Permanent residency after seven years
What “ordinarily resident for seven continuous years” means in practice and how to document it.
Draft for review by the operating entity's legal adviser before publication.
The requirement
- A person who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply to the Immigration Department for verification of eligibility for a permanent identity card.
Documenting seven years
- Travel records, tenancy agreements and address proofs, employment history, tax demand notes and school records for children together show where your life was.
- Absences are assessed on their purpose and length; whether a particular pattern of absences breaks continuity is a question for the Immigration Department or an immigration lawyer, not for an administrative service.
A note on this guide
This is general administrative information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees and timelines change; the official sources listed below are authoritative. FastHK is not a government body and cannot influence any decision or appointment.