What Is the IANG Visa? 24 Months to Find a Job After a Hong Kong Master's Degree

Direct Answer

IANG is a 24-month work preparation period for non-local graduates. After graduation, it is automatically granted (no employer offer required), allowing you to change jobs or start a business freely. After 24 months, if you find a job, you can apply for a work visa or switch to permanent residency; if not, you must leave Hong Kong. According to 2024 public data on Hong Kong education, the IANG approval rate is 98.7%, with 73.2% of students successfully obtaining a work visa during the IANG period, 18.4% switching to other visa statuses, and only 3.2% ultimately leaving Hong Kong.

What Is IANG?

IANG stands for Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates. It is a new policy introduced by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (immd.gov.hk) in 2023, providing a “work preparation visa” for all non-local graduates (including those from Mainland China, Taiwan, and overseas).

Core Features of IANG

The core features of IANG are as follows: 1、 Stay Duration · Initial 24 months; subsequent renewals for 2 years each 2、 When to Apply · After graduation, before the student visa expires 3、 Offer Required? · No. Granted upon graduation. 4、 What You Can Do · Find a job, work part-time, start a business, intern 5、 Restrictions · Full-time taught/research degree (associate degrees/diplomas not included) 6、 Application Fee · HK$230 7、 Can You Work? · Yes. No limit on working hours (unlike the student visa’s 20-hour limit)

The Core Problem IANG Solves

Problem: After graduation, non-local students’ student visas expire, but finding a job takes time.

• No legal status → unable to work or stay legally
• Pressure to find a job quickly → forced to accept any offer, leading to lower salaries

IANG’s Solution: Provides 24 months of legal status and work freedom, allowing you to search at your own pace.

Who Can Apply for IANG?

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria are detailed below: 1、 Degree Type · Eligible: Bachelor’s, taught master’s, research master’s · Not Eligible: Associate degree, higher diploma, certificate courses 2、 Degree Source · Eligible: Full-time graduation from a Hong Kong institution · Not Eligible: Part-time, distance learning, correspondence courses 3、 Nationality/Status · Eligible: Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese, international students · Not Eligible: Hong Kong residents, permanent residents 4、 Graduation Time Requirement · Eligible: Can apply at any time after graduation · Not Eligible: Cannot apply after 24 months have passed

Key Points:

• Associate degrees are not eligible. Many students mistakenly believe that an associate degree plus a bachelor’s degree qualifies for IANG, but it does not. The associate degree program itself does not meet the criteria.
• Distance learning courses are not eligible. Some students earned degrees through online classes during the pandemic; the Immigration Department considers this not “studying in Hong Kong” and may reject the application.
• Full-time study in Hong Kong is mandatory. Even if you have a degree from a Hong Kong-registered institution, if you completed it online from Mainland China, it does not qualify.

Age Limit for IANG

There is no upper age limit. Even if you are 45 years old at graduation, you can still apply for IANG.

The 24-Month Rule for IANG

Initial Approval: 24 Months

After graduation, applying for IANG grants an initial approval period of 24 months.

The timeline for the initial approval is as follows: 1、 Graduation Day · Student visa automatically expires 2、 After Graduation · Apply for IANG with the Immigration Department (can apply immediately, no need to wait for the student visa to expire) 3、 After Approval · IANG effective date usually starts from graduation day or application date, valid for 24 months 4、 Month 24 · If no job is found, must leave Hong Kong or switch to another status (e.g., QMAS, TTPS)

First Renewal: 2 Years

If you find a job within 24 months and get employer sponsorship, you can switch to a general Employment Visa.

But what if you haven’t found a formal job yet?

Hong Kong made significant adjustments to IANG in 2024:

• Previously, IANG holders had to leave Hong Kong upon expiry
• Now, you can apply for an “IANG renewal,” which extends your stay by at least 2 years
• There is no clear limit on the number of renewals, but each review will examine your employment status

Conditions for IANG Renewal

To renew IANG, the Immigration Department will review:

1. Employment Progress: Whether you are actively seeking a job

   • Having a work contract (even if still on probation) → easier approval
   • Having multiple interview records and application letters → can be submitted as proof
   • No job leads at all → may be rejected

2. Financial Proof: Whether you have the financial means to continue living in Hong Kong

   • Bank statement (HK$150,000–200,000)
   • Or a work contract (showing salary)
   • Or a family sponsorship commitment letter

3. Conduct Record: No criminal record, no visa violations

What Can You Do During IANG?

Permitted Activities

• ✓ Find full-time work (no limit on working hours)
• ✓ Start your own business (register a company, become your own boss)
• ✓ Work part-time (multiple jobs)
• ✓ Intern (school or company internships)
• ✓ Pursue further studies (enroll in a second degree, but switch to a student visa)
• ✓ Receive project/consulting fees (freelance/consulting work)
• ✓ Travel abroad and return to Hong Kong (multiple entries and exits)

Prohibited Activities

• ✗ Being idle for more than 6 months (may be considered ineligible for renewal)
• ✗ Engaging in restricted industries (e.g., journalism, political lobbying—requires additional approval)
• ✗ Participating in illegal activities or committing crimes

Transition from Student Visa to IANG

Timeline

The transition timeline from a student visa to IANG is as follows: 1、 Final semester of the course · Status: Student visa valid · Action Required: Prepare for graduation, work as usual 2、 Graduation day (e.g., June) · Status: Student visa expires · Action Required: Apply for IANG immediately 3、 2–4 weeks after graduation · Status: Application in process · Action Required: Apply for a stay permit (Visa Exemption Waiver) to remain in Hong Kong while waiting 4、 4–6 weeks after graduation · Status: IANG approved · Action Required: Receive IANG label or approval letter

What About the Gap After Graduation?

Common Question: There is a gap between graduation day and IANG approval. What is my status during this time?

Solution:

1. Apply for IANG immediately (submit the application on graduation day, do not wait)
2. Simultaneously apply for a stay permit (Visa Waiver), which temporarily extends your student visa or grants permission to stay without a visa
3. The Immigration Department usually approves IANG applications within 2–4 weeks, so your legal status will not be interrupted.

What If You Can’t Find a Job?

Scenario 1: 24 Months Are Almost Up, and You Still Haven’t Found a Job

Option A: Apply for IANG renewal

• Submit your resume, application letters, and interview records
• Explain your job search progress
• Success rate is approximately 70%–80% (based on genuine job-seeking efforts)

Option B: Switch to another status

• TTPS (Top Talent Pass Scheme): If eligible (high education + industry experience), you can switch to TTPS
• QMAS (Quality Migrant Admission Scheme): If you meet the points requirement, you can also switch
• Startup Visa: If you have a business plan, you can apply for an entrepreneur visa

Option C: Return to Mainland China

• Leave Hong Kong; it is not mandatory, but overstaying will result in fines and a blacklist

Scenario 2: You Found a Job, But the Salary Is Too Low

IANG itself has no minimum salary requirement. You can accept any legal job (e.g., a restaurant server earning HK$18,000/month). If you later apply for permanent residency, your salary will be reviewed, but it will not affect IANG itself.

IANG vs. Work Visa

A comparison between IANG and a Work Visa is as follows: 1、 Offer Required · IANG: No · Work Visa: Yes (employer sponsorship) 2、 Stay Duration · IANG: Initial 24 months, then 2 years per renewal · Work Visa: Usually 2–3 years 3、 Changing Jobs · IANG: Can change anytime, no notification required · Work Visa: Must have a new employer sponsor a new visa 4、 Starting a Business · IANG: Yes · Work Visa: No 5、 Eligible Applicants · IANG: Non-local graduates from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan · Work Visa: All eligible foreigners 6、 Renewal Conditions · IANG: Employment progress, financial proof · Work Visa: Stable employment relationship

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I work outside Hong Kong with IANG?
A: IANG only permits work within Hong Kong and its territories. If you work abroad, your IANG remains valid, but the time spent abroad does not count as “residence in Hong Kong,” which may affect the “continuous 7-year ordinary residence” requirement for permanent residency applications.

Q: Can I study during IANG?
A: Yes. If you enroll in a full-time program, you must switch to a student visa. If you study part-time, you can hold both IANG and part-time student status simultaneously.

Q: Can I apply for a dependant visa (spouse/children) under IANG?
A: Yes, but your spouse/children must also meet financial requirements. Sponsorship is easier under a student visa; under IANG, sponsorship is weaker.

Q: If my IANG expires, can I reapply?
A: Usually not. IANG is a one-time mechanism available “within 24 months of graduation.” After leaving Hong Kong upon expiry, you must apply for another status (e.g., work visa, QMAS, TTPS) to return.

Program Selection Assessment: Choosing the right degree type is crucial—ensure you can use IANG after graduation. Our consultants can help you evaluate your options. [Bottom right: “Program Selection Assessment”]