Permanent Resident of the HKSAR
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Eligibility for the Right of Abode in the HKSAR
Under the Immigration Ordinance, six categories of people are eligible to enjoy the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Besides, a person fulfills the transitional arrangement under the same Ordinance is also eligible to enjoy the right of abode. This page provides information about who belongs to these categories, the transitional arrangements and where to go for further information. Categories of Eligibility Under the Immigration Ordinance, if a person belongs to one of the following categories, he/she is a permanent resident of the HKSAR and enjoys the right of abode. Chinese Citizens (a) A Chinese citizen born in Hong Kong before or after the establishment of the HKSAR. (b) A Chinese citizen who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years before or after the establishment of the HKSAR. (c) A person of Chinese nationality born outside Hong Kong before or after the establishment of the HKSAR to a parent who, at the time of birth of that person, was a Chinese citizen falling within category (a) or (b). The person’s right of abode by virtue of being a permanent resident of the HKSAR under category (c) can only be exercised upon the establishment of his/her status as a permanent resident by holding : a valid travel document issued to him/her and a valid Certificate of Entitlement also issued to him/her and affixed to the travel document; a valid HKSAR passport issued to him/her; or a valid permanent identity card issued to him/her. Non-Chinese Citizens (d) A person not of Chinese nationality who has entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document, has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years and has taken Hong Kong as his/her place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the HKSAR. The continuous period of seven years ordinary residence must be immediately before the date when the person applies to the Director of Immigration for the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR under this category. The person is required to make a declaration in the form the Director of Immigration stipulates that he/she has taken Hong Kong as his/her place of permanent residence. If the person is under 21 years of age, the declaration must be made by a parent or legal guardian. For this purpose, the person will have to furnish information to satisfy the Director of Immigration that he/she has taken Hong Kong as a place of permanent residence. The information may include whether he/she has habitual residence in Hong Kong, whether the principal members of the person’s family (spouse and minor children) are in Hong Kong, whether the person has a reasonable means of income to support himself/herself and his/her family and whether he/she has paid taxes in accordance with the law. Please note that a person claiming to have the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR under this category does not have that status until he/she has applied to the Director of Immigration and the application has been approved. (e) A person under 21 years of age born in Hong Kong to a parent who is a permanent resident of the HKSAR in category (d) before or after the establishment of the HKSAR if at the time of his/her birth or at any later time before he/she attains 21 years of age, one parent has the right of abode in Hong Kong. Please note that on attaining 21 years of age, the person ceases to be a permanent resident of the HKSAR under this category. He/She may, however, apply to the Director of Immigration for the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR under category (d). (f) A person other than those in categories (a) to (e), who, before the establishment of the HKSAR, had the right of abode in Hong Kong only. The person is required to furnish information that the Director of Immigration may reasonably require to determine whether he/she had the right of abode only in Hong Kong immediately before the establishment of the HKSAR. The person is required to make a declaration that he/she had the right of abode only in Hong Kong immediately before the establishment of the HKSAR. If the person is under the age of 21 years, the declaration must be made by one parent or a legal guardian. A person under 21 years of age born in Hong Kong on or after 1 July 1997 to a parent who is a permanent resident of the HKSAR under this category at the time of the birth of the person is taken to have the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR if the person has, but for this provision, no right of abode in any place including Hong Kong. Please note that on attaining 21 years of age, the person ceases to be a permanent resident of the HKSAR under this category. He/She may, however, apply to the Director of Immigration for the status of a permanent resident of the HKSAR under category (d).
Q3. How can I obtain an endorsement of permanent residence on a foreign passport for my children who are under 11 years old?
If you have eligible children aged under 11 who hold valid foreign travel documents, an endorsement can be made in those foreign travel documents stating your children’s verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card. A child’s father, mother or guardian can make that application by submitting a completed application form with copies of supporting documents by post or drop in to: Right of Abode Section Immigration Department 25/F Immigration Tower 7 Gloucester Road Wan Chai Hong Kong Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the Immigration Department. For proper delivery of your mail items, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address before posting. (Details) Form ROP169: Application for Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card - Applicable for persons 18 years of age or above who are holders of One-way Permit Form ROP170: Application for Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card - Applicable for children below 18 years of age who are holders of One-way Permit Form ROP145: Application for Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card (For other applicants) Alternatively, you can apply online through the following link Online Application for Verification of Eligibility for Permanent Identity Card After verification of their eligibility for permanent identity cards, your children’s previous condition of stay in the foreign passports, if any, will be cancelled. Then, you can apply on their behalf for an endorsement to be made in their valid foreign passports stating “Holder’s eligibility for Hong Kong permanent identity card verified”. The fee for making such an endorsement to a travel document is HK$200. Your children must be present in Hong Kong at the time of application for verification of eligibility for permanent identity card, as well as when that endorsement is given to them. Permanent identity cards will be issued upon application when your children reach the age of 11 provided they have not lost their right of abode in the HKSAR.
Loss of Hong Kong Permanent Resident Status
A permanent resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) who is not of Chinese nationality will lose the status of a permanent resident under the following circumstances: Category of persons who acquired permanent resident status by virtue of being Circumstances under which the person will lose the status of a permanent resident (1) A person not of Chinese nationality who has entered Hong Kong with a valid travel document, has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 7 years and has taken Hong Kong as his/her place of permanent residence before or after the establishment of the HKSAR. If a person has been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 36 months since he/she ceased to have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong. (2) A person under 21 years of age born in Hong Kong to a parent who is a permanent resident of the HKSAR in category (1) above before or after the establishment of the HKSAR if at the time of his/her birth or at any later time before he/she attains 21 years of age, one parent has the right of abode in Hong Kong. If a person has been absent from Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than 36 months since he/she ceased to have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong; or On attaining the age of 21 years, a person will cease to be a permanent resident of the HKSAR. He/She will then have to qualify on his/her own merits in accordance with the requirements stipulated in category (1) above. If a person meets all of the requirements, he/she can apply for permanent resident status.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 Hong Kong permanent residents have the right of abode in Hong Kong and the right to vote in elections for the Legislative Council and the District
2 Hong Kong Permanent Resident is the legal status for those who have the right of abode in Hong Kong.
3 The legal status of permanent resident of Hong Kong may be acquired by any person, regardless of whether they have Chinese nationality.