IANG Visa Application Support Letter (Hong Kong)

An IANG Visa Application Support Letter in Hong Kong sets out the particulars an applicant must provide to obtain the approval concerned.

The IANG scheme was introduced in May 2008 by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government as part of its talent attraction strategy for non-local graduates who have completed degree-level or higher studies at Hong Kong institutions. The scheme provides a direct immigration pathway for graduates of the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Baptist University, Lingnan University, City University of Hong Kong, and other accredited institutions to remain in or return to Hong Kong for work, without the prior approval process required under the standard General Employment Policy (GEP) administered by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

The IANG scheme operates on two tracks under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115). Track 1 — the Fresh Graduate Track — is open to persons who have completed a full-time locally accredited programme leading to a first degree or higher qualification at a Hong Kong university or institution and who apply within six months of completing their studies or of the expiry of their student visa. Under Track 1, applicants do not need a job offer to apply; they receive an initial 12-month permission to stay and seek employment. Track 2 — the Returning Graduate Track — is open to persons who graduated from a Hong Kong institution but subsequently left Hong Kong and wish to return; they must have a confirmed job offer at the time of application.

For Track 1 IANG holders seeking renewal of their permission to stay after the initial 12-month period, the employment offer and salary must meet the prevailing minimum salary threshold set by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, based on the monthly median wage of fresh university graduates as reported in the Government's graduate employment survey. The minimum salary threshold is updated periodically by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. An employer's support letter is typically required for both the initial application (if the applicant already has a job offer) and for subsequent extensions tied to specific employment.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department requires the support letter to be on the employer's official letterhead, signed by an authorised signatory, and to contain specific information about the job offer and the employer's commitment. Under Section 2 of Cap. 115, conditions of stay are endorsed on the IANG holder's travel document and must be complied with at all times. A poorly prepared or incomplete support letter is one of the most common causes of delay or rejection of IANG applications, as confirmed by the Hong Kong Immigration Department's published guidance.

An IANG Visa Application Support Letter in Hong Kong is required in the following circumstances involving non-local graduates seeking to work and reside in Hong Kong under the IANG scheme administered by the Hong Kong Immigration Department under Cap. 115.

A Hong Kong employer that has offered employment to a non-local graduate applying under IANG Track 2 (returning graduate with job offer) must prepare a support letter for the employee's IANG application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Without the employer's support letter confirming the job offer, salary, and sponsorship, the Hong Kong Immigration Department will not process the Track 2 IANG application. The support letter must satisfy the requirements set out in Section 11 of Cap. 115 and the Hong Kong Immigration Department's published guidance on IANG applications.

A Hong Kong employer that has offered employment to a current IANG Track 1 holder (who is already in Hong Kong with permission to seek employment) should prepare a support letter for the employee's first extension application. The Track 1 holder's initial 12-month period is for job-seeking; once employment is secured meeting the minimum salary threshold set by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, the IANG holder applies for extension of their stay and must produce the employer's support letter confirming the employment. The letter must state the monthly salary in HKD clearly, as the Hong Kong Immigration Department assesses compliance with the minimum threshold.

When an existing IANG visa holder changes jobs or employers during their IANG status, the new employer must prepare a fresh support letter for the IANG holder's application to vary the conditions of their stay or for their next extension application. Working for a different employer than specified in the Hong Kong Immigration Department's records without prior notification may constitute a breach of Section 38 of Cap. 115 regarding conditions of stay, which is a criminal offence.

An IANG holder whose employer has initiated a transfer or promotion to a different role within the same company — particularly if the new role involves a significant change in job title, responsibilities, or remuneration — should apply for a variation of their conditions of stay, supported by an updated employer support letter reflecting the new role. The Hong Kong Immigration Department requires evidence of the change in role and salary.

A Hong Kong university, polytechnic, or higher education institution sponsor supporting a non-local graduate who has completed their studies and is applying for IANG status may also be asked to provide a confirmation letter alongside or as a supplement to the employer's support letter, confirming the graduate's academic credentials and the completion of their programme at the relevant Hong Kong institution.

A Hong Kong IANG Visa Application Support Letter must address the following key elements to satisfy the Hong Kong Immigration Department's requirements under Cap. 115 and to support a successful IANG application.

The employer's details must be stated on the company's official letterhead and must include: the company's full registered name as recorded with the Hong Kong Companies Registry under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622); the Hong Kong Business Registration Number (BRN) issued by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310); the company's registered office address and principal place of business in Hong Kong; and the contact details of the authorised signatory (name, title, telephone, email). The employer should confirm that the company holds a valid Business Registration Certificate displayed at its Hong Kong premises, as required by Section 7 of Cap. 310.

The applicant's identification must state: the applicant's full legal name as on their passport; their date of birth; their passport number and nationality; and their IANG visa reference number or previous Hong Kong immigration reference number (if applicable). Where the applicant holds a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID), the HKID number should be included.

The job offer details must confirm: the position title and a brief description of the role and responsibilities; the department or team; the start date or anticipated commencement date; and whether the position is full-time or part-time. For Track 2 returning graduates, the job offer must pre-date the IANG application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

The salary confirmation must state the monthly salary in Hong Kong dollars (HKD). The stated salary must meet or exceed the Hong Kong Immigration Department's current minimum salary threshold for IANG applicants. The base monthly salary is the figure assessed by the Hong Kong Immigration Department to confirm compliance with the threshold. Other remuneration components (annual bonus, housing allowance, medical insurance) may be mentioned for completeness.

The statement of genuineness must confirm that the position is a genuine employment position, that the company is a legitimate business operating in Hong Kong, and that the company will notify the Hong Kong Immigration Department if the employment is terminated before the expiry of the IANG holder's permission to stay. This statement directly addresses the Hong Kong Immigration Department's concern about sham employment arrangements and dummy employer letters.

The company's compliance undertaking should confirm that the company will comply with all applicable Hong Kong employment laws — particularly Section 6 of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57) regarding wages and statutory entitlements, the Minimum Wage Ordinance (Cap. 608), and Section 7 of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap. 485) requiring employer MPF contributions — in relation to the employment of the IANG applicant.

The letter must be signed by an authorised signatory — typically the Human Resources Director, Chief Executive Officer, or a company director — and stamped with the company's official corporate chop. The date of the letter should be recent (typically within three months of the IANG application submission date).

Employer verification: The Hong Kong Immigration Department may conduct verification checks on the employing company to confirm that it is a legitimate, actively trading business registered with the Hong Kong Companies Registry and holding a valid Business Registration Certificate issued by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department under Cap. 310. Employers with a history of IANG sponsorships that did not result in genuine employment may face scrutiny. The support letter should accurately reflect the genuine employment arrangement and must not contain any misrepresentations — providing false information to the Hong Kong Immigration Department is a criminal offence under Section 42 of Cap. 115.

Post-approval obligations: Once the IANG holder's visa is approved or extended by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, the employer must notify the department if the employment terminates before the expiry of the approved stay period. The IANG holder must carry their travel document and IANG endorsement at all times and must comply with all conditions of stay including working only for the sponsoring employer unless a variation is approved by the Hong Kong Immigration Department under Section 51 of Cap. 115. Forms-legal.com provides this template for use by Hong Kong employers and sponsors supporting IANG visa applications.