Understanding the difference between Hong Kong resident status and permanent resident status

As one of the international financial, shipping and trade centers and the core city of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's development, Hong Kong is an important window connecting the mainland and the international market. Therefore, in recent years, more and more people have moved their destinations to Hong Kong, so what is the difference between the benefits of Hong Kong resident identity cards obtained by moving to Hong Kong and Hong Kong permanent identity cards? Let's take a look ~

What's the difference between Hong Kong residents and permanent residents? Hong Kong has two identity types: Hong Kong residents and Hong Kong permanent residents. In terms of education, medical care and social welfare, the benefits enjoyed by holders of Hong Kong identity cards and permanent identity cards are basically the same; Both of them can freely enter and leave Hong Kong, and there are no restrictions on studying, working or living in Hong Kong; However, there are definitely differences in the types of documents, as follows:

1/ Passport

Hong Kong resident status: Before applying for a permanent resident identity card, you held a mainland passport, and you cannot enjoy visa-free treatment for Hong Kong passports when you go to countries and regions where you are unavoidable to sign in mainland China.

Hong Kong permanent residence status: Holders of HKSAR passports can enter more than 16 countries and regions around the world visa-free, including Britain, Canada, Italy, France and other developed countries in Europe and America.

2/ housing rights

Hong Kong resident status: You cannot apply for renting public housing in Hong Kong, and you have to pay 3% of the buyer's stamp duty for buying commercial housing in Hong Kong.

permanent residence status in hong kong: permanent residents can apply for public housing, and they can get tax exemption for the first purchase, and only need to pay 15% tax for the second one.

3/ Right to vote and stand for election

Hong Kong resident status: No right to vote and stand for election.

Hong Kong permanent resident status: permanent residents enjoy the right to vote and stand for election, and exercise political rights according to law, such as voting in parliamentary elections.

4 civil servant qualification

Hong Kong resident status: you cannot be employed in a civil servant position in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong permanent resident status: According to Article 99 of the Basic Law, only permanent residents can be employed as civil servants.

how do hong kong residents apply for permanent residence in hong kong? To apply for permanent residence status in Hong Kong, you need to "ordinarily live in Hong Kong for more than seven consecutive years", but it does not mean that you have to live in Hong Kong for seven years.

According to the analysis of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, anyone who lives in Hong Kong legally, voluntarily and for the purpose of settlement (such as studying, working or staying) will be regarded as ordinarily living in Hong Kong regardless of the length of time. The Immigration Department will judge whether an applicant meets the requirement of "ordinarily residing in Hong Kong" according to the following factors: the reason, duration and frequency of the applicant's absence from Hong Kong; Whether you have a habitual residence in Hong Kong; Whether you are employed by a company based in Hong Kong; Location of family members, etc.

can I enjoy mainland benefits if I am a Hong Kong citizen? Hong Kong, as the key supporting region of the national development plan and the core city of Greater Bay Area's development, according to the current policy, Hong Kong residents enjoy the same welfare treatment as mainland residents, covering employment, entrepreneurship, education, medical care, tourism and finance. If the children of Hong Kong residents enjoy the same education guarantee in the Mainland, they can also enter mainland universities at a low threshold by taking the joint entrance examination for overseas Chinese students and applying for HKDSE exemption. With the development of Greater Bay Area's cooperation, it is believed that the measures of "benefiting Hong Kong" to facilitate the development of Hong Kong residents in the Mainland will continue to increase. Ways to obtain Hong Kong identity: Hong Kong immigrants apply for immigration by studying at recognized universities in Hong Kong and then staying in Hong Kong after graduation. Applicants can obtain a study visa by entering a full-time university in Hong Kong and be employed by a Hong Kong company after graduation. Applicants and their families (spouses, children under the age of 18) can also obtain a Hong Kong resident identity card and apply for a SAR passport seven years later.