Hong Kong grants unlimited part-time work for international students

According to a statement from the Hong Kong government, starting this month, foreign students in undergraduate programs will be exempt from part-time work limitations "with a view to enhancing their personal exposure and knowledge for working in Hong Kong to incentivize them to stay in Hong Kong for development after graduation."

Previously, international students were limited to 20 hours per week of part-time work within campus premises, or to internships relevant to their field, only during the academic year and summer breaks.

Around 20,000 undergraduate students will benefit from the new regulation, which aims to address local labor shortages by better utilizing the talent pool in Hong Kong.

Vietnamese parents and students attend a fair about studying in Hong Kong, held in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 28, 2024. Photo courtesy of the University of Hong Kong

This policy change "will help attract more foreign students to pursue studies in Hong Kong and prepare them for long-term development in Hong Kong after graduation, thereby expanding the local potential talent pool. The Government will review the whole exemption arrangement next year," a government spokesperson said in the statement.

To work part-time, international students require a No Objection Letter (NOL) from the Immigration Department (ImmD). Previously, students had to apply through their university for an NOL and wait for approval. Under the new rules, ImmD will now issue the NOL directly to eligible students through their universities, simplifying the process.

"Finding a part-time internship that requires an NOL is quite troublesome. I have experienced my onboarding delayed due to issues with the NOL," Kylie Zhong, a 21-year-old undergraduate student from the University of Hong Kong, told news site Shroffed.

"I am really happy about the new arrangement by the government. It will greatly reduce the hassle of finding internships, and companies will not have to worry about the risks of hiring non-local students because of the NOL complications," Zhong added.

Last year, Hong Kong required public universities to increase the intake of international and mainland Chinese students to 40% and established a Talent Support Office to assist those looking to stay and work in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong in October last year eased visa policies for Vietnamese nationals, facilitating study opportunities in the city.

Nguyen Tan Phat, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Hong Kong in Vietnam, told Thanh Nien newspaper that English is the primary working language in Hong Kong, so students who are not fluent in Chinese can still access part-time work.

According to Hong Kong’s Labor Department, the statutory minimum wage has been HK$40 (US$5.14/hour) since May last year, a rise of HK$2.5 from the previous rate. This rate applies to international students, though some exceptions allow them to negotiate wages below the minimum. The wage will be reviewed and adjusted in May next year.

For international students, annual tuition fees at Hong Kong’s eight public universities range from HK$90,000 to 265,000, excluding additional expenses like study materials, registration, and graduation fees. Housing costs vary from HK$15,000 to 180,000 per year, while annual living expenses are around HK$50,000.