Sponsoring a Partner From Hong Kong

Yes, you can sponsor partner from Hong Kong. An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen can sponsor partner from Hong Kong for an Australian partner visa when the couple is married or in a genuine de facto relationship and both partners meet the legal requirements. The visa can be the offshore Subclass 309 visa or, where the partner is in Australia on a suitable visa, the onshore Subclass 820 visa.

Hong Kong partners raise a different set of questions from most countries. Their identity documents are more complex, because a Hong Kong resident may hold a Hong Kong SAR passport, a British National (Overseas) passport, a Hong Kong identity card and more than one form of their name. Their visa options are wider, because Hong Kong SAR passport holders may be eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority. And their police certificate follows a process that is unusual: the certificate goes to the authority that asked for it, not to the applicant.

This guide is for the Australian sponsor. If you plan to sponsor partner from Hong Kong, it explains how to choose between the onshore and offshore pathways, how to complete the identity and nationality questions correctly, which Hong Kong and mainland China documents are needed, and how to present the relationship. For a full overview of all partner subclasses, see the firm's complete guide to partner visas in Australia.

Can you sponsor partner from Hong Kong?

Yes. You can sponsor partner from Hong Kong if you are an eligible sponsor, the relationship is genuine and continuing, and your partner meets the health, character and other visa criteria. Hong Kong residents are assessed under the same Australian partner visa law as applicants from any other place.

The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen. The firm's guide to the partner visa sponsor explains the role, and the guide to partner visa sponsor eligibility explains who qualifies. If you are a dual citizen, the guide for a partner visa sponsor who is a dual citizen explains how that affects the sponsorship.

Limits on the sponsor apply in the usual way to anyone who wants to sponsor partner from Hong Kong. A sponsor who has sponsored two partners before, or who sponsored a partner within the last five years, is restricted unless compelling circumstances exist. The page on partner visa sponsorship limitations explains the rules. These limits apply in the same way whether you sponsor partner from Hong Kong or from any other place.

Three pathways to sponsor partner from Hong Kong

There are three main pathways to sponsor partner from Hong Kong: the offshore Subclass 309, the onshore Subclass 820, and the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa. The right choice depends on where your partner will be when the application is lodged, whether you are married, engaged or de facto, and what your partner needs to do during processing.

• Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 (offshore). The partner must be outside Australia when the application is lodged and when the Subclass 309 is granted. The firm's guide to the offshore partner visa explains the process.
• Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 (onshore). The partner must be in Australia when the application is lodged and must not be prevented from applying by a condition on their current visa. The guide to the onshore partner visa explains the process.
• Subclass 300 (fiancé or fiancée). The partner applies from outside Australia and must marry the sponsor within the visa period. The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa page explains the requirements.

Whichever pathway you use to sponsor partner from Hong Kong, both the Subclass 309 and the Subclass 820 lead to permanent residence through a second stage. The firm's guide to the partner visa two-stage process explains how the temporary and permanent stages work, and the FAQ on Subclass 820 vs Subclass 309 compares the two.

HKSAR passport, BN(O) passport or both: completing the identity questions

To sponsor partner from Hong Kong, the partner visa application asks for the passport the applicant will travel on, the applicant's citizenship, any other citizenships, and other passports and identity documents held. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, these questions need more care than usual, because many Hong Kong residents hold more than one document.

Hong Kong SAR passport holders

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is issued to Hong Kong permanent residents who are Chinese citizens. A partner who holds this passport should enter it as the travel document if it is the passport they will use to travel to Australia. Their Hong Kong identity card should also be declared as a national identity document where the form asks for one.

BN(O) passport holders

British National (Overseas) status is a type of British nationality that people with a connection to Hong Kong could register for before 1 July 1997. The United Kingdom Government states that it is not British citizenship, that new applications are not possible, and that BN(O) holders are subject to immigration control in the United Kingdom. A partner who holds a BN(O) passport, alone or together with an HKSAR passport, must declare it.

Choosing the passport for the application

When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, the passport entered in the application should be the one the partner will use to enter Australia, because the visa is linked to that passport. If the partner holds both an HKSAR passport and a BN(O) passport, both must be declared, and the partner should travel on the passport the visa is linked to. If the passport changes during processing, the Department must be told. The firm's guide to a partner visa change of passport and the FAQ on a partner visa with an expired passport explain what to do.

Names: Chinese name, romanised name and English name

A Hong Kong partner may have a Chinese name, a romanised version of it, and an English given name used socially or at work. Every name the partner has used must be declared in the application as another name. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, the relationship evidence will often show the English name, while official documents show the romanised Chinese name, so the link between them must be clear. The FAQ on different names or dates on documents and the FAQ on a partner visa with a different identity explain why consistency matters.

An incorrect answer on identity or nationality questions can create a serious problem. The guide to partner visa incorrect answers and the guide to PIC 4020 and partner visas explain the risks of information that is wrong, even by mistake.

Can a Hong Kong partner visit Australia on an ETA?

Yes, in many cases. The Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong states that Hong Kong SAR passport holders may be eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority, applied for through the AustralianETA app. The position for BN(O) passport holders has historically been different, so eligibility should be checked on the Department's website before travel.

An ETA is a visitor visa, not a pathway to sponsor partner from Hong Kong on its own. It is granted for tourism or business visitor activities, and the partner must be a genuine visitor when it is granted and when they enter Australia. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, a visit on an ETA is an excellent way to spend time together, meet family and build evidence. It must not be used to mislead the Department about the purpose of travel. The FAQ on a partner visa on a tourist visa and the guide to moving from a tourist visa to a partner visa in Australia explain the issues.

Can a Hong Kong partner apply for the Subclass 820 in Australia?

Yes, if the partner is in Australia holding a visa that does not prevent an onshore application, and the application is lodged before that visa ends. This is a real option for couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong, but it must be planned properly.

If the Subclass 820 application is lodged while the partner holds a substantive visa, the partner will usually be granted a Bridging visa A, which keeps them lawful in Australia after the visitor visa ends until the application is decided. The firm's guide to the Bridging visa A and the FAQ on a Bridging visa A for a partner visa explain how it works, including work rights. The guide to Subclass 820 work rights on a bridging visa explains when work is permitted.

Check the visa conditions first

Some visitor visas carry condition 8503, which prevents most onshore applications. Check the grant notice or VEVO before relying on an onshore application. The FAQ on condition 8503 and partner visas explains this condition.

Lodge before the visa ends

If the partner's visa ends before the Subclass 820 is lodged, the partner becomes unlawful and must satisfy the Schedule 3 criteria, which are difficult. The guide to the partner visa Schedule 3 criteria explains them. Couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong onshore should lodge well before the visitor visa ends.

What the Tribunal said in a visitor visa arrival case

In Tang (Migration) [2026] ARTA 374, a Subclass 820 case, the reported issues were that the couple married in the applicant's home country, a previous application had been refused, the sponsor had made regular visits, and the applicant arrived on a visitor visa. The Tribunal remitted the matter. The case shows that arriving on a visitor visa and then applying onshore is not in itself a reason to refuse. The Department and the Tribunal look at whether the relationship is genuine, and the history of visits and the marriage are central to that.

Onshore or offshore: which is better to sponsor partner from Hong Kong?

Neither pathway is better in every case when you sponsor partner from Hong Kong. The onshore Subclass 820 lets your partner stay with you in Australia during processing, usually with work rights once a bridging visa is in effect. The offshore Subclass 309 lets your partner keep working and living in Hong Kong until the visa is granted, with a clear first entry to Australia afterwards.

Couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong usually weigh these factors:

• Living together during processing. Onshore keeps the couple together. Offshore usually means time apart, with visits.
• Work and career. A partner with a career in Hong Kong may prefer to keep working there until grant. A partner who wants to start work in Australia sooner may prefer onshore.
• Travel during processing. Onshore applicants who leave Australia need a Bridging visa B to return. The FAQ on leaving Australia without a Bridging visa B and the guide to the partner visa Bridging visa B explain the risk. Offshore applicants can usually visit Australia on a separate visitor visa while waiting. The FAQ on whether a partner can visit Australia while the Subclass 309 is processing explains this.
• Where the partner must be at grant. The Subclass 309 must be granted while the partner is outside Australia. The FAQ on being outside Australia when the Subclass 309 is granted explains why.
• Family obligations in Hong Kong. Care of parents or children can affect where the partner should be during processing.

The firm's guide to onshore vs offshore partner visas and the FAQ on onshore vs offshore processing time explain the trade-offs in more detail. The FAQ on which partner visa you should apply for gives a short summary.

The Hong Kong Certificate of No Criminal Conviction

To sponsor partner from Hong Kong, you need to plan for the Hong Kong police certificate, which is the Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC), issued by the Hong Kong Police Force. It is issued only for specified purposes, such as visa applications and child adoption, and it is sent directly to the consulate or government authority that requested it, not to the applicant.

This is the most important practical difference when you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, and it affects the order in which documents are gathered. The Hong Kong Police Force states that the request letter must include the postal and email address of the body that will receive the result. In practice, the partner needs a request from the Department, or another acceptable request, before applying. Applicants in Hong Kong can apply online through the Hong Kong Police Force's Online Applications Platform or in person by appointment. At the time of writing, the fee is HK$340 per person.

Applying from outside Hong Kong

A partner who lives outside Hong Kong can still obtain a CNCC, so couples can sponsor partner from Hong Kong even when the partner is living elsewhere. The Hong Kong Police Force states that since 1 January 2026, applications from outside Hong Kong must be made through its Online Applications Platform, and that post, drop-in boxes and representatives are no longer accepted for those applications. A full set of fingerprints, taken by the law enforcement agency or consulate where the applicant lives, is generally required. From 30 March 2026, online applicants who log in with iAM Smart generally do not need to provide fingerprints unless special circumstances apply.

The firm's guide to partner visa overseas police certificates explains the general rule that police certificates are needed from each country where the applicant lived for 12 months or more in the last ten years since turning 16. The FAQ on the police check for a partner visa and the FAQ on police certificate and health check validity explain timing.

The sponsor's police checks

The sponsor's police checks are separate from the partner's, even when you sponsor partner from Hong Kong while living there yourself. An Australian sponsor who lived in Hong Kong for 12 months or more as an adult may be asked for a Hong Kong CNCC too. The guide to the partner visa sponsor police check and the guide to the AFP police check for a partner visa explain the sponsor's side.

If your partner has lived in mainland China

A partner who has lived in mainland China for 12 months or more in the relevant period may also need a mainland Chinese police certificate. Published immigration guidance from other governments states that mainland certificates are issued by the local public security authorities, and that the issuing office and documents differ depending on the applicant's residence status in the mainland.

When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong and your partner worked or studied in Shenzhen, Guangzhou or another mainland city, plan this certificate early. If a certificate genuinely cannot be obtained for a period, the reason must be explained with evidence. The FAQ on what to do when you cannot get a police certificate explains the approach. The firm's article on a partner visa for Chinese citizens covers mainland documents in more detail.

Marrying in Hong Kong

For couples who want to marry before they sponsor partner from Hong Kong, a marriage in Hong Kong is celebrated under the Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 181), at a marriage registry before a Registrar, in a licensed place of worship, or by a civil celebrant of marriages. Every couple must first give a notice of intended marriage. According to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, the notice is given no earlier than three months and at least 15 days before the wedding, and the marriage must take place within three months of the notice.

For couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong, the marriage certificate is the key document if you apply as a married couple. A certified copy of a Hong Kong marriage certificate can be requested from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The firm's guide to the partner visa marriage certificate and the guide to whether an overseas marriage is recognised in Australia explain how the certificate is used.

A marriage certificate proves the legal relationship but not that the relationship is genuine. In Truong (Migration) [2026] ARTA 1103, a Subclass 820 case, the reported issues were marriage certificate evidence, residing together and a joint account. The Tribunal remitted the matter. The case is a reminder that the certificate is one part of the evidence, and that living arrangements and finances also matter. The FAQ on whether a marriage certificate is enough explains this.

Married in mainland China or elsewhere

Some couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong married in mainland China, in Macao or in a third country. A marriage that was valid where it took place is generally recognised in Australia, subject to Australian rules such as the requirement that neither party was already married. The certificate must be translated into English. The FAQ on an overseas marriage recognised for a partner visa explains the test. Mainland China has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 7 November 2023, so mainland public documents can now be apostilled where authentication is required, but the Department ordinarily accepts clear colour copies with English translations for partner visa purposes.

Marrying in Australia instead

Couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong can also marry in Australia, and a Hong Kong partner visiting on an ETA can marry here if a notice of intended marriage is given at least one month before the wedding. Marrying in Australia does not by itself give a right to stay. The FAQ on the notice of intended marriage and the FAQ on being married in Australia on a visitor visa explain the rules.

De facto couples and living together in Hong Kong

De facto couples must normally show 12 months of living together before applying, unless the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory or an exception applies. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong as a de facto couple, the living arrangements can be harder to document, because many couples live in small flats, share with family, or have one partner's name on everything.

For de facto couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong, evidence of living together can include a tenancy agreement, utility bills, bank statements sent to the shared address, and letters from family members you live with. If you lived with your partner's parents, that is common and acceptable when explained. The firm's guide to a partner visa while living with parents and the FAQ on living with family for a partner visa explain how this is assessed. The FAQ on what counts as living together explains the legal meaning, and the FAQ on a lease in both names explains why a joint lease is helpful but not essential.

Health examinations and biometrics when you sponsor partner from Hong Kong

Health examinations are required for partner visa applicants and must be completed with a panel physician approved by the Department. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, the partner should arrange the examination only after the Department's health instructions are issued, and should use the Department's panel physician search to find an approved clinic in Hong Kong or in Australia if lodging onshore. The firm's guide to the partner visa medical examination and the guide to partner visa health requirements explain the process.

Biometrics are requested in writing when needed, with instructions about where to provide them and a deadline. The guide to partner visa biometrics explains what to expect. Health results and police certificates both have limited validity, so couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong should time them so that they remain current when the Department is ready to decide.

Common mistakes when you sponsor partner from Hong Kong

The most common mistakes when you sponsor partner from Hong Kong are avoidable. They usually involve timing, identity details, or assumptions about documents.

• Treating an ETA visit as a plan to stay. A visit must be a genuine visit. If the couple later decides to lodge onshore, the decision and its timing should be explained honestly, and the application must be lodged before the visa ends.
• Leaving out a passport or name. Failing to declare a BN(O) passport, a previous HKSAR passport, or an English name used in daily life creates inconsistencies that the Department will notice.
• Applying for the CNCC too early or without a proper request. The CNCC goes to the requesting authority, so the request must be correct, and the timing should match the Department's needs.
• Forgetting mainland China. A partner who lived in the mainland for 12 months or more may need a mainland police certificate as well as the CNCC.
• Relying on the marriage certificate alone. A Hong Kong marriage certificate proves the marriage, but the relationship evidence still has to cover all four aspects.
• Under-documenting a shared home. Couples who lived with family or in a flat in one partner's name must explain the arrangement and support it with mail, bank records and statements.

The firm's guide to partner visa application mistakes covers errors that arise in every kind of application, and the guide to partner visa approval tips explains what a well prepared application looks like.

Chinese-language documents and English translations

Any document used to sponsor partner from Hong Kong that is not in English must be provided with an English translation. Many Hong Kong government documents include English, but any part that appears only in Chinese, such as handwritten entries or stamps, must be translated. Documents from mainland China, which are usually in simplified Chinese, will need full translations.

When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, translations should match the romanised names in the passport exactly. Where the partner's English name appears in messages or workplace records, explain the link in the application. The firm's guide to partner visa evidence translation explains the standard. Messages in Cantonese, Mandarin or a mix of Chinese and English do not all need translation. A representative selection is usually enough, as the FAQ on translating messages for a partner visa explains.

Relationship evidence for a Hong Kong partner

The relationship evidence must show the financial aspects, the nature of the household, the social aspects and the nature of the commitment. These four aspects are assessed together, from all the evidence. The firm's guide to the four pillars of a partner visa explains each one.

Couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong often have strong evidence in some aspects and thinner evidence in others. Frequent flights between Hong Kong and Australia, shared holidays in the region, and close involvement with both families are common strengths. Separate finances are a common gap, often for cultural or practical reasons. The FAQ on separate finances for cultural reasons and the guide to a partner visa with separate finances explain how to deal with that.

Family recognition

When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, family recognition is often a strong feature of a relationship with a Hong Kong partner. Meeting each other's parents, attending family dinners and festivals, and being included in family events are evidence of the social aspects and the commitment. In Tran (Migration) [2025] ARTA 2243, a Subclass 309 case, the reported issues were an updated relationship statement, shared family commitments and family recognition. The Tribunal remitted the matter. The FAQ on whether families know about the relationship explains why this evidence helps.

Travel to visit family

Joint travel to see family is also strong evidence. In HUANG (Migration) [2026] ARTA 1553, a Subclass 820 case, the reported issues included the sponsor's multiple marriages, shared finances and joint travel to visit family. The Tribunal remitted the matter. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, keep the travel records and photos from each trip to see your partner's family in Hong Kong or your family in Australia. The guide to partner visa travel evidence explains what to keep.

Previous relationships

If either partner has been married before, the earlier marriage must have ended before the current marriage, and the history should be explained openly. The guide to partner visa previous relationships explains what must be disclosed. A sponsor's earlier sponsorships are also relevant to the sponsorship limitations.

One relationship statement, written in your own words

A partner visa has one relationship statement. For couples who sponsor partner from Hong Kong, it should explain how you met, how often you have travelled between Hong Kong and Australia, where you have lived together, how your families see the relationship, and your plans for life in Australia.

The statement used to sponsor partner from Hong Kong must agree with the forms on every key date, including the dates of each entry to Australia on an ETA or other visa. The firm's guide to the relationship statement for a partner visa explains the structure, and the FAQ on whether you can use AI to write a relationship statement explains why the statement must reflect your own account. The guide to partner visa interview questions explains why the statement should match what each partner would say at interview.

Form 888 statements for a Hong Kong partner

Form 888 statements are supporting statements from people who know about the relationship. At least two are normally provided, from Australian citizens or permanent residents. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong, many friends and relatives may live in Hong Kong. Friends and relatives there who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents can give general supporting statements, translated where needed, in addition to the Form 888 statements.

The FAQ on who can sign a Form 888 and the FAQ on what a Form 888 should say explain the requirements. The FAQ on overseas friends' statements explains how statements from people in Hong Kong are used.

Sponsors living in Hong Kong

Many Australians who sponsor partner from Hong Kong live and work there themselves. An Australian citizen living in Hong Kong can still sponsor a partner, but the couple must intend to live in Australia, and the sponsor should be ready to show it. The guide for a partner visa sponsor living overseas and the FAQ on whether an Australian living overseas can sponsor a partner explain how. A permanent resident sponsor living in Hong Kong must also keep a valid permanent visa travel facility. The guide on a partner visa sponsor with an expired travel facility explains that issue.

Sponsors of Chinese descent should read the current Smartraveller advice on dual nationality in Hong Kong. At the time of writing, Smartraveller notes that China's Nationality Law prevents legal recognition of dual citizenship in Hong Kong, and that consular access may be affected if authorities consider a person to be a Chinese citizen. At the time of writing, Smartraveller's overall advice for Hong Kong is to exercise a high degree of caution.

What does it cost to sponsor partner from Hong Kong?

At the time of writing, the partner visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 11,710. The same figure applies to the Subclass 309 and Subclass 100 together, and to the Subclass 820 and Subclass 801 together. Charges for dependent children are added. Other costs to sponsor partner from Hong Kong usually include the CNCC fee, any mainland police certificate, translations, the health examination and travel.

The firm's guide to partner visa cost explains the government charges, and the FAQ on the permanent stage included in the application charge explains why there is no second charge for the permanent stage. Government charges usually change on 1 July each year.

What if the partner visa is refused?

The review rules depend on the pathway. For an onshore Subclass 820 refusal, the review application to the Administrative Review Tribunal must be lodged within 28 days. For an offshore Subclass 309 refusal, the Hong Kong partner applies for review in their own name, from anywhere, and the time limit is short and strictly applied, running from when the refusal is taken to have been received.

At the time of writing, the Tribunal application fee for a partner visa review is AUD 3,727. When you sponsor partner from Hong Kong and receive a refusal, read the letter immediately and get advice. The FAQ on the review deadline after a partner visa refusal, the guide to who can lodge a partner visa appeal and the guide to a partner visa refused onshore explain the process. The FAQ on a bridging visa after a partner visa refusal explains what happens to the onshore partner's status. The firm's partner visa refusals page explains its review work.

How My Migration Lawyers helps you sponsor partner from Hong Kong

My Migration Lawyers helps Australian sponsors who want to sponsor partner from Hong Kong choose the right pathway, complete the identity and nationality questions correctly, and present the relationship with clear, consistent evidence. The firm acts in many sponsor matters for partners from overseas, including partners from across the Asia region, and it handles complex partner visa cases, including onshore applications made after arrival on a visitor visa.

On a Hong Kong matter, the firm's work usually includes:

• Pathway strategy. Advising whether the Subclass 309, Subclass 820 or Subclass 300 suits your situation, including the timing of an onshore lodgement, visa conditions and bridging visa consequences.
• Identity and nationality review. Checking how HKSAR passports, BN(O) passports, Hong Kong identity cards and all names used are declared, so the application is consistent from the first form.
• Police certificate planning. Advising on the CNCC request process, any mainland China certificate, and the sponsor's own checks.
• Marriage and document review. Reviewing Hong Kong marriage certificates, mainland or overseas marriage records and translations.
• Relationship evidence. Helping you organise your own evidence of travel, family recognition, living arrangements and finances, and helping you present your own account clearly in the relationship statement.
• Requests and review. Preparing responses to Department requests and, if a refusal occurs, advising on review by the Administrative Review Tribunal.

The firm's work is led by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer. Sponsors who prefer to discuss their matter in Mandarin can read about the firm's Mandarin-speaking partner visa lawyer service. More information is on the About page and the partner visa lawyers page. Consultations are by video for sponsors anywhere in Australia, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Parramatta.

If you want to sponsor partner from Hong Kong and need the pathway and documents right before you lodge, book a consultation with My Migration Lawyers. You can also call 1300 040 300.