Definition of Local and Non-local Students
Tuition fees may differ for local and non-local students in certain programmes. According to the Education Bureau (EDB), for the purpose of admission, the definition of local and non-local students are as follows:
Local Students
Persons holding any of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR are classified as local students:
LS1 - Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
LS2 - Documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR showing right to land/right of abode in Hong Kong
LS3 - Document of Identity/One-way permit for entry to Hong Kong
LS4 - Full-time employment visa/work permit
LS5 - Dependant visa/entry permit (for students who were below 18 years old when they were first issued with such visa/entry permit by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR)*
LS6 - Visa/Entry permit for Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
LS7 - Visa/Entry permit for Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
LS8 - Visa/Entry permit for Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents
LS9 - Visa label for unconditional stay
* Eligibility for subsidised tuition fee is subject to the applicant's residency status. Please click here for more details.
Non-local Students
Persons holding any of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR are classified as non-local students:
- Student visa/entry permit^
- Visa/Entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
- Dependant visa/entry permit (for students who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa/entry permit by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR)
^ Due to immigration restrictions, nationals from Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea (DPRK) may not be able to obtain a student visa to study in Hong Kong. For details, please refer to the Immigration Department of the HKSAR website.
Applicants may be required to provide a copies of relevant identity documents to support their claim of local/non-local status in the application. If any information provided in the applications is found to be inaccurate or misleading, or if there is any changes in the applicant’s local/non-local student status, or residency status before admission, the application and any admission offer granted may be subject to review and may be withdrawn.