Australian Migration Agents in Hong Kong

Australian Visa Options for Hong Kong and BNO Passport Holders

Since 9 July 2020, the ​Australian government has been offering new and extended visa options to students and skilled workers from Hong Kong. These visa options allow Hong Kong or BNO passport holders to remain in Australia, with pathways to permanent residency and then Australian Citizenship and an Austrlian Passport. See the visa options below:

1. ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) - Hong Kong passport holders may be eligible for an electronic Visitor ETA to visit Australia for up to 3 months.

2. Student - Subclass 500 Visa - assistance with Student course enrolment at an Australian Educational Institutions (Secondary School, English Language School, College, TAFE, University), and assistance with Student visa application, and evidence that the student is a genuine student and has financial capacity.

3. Domestic Workers - Domestic Workers who are working in Hong Kong, and are planning to accompany their Employers, who are Hong Kong or BNO Passport holders, will need to apply or a Visitor Visa, Subclass 600 for their visit to Australia. For this application, the Applicant will need to provide evidence of their employment, financial support and reason to return back to their Country of residence.

4. Temporary Graduate Visa - Subclass 485 Visa - Current and future students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a 5 year Temporary Graduate, Subclass 485 visa once they successfully complete eligible tertiary studies. Former students already on a Temporary Graduate visa will be given an Extension of up to 5 years, starting from 9 July 2020. In addition, these graduates will also have a pathway to Australian permanent residency, after 5 years or after 3 years if the students study at a Regional campus.

5. Temporary Skilled Visa - Subclass 482 Visa - Current temporary skilled, Subclass 482 Work visa holders from Hong Kong will be eligible for a further 5 years from 9 July 2020, in addition to the time they have already been in Australia. They will also be eligible for a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that 5 years. Future applicants from Hong Kong for temporary skilled visas will be eligible for a 5 year visa and a pathway to permanent residency, if they: have qualifications listed on the o​ccupational skills lists and meet Labour Market Testing requirements, or qualify through the Global Talent Independent Program (GTI), Subclass 858 visa.

6. Permanent Residence Visa Streams - Subclass 189 and 191 Visas - The introduction of 2 dedicated visa streams allowing people from Hong Kong to claim permanent residency in Australia. These Streams opened on 5 March 2022, for Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders who have lived, worked or studied in Australia for the past three or four years.

A. Subclass 191 - the Hong Kong (Regional) stream allows an application for permanent residence if the Applicant has lived, worked and studied continuously and exclusively in a designated regional area of Australia for 3 years or more. Note that the processing time as at 10 April 2024, is approximately 90 days.

B. Skilled Independent, Subclass 189 Visa, the Hong Kong stream - allows an application for permanent residence if the Applicant has lived, worked and studied in Australia, on an eligible visa, for 4 years continuously, or more, such as the 457, 482 or 485 visas. Note that the Applicant will not need to meet Occupation Skills Assessment requirements, anor will the Applicant require Sponsorship or Nomination. In addition, the Applicant must have Functional English language ability (average band score of at least 4.5 in the IELTS Test). Also, the Applicant must meet Health and Character requirements, and not had an Australian visa Cancelled or Refused previously.

7. Global Talent Independent Program (GTI), Subclass 858 Visa -  The Global Talent Visa is a direct permanent residence application, for highly-talented Applicants, who are specialists in their future-focused occupation, and who will be an asset to Australia. Applicants who hold a Hong Kong or BNO Passport will have a faster processing time. See our web page with more information and the GTI Eligibility Criteria.

Benefits of Visaconnect's Visa and Immigration Assistance

• Personal, customised legal services.
• Visa eligibility assessment (24-hour fast response time).
• Accessibility and flexibility for urgent and important office and telephone appointments.
• Professional assistance and advice from experienced Migration Agents and qualified lawyers from Australia.
• Registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (Australia) and the Migration Institute of Australia.
• Ethical and competent service.
• High probability of success with visa applications.
• Smooth and hassle free visa application.
• Manage and facilitate your visa application personally and do not delegate it to a clerk.
• Business based in Hong Kong to assist clients based in HK, Macau and China, and also have an offices in Brisbane, Australia, London, UK and Lisbon, Portugal.
• Application asssistance available to clients outside Hong Kong through ongoing contact by telephone, email, fax, registered post and courier of documents.
• Reasonable professional fees.

Hong Kong and Australian Office

Contact VisaConnect's Immigration Lawyers in Hong Kong and Migration Consultants at our Hong Kong or Australian offices below:

VisaConnect Hong Kong - 21st Floor, CMA Building, 64 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

Telephone: +852 8191 5561

VisaConnect Qld, Australia -  Level 1, 16 McDougall Street, Milton, Brisbane, Queensland 4064 Australia

Telephone: (+61) 7 3040 9589

Useful Links

• Australian Visa Application Center - VFS Global - Hong Kong
• Australia Consulate-General Hong Kong
• Australian Chamber of Commerce - Hong Kong
• Australian Passport Office
• Smart Traveller
• Study Australia
• Australia Tourism

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ - Australian Migration for Hong Kong Applicants

How can I be eligible for an Australian Migration pathway if I am living in Hong Kong?

To be eligible, you must be a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and/or British National (Overseas) passport holder.

How long is the Temporary Graduate, 485 Visa valid for as a Hong Kong applicant?

The Temporary Graduate, Subclass 485 visa, Post Study Work or Graduate Work streams allows for a stay of 5 years for Hong Kong and BNO Passport holders, whereas Applicants from other countries can stay for up to 18 months on the Graduate Work stream or between 2 and 4 years on the Post Study Work stream.

How long can I work in Australia, on a 482 Visa as a HK or BNO Passport holder?

You can apply for a 5 year Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS), Subclass 482 Visa, under the Short-term, Medium-term or Labour Agreement streams, as a Hong Kong or BNO Passport holder. However, Applicants from other countries can only stay for up to 4 years under the Medium-Term stream or the Labour Agreement stream.

I already hold a 482 Work Visa, can I get a 5 year extension?

Yes. Applicants from Hong Kong who already have a 482 Visa will be eligible for an extension of 5 years, as at 9 July 2020, in addition to the time that you have already been in Australia.

Can I apply for Permanent Residence after 5 years holding the 482 Visa?

Yes. Current and future 482 visa holders from Hong Kong will have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.

If I live and work in regional Australia, can I get permanent residence any faster?

Yes. Applicants with a HK or BNO Passport, who live, work and study exclusively in regional Australia are eligible for the pathway to permanent residence after just three years.

If I live in a regional area of Australia, what visa do I apply for to get permanent residence?

Apply for the Subclass 191, the Hong Kong (regional) stream. To be eligible, you must be usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 3 years immediately before applying and have lived, worked and studied exclusively in a designated regional area for that 3 year period, while holding a qualifying visa. Note that you will not need a Sponsor or Nominator, but must comply with residence requirements, meet the English language requirement, which requires Functional English (An average IELTS band score of at least 4.5 based on the 4 test components), and meet Health and Character requirements.

If I live and work in a Non-Regional area, such as a big metropolitan city like Sydney or Melbourne, can I apply for Permanent residence?

Yes. You can apply for the Skilled Independent, Subclass 189 Visa, under the Hong Kong stream, provided that you were usually resident in Australia for a continuous period of at least 4 years immediately before applying, and held a qualifying visa during that period. Note that Applicants who are Hong Kong or BNO Passport holders do not need to meet occupational or skill assessment requirements. In addition, Applicants will also not require any ongoing sponsorship, or nomination. However, they must comply with health, character and security requirements for the grant of a permanent visa.

If I apply for the Global Talent Independent Program, is there a faster processing time?

Yes. The Australian Department of Home Affairs is prioritising Global Talent Visa, Subclass 858 visa applications lodged by Hong Kong or BNO Passport holders.