A
lthough many expats originally
land in Hong Kong on a short-
termposting, it’s extremely
common tomeet people
who havemade the city their permanent
base. Permanent Resident (PR) status can
be an incentive for long-termHong Kong
expats, conferring as it does a number of
rights and privileges excluded to those on
standardWork or Dependent Visas.
Of course, the expat life can be a
nomadic and unpredictable one, with
companies often recalling employees
at short notice, and unexpected job
opportunities coming from out of the
blue; however, if you are currently
weighing up the pros and cons of a new
move versus holding out for PR, here’s
what you need to know.
What’s the benefit?
Once you become a PR, you attain
“Right of Abode” in Hong Kong, meaning
that you no longer need a visa to work
or study in the SAR. This also entitles you
to all residents’ benefits, such as access
to social housing and medical subsidies,
eligibility for occasional government
schemes (like the $6,000 made available
to all PRs back in 2011), plus the right to
vote in Legislative Council and Chief
You’re so close to achieving Permanent Residency, but another
opportunity beckons. Is it worth the wait? asks
Kate Farr.
Should you stay
or should you go?
Executive elections.
Unlike many other countries, Hong
Kong PR has few strings attached and
does not require you to renounce any
existing citizenships or passports upon
qualification. Children below the age of
21 will be granted PR when one of their
parents attains it, and, unlike our regional
neighbour Singapore, this comes without
the obligation of military service.
If you are considering buying
property in Hong Kong, then you should
be aware that non-PRs are liable for
Buyer’s Stamp Duty, currently set at 15 per
cent of the purchase price.
Less tangibly, many people feel
that PR status gives themmore of a
connection to Hong Kong society. In the
words of recent PRs John and Victoria,
“Hong Kong is generally pretty easy to
[grant] a work permit; however PR has
that allure of being something a bit more
special, like attaining premium airline
membership or a matte black credit
card. In other countries, this can take as
little as two years, with citizenship around
the corner; having hit seven years, it felt
like we had earned the right to be here.”
Do you qualify?
However, before deciding to stay on, it’s
worth ensuring that you actually qualify.
Despite what many people believe,
PR is not granted automatically at the
seven-year mark, and you will need to
prove to the Immigration Department
that you have lived in Hong Kong for
seven consecutive years on a valid Work,
Student or Dependent Visa. Tourist Visas
are not eligible towards a PR application,
so check old passports for visa validity,
and ensure the dates add up.
John and Victoria recommend
planning ahead. “Think about PR even
if you are years away, as you don’t want
a silly little mistake to reset the seven-
year rule.”
Once PR is granted, you need only
return to Hong Kong once every 36 months
tomaintain your status, so you can then
leave to work elsewhere, returning every
three years with minimum fuss.
Of course, the decision to stay or go
will most likely depend on how good the
offer is elsewhere. If you don’t see yourself
remaining in Hong Kong long-term and
you receive a competitive job offer, then
you may err towards leaving. However,
if you think that your family may benefit
from a future in the Fragrant Harbour, an
extra year or two now may make that a
whole lot easier later.
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