter, the Immigration Department will require the dependant's application form (Form ID(E) 992), a valid passport, passport photographs, the marriage or birth certificate evidencing the relationship, proof of accommodation in Hong Kong (tenancy agreement or property title documents registered with the Land Registry under Cap. 128), and financial evidence (payslips and bank statements). Section 38 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) makes it an offence for any person to make a false representation or produce a false document to the Immigration Department. All information in the Support Letter must be accurate and verifiable. Section 41 of Cap. 115 provides that any person who contravenes any condition of stay commits an offence punishable by fine and imprisonment.

Forms-legal.com provides this Support Letter template as a practical starting point. An immigration lawyer in Hong Kong can assist with complex dependant visa applications, second applications following a refusal, or cases involving same-sex relationships, where the Immigration Department's published policies are evolving following judgments of the Court of Final Appeal.