Working In Hong Kong: Opportunities For International Students

Hong Kong has various opportunities for international students who wish to work in the country. Non-local students on full-time, locally-accredited programmes at the undergraduate level or above can take up internships, provided they are study-related and arranged by their educational institution. From 1 November 2024, these students will also be allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong during their stay. Students can stay in Hong Kong for 12 months and search for jobs, and upon receiving a job offer, can stay for 2-3 years without any additional conditions.

International students in Hong Kong can work in certain professions

International students in Hong Kong are generally not allowed to take up any paid or unpaid employment during their studies. However, there are certain exemptions and opportunities for internships, part-time work, and full-time employment after graduation.

Internships

Non-local students enrolled in full-time, locally-accredited programmes at the undergraduate level or above, with a study period of at least one academic year, are temporarily exempted from employment restrictions. These students may undertake internships that are directly related to their field of study and arranged or endorsed by their educational institution. The duration of such internships is typically limited to one academic year or one-third of the normal duration of the academic programme, whichever is shorter. There are no restrictions on the nature of work, salary, location, working hours, or employers during the internship.

Part-Time Work

Non-local students who meet the above criteria for internships may also take up part-time on-campus employment for no more than 20 hours per week throughout the year. Additionally, they can work full-time during the summer months, from June 1 to August 31, without any limits on working hours or location.

Full-Time Employment

After completing their studies, international students can stay in Hong Kong for up to 12 months to search for jobs. To extend their stay, they must submit an employment offer letter within two months before the limit expires. Upon securing a job, international students are typically allowed to remain in Hong Kong for 2-3 years without any additional conditions.

There is a range of job opportunities for international students in Hong Kong, especially in high-demand sectors such as banking, IT, law, urban planning, healthcare, international law, and human resources.

It is important to note that the employment landscape for international students in Hong Kong may evolve, and specific regulations and procedures should be verified with official sources, such as the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

International students can stay in Hong Kong for 12 months to search for jobs

International students in Hong Kong are generally not allowed to take up any paid or unpaid employment during their studies. However, there are some exceptions and opportunities for students to gain work experience and transition to full-time work after graduation.

Non-local students on full-time locally-accredited programmes at the undergraduate level or above, with a study period of at least one academic year, are temporarily exempted from employment restrictions. This means they can take up internships, part-time on-campus jobs, and summer jobs during their studies. To be eligible, internships must be study/curriculum-related, arranged or endorsed by their institution, and up to one academic year or one-third of their full-time programme, whichever is shorter. There are no restrictions on the nature of work, salary, location, working hours, or employers for internships.

After completing their studies, international students can stay in Hong Kong for up to 12 months to search for jobs under the Immigration Arrangement for Non-Local Graduates (IANG). To extend their stay, they must submit an employment offer letter within two months before the limit expires. If they secure a job, students can remain in Hong Kong for 2-3 years without any additional conditions.

For students who wish to start their own business in Hong Kong, proof of business is required, and successful applicants can usually stay without conditions on a 2-2-3 year pattern. As of 2019, over 91,000 non-local graduates have been approved to stay in or return to Hong Kong after their studies.

International students can take up internships in Hong Kong

International students in Hong Kong are generally not allowed to take up any paid or unpaid employment during their studies. However, there are some exemptions and opportunities for internships and other forms of employment.

Non-local students on full-time, locally-accredited programmes at the undergraduate level or above, with a study period of at least one academic year, are temporarily exempted from employment restrictions. This means they can take up internships, part-time on-campus jobs, and summer jobs. These internships must be study/curriculum-related, arranged or endorsed by their institution, and last no longer than one academic year or one-third of their full-time academic programme, whichever is shorter. There are no restrictions on the nature of work, salary, location, working hours, or employers for internships.

For non-local students on full-time, locally-accredited sub-degree programmes with a study period of at least two academic years, they may take up internships if they are mandatory, study-related, and arranged by their institution, for a maximum duration of six months.

After completing their studies, international students can stay in Hong Kong for up to 12 months to search for jobs. They can apply for an extension, but an employment offer letter must be submitted within two months. Once employed, international students are allowed to stay for 2-3 years without any additional conditions.

International students can work part-time on-campus

International students in Hong Kong are generally not allowed to take up any paid or unpaid employment during their studies. However, there are some exemptions and opportunities for part-time on-campus work.

Non-local students on full-time, locally-accredited programmes at the undergraduate level or above, with a study period of at least one academic year, are temporarily exempted from employment restrictions. This means they can take up part-time on-campus employment for no more than 20 hours per week throughout the year. This exemption also allows them to work during the summer months from June 1 to August 31 without any limit on working hours and location.

To be eligible for this exemption, students must not be exchange students and must have a valid "No Objection Letter" (NOL). The NOL is typically valid for the entire academic programme and allows students to work on-campus and take up summer jobs. Additionally, students with F-1 nonimmigrant status who are experiencing severe economic hardship may be authorised to work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.

International students in Hong Kong can also gain work experience through internships. To be eligible, the internship must be study/curriculum-related, arranged or endorsed by the student's institution, and the duration must not exceed one academic year or one-third of the normal duration of the relevant full-time academic programme, whichever is shorter. There are no restrictions on the nature of work, salary, location, working hours, or employers for internships.

After completing their studies, international students can stay in Hong Kong for up to 12 months to search for jobs. To extend their stay beyond this period, they must submit an employment offer letter within two months before the limit expires. Upon securing a job, students can remain in Hong Kong for 2-3 years without any additional conditions.

International students can work during the summer months

International students in Hong Kong are generally not allowed to take up any paid or unpaid employment during their studies. However, there are some exemptions and opportunities for those who wish to work during the summer months.

Non-local students enrolled in full-time, locally-accredited local programmes at the undergraduate level or above, with a study period of at least one academic year, are temporarily exempted from employment restrictions. This exemption applies to both part-time on-campus employment and summer jobs. Students can work part-time on campus for up to 20 hours per week throughout the year. During the summer, from June 1 to August 31, they can work without any limit on working hours and location.

To take advantage of this opportunity, international students should note the following:

• Check eligibility: Ensure that you meet the criteria mentioned above, including the duration and accreditation of your programme.
• Understand the timing: The summer employment opportunity is typically available from June 1 to August 31.
• Plan ahead: If you wish to stay in Hong Kong after your studies to look for work, you must apply for an extension at least four months before your limit expires.
• Secure an employment offer: To extend your stay, you will need to submit an employment offer letter within two months of receiving the offer.
• Adhere to visa requirements: If your visa is still valid, finding new employment won't change its validity. However, if your visa is close to expiring, ensure you renew it or apply for a new one to continue working in Hong Kong.

It is important to stay updated with the latest regulations and consult official sources, such as the Hong Kong Immigration Department, for detailed and accurate information regarding international student employment.

Frequently asked questions