Unless clearance is obtained from the Director of Immigration, a child who holds “visitor” endorsement or a condition of stay as “visitor” cannot be admitted to any school in Hong Kong. Non-local children must hold valid documents to enrol in public sector schools. Details can be found in Education Bureau (EDB)’s Circular on “Entry of Non-local Children and Children Holding a Form of Recognizance to Schools in Hong Kong”. In general, non-local children who have student visas can reside in Hong Kong for the purpose of education in non-public sector schools (including private schools, Private Independent Schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, English Schools Foundation schools or international schools) but not in public sector schools.

Generally speaking, primary 1 (P1)/secondary 1 (S1) places are allocated by EDB to eligible students through the Primary One Admission System/Secondary School Places Allocation System. If parents wish to enrol their newly-arrived children in P1/S1 at the beginning of a new school year (school term normally starts in early September), they should apply for a school place at the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB on or before 31 August, bringing along the original entry identity documents of their children. For children arriving in Hong Kong after the commencement of the school term (i.e. after 1 September), parents may contact schools directly to apply for a place for their children or approach the nearby Regional Education Offices of the EDB to seek placement assistance.

Under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279), parents have the legal responsibility to ensure that their children aged between 6 and 15 attend school regularly. The EDB has the power to issue an attendance order to parents who fail to send their children to school without reasonable excuse. Any parent who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an attendance order shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine and to imprisonment.

For more information, please visit the website of the Education Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/index.html

Chinese residents of the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) may apply to take up:

• studies in full-time locally-accredited post-secondary local or non-local programmes;
• studies in part-time locally-accredited taught postgraduate local programmes;
• exchange in full-time locally-accredited local programmes at sub-degree level for not more than six months or exchange in full-time locally-accredited local or non-local programmes at undergraduate or above level for not more than one year; or
• full-time short-term studies, subject to the following conditions:
  • the programme concerned is offered by Hong Kong higher education institutions with degree-awarding powers (excluding their continuing and professional education arms); and
  • the cumulative duration of short-term studies taken up by any student should not exceed 180 days within any 12-month period.

In general, any person who does not have the right of abode or the right to land in the Hong Kong SAR requires a visa/entry permit to study in Hong Kong. While each application is determined by the Immigration Department on its individual merits, applicants must meet the normal immigration requirements and the relevant eligibility criteria detailed above before being considered for the grant of a visa/entry permit.

For more information, please contact the relevant higher education institutions or visit the website of the Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:
https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/faq/imm-policy-study.html

Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education (in Chinese only) signed in 2004, both sides maintain and periodically update their respective lists of recognised higher education institutions, while respecting the autonomy of the institutions to admit students according to their own requirements. In addition, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (“HKCAAVQ”) is responsible for the statutory assessment of non-local academic qualifications.

Mainland – Hong Kong

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the Mainland is primarily underpinned by the “Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement” (“CEPA”) and its supplementary arrangements. Under this framework, qualified Hong Kong professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, accountants, architects and engineers, benefit from qualification alignment or facilitation measures. For example, Hong Kong lawyers may practise law in specified civil and commercial areas in the Mainland cities within the GBA through examinations and pilot arrangements. Similarly, Hong Kong accountants who meet the relevant criteria may apply to become Certified Public Accountants in the Mainland, with exemptions granted for certain subjects.

In addition, under this framework, professional bodies or regulatory authorities of certain professions, including real estate services, securities and futures, and banking services, promote mutual recognition of professional qualifications and mutual exemption from examination subjects through co-operation agreements.

The framework does not grant automatic recognition; rather, limited practice is achieved through examinations, filing, or experience assessments.

Hong Kong – Macao

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (HK-Macao CEPA) covers a wide range of areas of mutual interest to Hong Kong and Macao, including a commitment by the two sides to encourage mutual recognition of professional qualifications and promote the exchange of professional talents between them. For instance, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Monetary Authority of Macao (Autoridade Monetária de Macau) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on jointly promoting mutually recognised professional training and certifications under the Enhanced Competency Framework for Banking Practitioners, with the aim to enhance talent development and mobility in the banking industry between Hong Kong and Macao. In March 2026, the two authorities signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen their co-operation, expanding the scope to cover areas such as financial infrastructure and information exchange, thereby laying a more solid foundation for deepening financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao.

The Government offers the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) as a convenient employment pathway for non-local graduates seeking employment in Hong Kong. Applicants must have completed a recognised full-time programme at the undergraduate level or above in Hong Kong. Upon graduation, they may apply to work in Hong Kong without first securing an offer of employment. However, to apply for an extension of stay, they must have secured a job at a level commonly taken up by degree holders, with a remuneration package at market level. Applicants may work in a broad range of sectors, including finance, information technology, education, commerce and trade, and engineering. The IANG includes measures to facilitate graduates with professional qualifications in their job search in Hong Kong. The Government also provides support services, such as those offered through Hong Kong Talent Engage, to help non-local graduates seek employment, acquire industry insights and integrate into the community, ensuring that talents can fully leverage the IANG to launch their careers.

For more information, please visit the website of the Immigration Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/IANG.html

Primary and secondary schools in Macao are categorised into public schools, and private and international schools. Local students are entitled to free education provided in Chinese, Portuguese and English.

Non-local students (most of them being dependents of parents working in Macao under specific talent recruitment programmes) who intend to enrol in Macao primary or secondary schools must hold a Residence Authorisation and a “Special Authorisation to Stay”. When applying for enrolment, they should refer to the Guide to School Admission published by the Education and Youth Development Bureau (Direcção dos Serviços de Educação e de Desenvolvimento da Juventude) of Macao and the prospectus of their preferred school, and complete the applications for the Residence Permit and the Special Authorisation to Stay as required by law.

Non-local students who intend to study at a higher education institution in Macao must obtain the applicable authorisation to stay, and complete the enrolment procedures as required. Mainland students admitted to a higher education institution in Macao may apply for a Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao and the “Type D - Stay” Endorsement with the public security department at the place of their household registration by producing the accredited acceptance letter issued by the Education and Youth Development Bureau (Direcção dos Serviços de Educação e de Desenvolvimento da Juventude) of Macao, admission letter of the institution, together with their identity card, household registration book, etc. Students who encounter difficulties with departure may contact the admission office or examination centre in their respective province or municipality for assistance. Upon arrival in Macao, students must apply for the Special Authorisation to Stay for Non resident Students at the Residence and Stay Affairs Department (Departamento para os Assuntos de Residência e Permanência) of the Public Security Police Force (Corpo de Polícia de Segurança Pública) of Macao for legally pursuing their studies in Macao.

Hong Kong students who intend to study at a higher education institution in Macao may apply by sitting the required admission examination, or by lodging a Direct Admission application based on their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination results. Upon admission, they must complete the required student visa procedures.

Pursuant to the Memorandum on Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications and Academic Degrees between the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region signed in 2019, clear arrangements have been made on the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications between the Mainland and Macao. The scope of recognised academic qualifications in the Mainland includes higher vocational (technical), undergraduate, postgraduate (master’s and doctoral) qualifications, as well as bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Regarding Macao, recognised academic qualifications include associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Macao – Mainland

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Macao and the Mainland is underpinned by the Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and its Supplements, covering legal, construction, medical services, finance, accounting, and other professional and technical fields.

Driven by relevant GBA initiatives, qualified Macao lawyers can practise law in nine Mainland cities under a dedicated pilot scheme. In addition, the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has issued a list of recognised practice qualifications for Macao professionals to practise through filing, registration, or exemptions granted for certain professional examination papers. These arrangements emphasise the alignment of professional standards and regulatory collaboration, requiring compliance with Mainland laws and the completion of necessary assessment procedures.

Macao – Hong Kong

Macao and Hong Kong are committed to promoting mutual recognition of professional qualifications and talent exchanges under the framework of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

In 2018, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Monetary Authority of Macao (Autoridade Monetária de Macau) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly promote mutually recognised professional training and certifications under the Enhanced Competency Framework for Banking Practitioners, with the aim to enhance talent mobility in the banking industry between Macao and Hong Kong. In March 2026, the two authorities signed a revised Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen their co-operation, expanding the scope to cover areas such as financial infrastructure and information exchange, thereby laying a more solid foundation for deepening financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao.

Employment and residence of non-local graduates in Macao are primarily governed by Law No. 7/2023, “The Legal System for Talent Recruitment” (Regime jurídico de captação de quadros qualificados) which came into force on 1 July 2023. The System aims to meet the development needs of key industries in big health, high-tech, modern finance, among others. It provides non-local graduates with structured support for employment and residence through the High-end Talents Programme, Outstanding Talents Programme and Advanced Professionals Programme.

High-end Talents Programme

• The High-end Talents Programme is intended for non-local graduates who have achieved globally recognised outstanding achievements or made significant contributions in specific fields. Applicants are not required to be locally employed in advance, and their renewal of residence authorisation does not depend on habitual residence in Macao. Family members coming with them to Macao may benefit from local education, medical, and other welfare services.

Outstanding Talents Programme

• The Outstanding Talents Programme is intended for non-local graduates who have demonstrated outstanding performance in their profession or industry and the capability to contribute to the development of key industries in Macao. Likewise, applicants are not required to be locally employed in advance, and their renewal of residence authorisation does not depend on habitual residence in Macao. That said, they must engage in work that matches their qualifications.

Advanced Professionals Programme

• The Advanced Professionals Programme applies to non-local graduates who take up job positions in key industries facing manpower shortages. Applicants must be pre-employed by a Macao employer, receive remuneration at a specified level, habitually reside in Macao, and engage in a profession that matches their qualifications.

Application method

• A dedicated e-application platform is set up to provide applicants with a range of one-stop services, including online self-assessment, submission of applications, and provision of supplementary information. Non-local graduates and their family members recruited through the programmes may benefit from the low tax regime, 15 years of free education, medical, social security services and other welfare services. In addition, graduates engaging in scientific research and development may apply for research funding and claim the relevant tax relief.

Various policies and measures benefitting Hong Kong and Macao residents have been implemented in the GBA to ensure that children of Hong Kong and Macao residents working in Guangdong enjoy the same access to education as Mainland residents. Under these measures, enhanced kindergarten enrollment policies allow Hong Kong and Macao residents and their accompanying children to access public pre‑primary education services at their place of residence in accordance with local regulations. Specifically, kindergartens in urban residential communities will give admission priority to eligible school-age children residing within the community, including children of Hong Kong and Macao residents, to facilitate neighborhood schooling. Support will be provided to establish dedicated kindergartens (or classes) for Hong Kong and Macao children, and favourable conditions will be actively created to offer boarding services. Regarding compulsory education for Hong Kong and Macao residents and their children, admission policies have been enhanced to rely on proof of residence as the primary basis. Furthermore, children of Hong Kong and Macao residents are eligible to take the senior high school entrance examination for admission to local senior high schools in accordance with local policies regarding children relocated with their parents.

To enroll a child in a public school, applicants should submit the required information online through the official website of the local Education Bureau, and then present the necessary documents, such as the Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents, proof of parents’ local employment (e.g., a labour contract or a business licence), and the child’s birth certificate, at the Bureau’s service counter for verification and registration. Once approved, the Education Bureau will centrally co‑ordinate and arrange admission to a nearby public primary or secondary school. The child will enjoy the same compulsory education benefits as Mainland students and will be exempt from paying “out-of-district fees” (i.e., additional fees required by local policies for children studying outside their registered school district).

Other schooling options include international schools or dedicated schools for Hong Kong and Macao children in the Mainland. The dedicated schools adopt an integrated curriculum, and some offer pathways that align with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (“HKDSE”) Examination.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority was commissioned by the Ministry of Education (“MoE”) of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) to conduct the Joint Entrance Examination for Universities in the PRC for Overseas Chinese, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Students (the “Joint Entrance Examination”) in Hong Kong. This examination is open to eligible Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese candidates, and its results can be used to apply for undergraduate degree programmes at designated Mainland universities.

In addition, the MoE has implemented detailed arrangements for admitting students based on their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (“HKDSE Examination”) qualifications. More than 100 Mainland higher education institutions admit Hong Kong students based on merit determined by their HKDSE Examination results, exempting them from having to take the Joint Entrance Examination. To manage the process, the MoE has commissioned the Co-Office of the Mainland Chinese Universities and Colleges of the People’s Republic of China for the Joint Examinations and Enrolment of the Students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese‑Resident Areas and Countries to handle online applications and screening. It has also entrusted the China Education Exchange (Hong Kong and Macao) Centre with eligibility vetting and admission publicity. The MoE promulgates new arrangements every academic year.

For further information, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA): https://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/

Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Mainland and Hong Kong on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education signed in 2004, both sides maintain and periodically update their respective lists of recognised higher education institutions, while respecting the autonomy of the institutions to admit students according to their own requirements. In addition, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (“HKCAAVQ”) is responsible for the statutory assessment of non-local academic qualifications.

Pursuant to the Memorandum on Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications and Academic Degrees between the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region signed in 2019, the scope of recognised academic qualifications in the Mainland includes higher vocational (technical), undergraduate and postgraduate (master’s and doctoral) qualifications, as well as bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Regarding Macao, recognised academic qualifications include associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

To promote cross-boundary practice for professional institutions and professionals in the GBA, specific professions in Hong Kong, Macao and the nine Mainland cities in the GBA enjoy mutual recognition of qualifications under various facilitation measures, including:

Mainland – Hong Kong

Mutual recognition of professional qualifications between Hong Kong and the Mainland is primarily underpinned by the “Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement” (“CEPA”) and its supplementary arrangements. Under this framework, qualified Hong Kong professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, accountants, architects and engineers, benefit from qualification alignment or facilitation measures. For example, Hong Kong lawyers may practise law in specified civil and commercial areas in the Mainland cities within the GBA through examinations and pilot arrangements. Similarly, Hong Kong accountants who meet the relevant criteria may apply to become Certified Public Accountants in the Mainland, with exemptions granted for certain subjects.

In addition, under this framework, professional bodies or regulatory authorities of certain professions, including real estate services, securities and futures, and banking services, promote mutual recognition of professional qualifications and mutual exemption from examination subjects through co-operation agreements.

The framework does not grant automatic recognition; rather, limited practice is achieved through examinations, filing, or experience assessments.

For further information, please visit the “Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualification and Agreements on Mutual Exemption of Examination Papers” page on the website of the Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department.

Macao – Mainland

Underpinned primarily by the “Mainland and Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement” and its supplementary arrangements, the mutual recognition framework between Macao and the Mainland covers professional and technical sectors including legal, tourism, construction, and healthcare. Driven by recent GBA initiatives, qualified Macao lawyers can practise law in the GBA under a dedicated pilot scheme. Similarly, certain technical professionals can participate in projects in the Mainland through qualification alignment and filing system. This framework emphasises the alignment of professional standards and regulatory collaboration, generally requiring compliance with Mainland laws and the completion of necessary assessment procedures.

Nansha, Guangzhou

Guangzhou has formulated the “Implementation Measures for the Practice of Professional Institutions and Professionals from Hong Kong and Macao in the Nansha District of Guangzhou Municipality” (in Chinese only) (the “Implementation Measures”), which came into effect on 1 June 2025. By administrative means, the Implementation Measures stipulate that eligible institutions registered and established in Hong Kong or Macao, and natural persons with Hong Kong or Macao resident status may provide professional services in Nansha across six major sectors: engineering construction, urban planning, healthcare , veterinary medicine, education, and tourism. These institutions and individuals must possess professional or vocational qualifications certified or recognised by the governments or industry associations of the Special Administrative Regions, and meet the practice requirements of the relevant sectors. Furthermore, as authorised by the R Regulations of Nansha on Deepening the Comprehensive Cooperation among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Towards the World, Hong Kong and Macao professional institutions and professionals practising in other areas of Guangdong Province are encouraged to directly provide services in Nansha.

For specific implementation measures regarding various qualifications, please visit the official websites of the local Human Resources and Social Security Bureau or the competent authorities of the relevant sectors.

On 23 August 2018, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued the “Notice on Matters Concerning the Employment of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents in the Chinese Mainland”, specifying that, with effect from 28 July 2018, Hong Kong and Macao residents are no longer required to apply for a work permit for employment in the Mainland.

When signing a labour contract for work in the Mainland, employees should study the terms and conditions carefully, including the duration of contract, scope of job, place of work and any occupational hazards, in order to protect their legitimate rights and interests. Employed persons must enroll in social security scheme (including basic pension insurance, basic medical insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance and maternity insurance) in accordance with laws and relevant requirements of the Mainland.

Eligible Hong Kong residents can also benefit from the entrepreneurship and employment support policies in Guangdong Province and other regions, which offer one-off start-up subsidies, rental subsidies, employment subsidies for low-income earners, etc. Furthermore, Hong Kong residents may present their valid identity documents (e.g., the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, the Residence Permits for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents) to register for employment with local human resources and social security authorities and access relevant services.