Dependent Visa Support Letter (Hong Kong)

A Dependent Visa Support Letter in Hong Kong states formally the matter at hand and what the writer asks the recipient to do.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department, which administers all visa and entry permit applications under Cap. 115 and the Director of Immigration's published policies, treats the Support Letter as a key document in its assessment of dependant visa applications. The letter must be accurate, detailed, and consistent with all other supporting documents — including payslips, bank statements, the marriage or birth certificate evidencing the relationship, and the tenancy agreement or property ownership documents for the Hong Kong accommodation.

Eligible principal sponsors whose immigration status can support a dependant visa application include holders of employment visas under the General Employment Policy (GEP), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) scheme, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES). Hong Kong permanent residents holding the Right of Abode under Article 24 of the Basic Law may also sponsor dependant visa applications for their spouses and minor children.

The Immigration Department assesses dependant visa applications under the general criteria prescribed in Cap. 115 and the Director of Immigration's policies: the genuineness of the family relationship, the principal's financial resources sufficient to maintain the dependant without recourse to Hong Kong public funds, and the adequacy of accommodation. An employer-issued Support Letter should be on the employer's official letterhead with the company chop and signed by an authorised signatory, typically the Human Resources Director or a company director. A self-issued Support Letter (where the principal writes on their own behalf) should be accompanied by complete financial evidence.

Adult dependant spouses admitted to Hong Kong as dependants are generally granted permission to take up employment or engage in business in Hong Kong without requiring prior approval from the Immigration Department, endorsed on their entry permit under Cap. 115. This employment permission makes Hong Kong's dependant visa particularly attractive for accompanying spouses who wish to continue their professional careers in the SAR.

The Immigration Department processes dependant visa applications under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) at Immigration Tower, Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, and at regional offices in Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, and Sha Tin. The Evidence Ordinance (Cap. 8) governs the authentication of foreign documents — including overseas marriage certificates and birth certificates — submitted in support of a dependant visa application. Documents from jurisdictions that have acceded to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (the Apostille Convention) may require an apostille; documents from mainland China follow the authentication procedures of the China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd rather than the Apostille Convention. The Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486) protects personal data submitted to the Immigration Department, which is a data user bound by the Ordinance's six Data Protection Principles. Section 7 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) empowers the Director of Immigration to grant or refuse permission to remain in Hong Kong as a dependant. Section 11 of Cap. 115 governs the conditions attached to any permission to remain, including conditions specifying the permitted duration and employment rights. Section 41 of Cap. 115 makes it a criminal offence to contravene any condition of stay.

A Dependent Visa Support Letter in Hong Kong is needed whenever an eligible family member of a qualified principal visa holder applies to the Immigration Department for permission to reside in Hong Kong as a dependant under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115).

When an employment visa holder under the General Employment Policy (GEP) or the ASMTP brings their spouse and children to Hong Kong, the employer's Human Resources department must issue a Support Letter confirming the principal's employment terms, salary, and financial capacity. Without a credible, detailed Support Letter, the Immigration Department may refuse or delay the dependant visa application.

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 employment and salary — is required. The IANG holder must demonstrate income sufficient to support both themselves and their spouse in Hong Kong's high-cost residential market.

When a principal admitted under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) or the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) relocates their family to Hong Kong, a Support Letter from the principal is required for each dependant's visa application. TTPS and QMAS holders may initially be self-employed or job-seeking, so their Support Letter must rely on demonstrated financial resources (savings, investments, or other income) rather than a salary from a Hong Kong employer.

When a newly married couple is reuniting in Hong Kong — where the principal already resides as a visa holder and the new spouse is applying from overseas — the Support Letter must reference the marriage certificate and confirm that the accommodation in Hong Kong is adequate for the couple. The marriage certificate, and any required apostille or notarisation depending on the country of marriage, must accompany the application under the Evidence Ordinance (Cap. 8).

When a principal changes employer and obtains a new employment visa in the new employer's name, a fresh Support Letter from the new employer should be prepared to support the simultaneous extension of the dependant's visa, confirming both principal and dependant maintain aligned visa validity.

When a Hong Kong permanent resident sponsors their foreign spouse or minor children for dependant status, the Support Letter must confirm the permanent resident's right of abode status under Cap. 115 and Article 24 of the Basic Law, and provide evidence of financial resources and accommodation adequate for the household.

A Dependent Visa Support Letter in Hong Kong submitted to the Immigration Department under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) must include the following key elements to be complete and effective.

Principal sponsor identity and status: Full legal name as on the HKID card issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance (Cap. 177); HKID number; current immigration status (employment visa category, IANG, QMAS, TTPS, CIES, or permanent residency); and the permitted period of stay and conditions of the current visa or entry permit. A copy of the current visa endorsement or entry permit should accompany the letter.

Employment confirmation: For employed principals, the employer's full registered name and Companies Registry number; the principal's job title, department, and reporting line; the date of commencement of employment; and the current gross monthly salary in HKD. For self-employed principals or investors, the business registration details, nature of business, and evidence of business income or investment returns. The letter should be on official letterhead signed by an authorised signatory with the company's official chop.

Financial capacity: A declaration that the principal's income and financial resources are sufficient to support both the principal and the dependant(s) in Hong Kong without recourse to public funds. Three to six months of payslips and bank statements providing the evidence should accompany the letter. Where the principal receives non-salary income (rental income, investment returns, overseas remittances), evidence of those income streams should also be provided.

Dependant identity and relationship: The dependant's full legal name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and the specific relationship to the principal (spouse or child). For a spouse, the date and place of marriage and the marriage certificate reference number. For a child, the date of birth, and whether the child is a natural child, adopted child (referencing the adoption order under Cap. 290), or stepchild.

Accommodation details: The full address of the Hong Kong accommodation where the dependant will reside with the principal, including flat number, floor, building name, street, and district. A statement that the accommodation is adequate for the household in terms of size and facilities. A copy of the current tenancy agreement or, for owner-occupied properties, the title deed registered with the Land Registry under the Land Registration Ordinance (Cap. 128), should accompany the letter.

Undertakings: A commitment by the principal or employer to notify the Immigration Department if the principal's employment or qualifying immigration status changes in a material way that may affect the dependant's eligibility to remain in Hong Kong. This undertaking demonstrates good faith and compliance-mindedness to the Immigration Department.

Employer authorisation (for employer-issued letters): The name and title of the person signing the letter, confirmation that they are authorised to issue this letter on behalf of the employer, and the employer's official chop. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a practical starting point; an immigration lawyer in Hong Kong can assist with complex dependant visa applications or where previous visa refusals have occurred.

Authentication of foreign documents: Marriage certificates, birth certificates, and other foreign official documents submitted in support of a dependant visa application must be authenticated in accordance with the requirements of the originating jurisdiction and Hong Kong's Evidence Ordinance (Cap. 8). Documents from Apostille Convention countries require an apostille from the competent authority in the country of origin. Documents from mainland China require authentication by the China Legal Service (Hong Kong) Ltd. Documents in languages other than English or Chinese must be accompanied by a certified translation. Forms-legal.com provides this Support Letter template as a practical starting point; an immigration lawyer or licensed immigration consultant in Hong Kong can assist with complex dependant visa applications. Named bodies relevant to dependant visa applications include: the Immigration Department (Director of Immigration and Immigration Officers authorised under Section 6 of Cap. 115); the Labour Department (for employment-related queries); the Education Bureau (for children's school placements); the Housing Authority (for public housing eligibility); the Social Welfare Department (for public funds assessment); and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) for MPF registration of working dependants under Cap. 485.