Regarding the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance of the High Court on 31 July 2026 concerning eligibility for government-subsidised post-secondary programmes, the Education Bureau welcomes the court’s ruling and issues the following reminders.
- The judgment does not alter the definition of “local students”; it relates solely to the residency requirement in Hong Kong for dependant children (if pursuing government-subsidised degree programmes);
- Dependants children who pursue self-financed degree programmes are not subject to the residency requirement in Hong Kong;
- Please follow lawful and compliant channels when pursuing further education in Hong Kong, and do not be misled by rumours; and
- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government does not collaborate with any study abroad or further education agencies or consultants; please do not be misled by promotional advertisements.
JUPAS 2026/27 Admissions Exercise – Fulfilment of Residency Requirement
- If the applicant chooses to rely on Proof of Studies, the applicant must be a full-time student from the 2026/27 academic year at a school offering a formal curriculum in Hong Kong recognised by the Education Bureau. The school year generally starts on 1 September 2026 (subject to the school’s arrangement), but the applicant must be enrolled no later than 15 September 2026. If the applicant holding a Dependent visa can provide Proof of Studies, which may be obtained from schools, days of absence from Hong Kong during the one-year period, will not be counted, regardless of the reason for absence.
- If the applicant chooses to rely on a Statement of Travel Records and intends to utilise all 90 permitted days of absence from 1 June 2026 and 29 August 2026, the applicant must arrive in Hong Kong no later than 30 August 2026 and must not leave Hong Kong until after 31 May 2027 in order to meet the first-year residency requirement.
