Interest in studying in Australia spikes among Hongkongers after country unveils new pathways to citizenship

Under new programme, residents will be able to obtain permanent residency in as little as three years provided they meet requirements

Hongkongers who might have previously chosen Britain for overseas study are now opting for Australia, including older residents pursuing master’s degrees

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Sydney is one of the cities in Australia enjoying newfound interest by Hongkongers seeking to study overseas. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:35pm, 18 Dec 2021Updated: 8:03pm, 18 Dec 2021

Interest in studying in Australia has exploded among Hongkongers, education consultants have reported, after the country became the latest to ease immigration rules for residents from the financial hub.

An Australian and United Kingdom education expo held in a hotel ballroom in Hong Kong on Saturday was filled with students, parents and prospective middle-aged learners seeking information about study and emigration plans.

The Australian government amended its visa regulations in October to allow Hongkongers to obtain permanent residency in the country in as little as three to four years provided they meet the requirements. The programme will open for applications in March next year.

An education expo held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai in July. Photo: Nora Tam

Several Western countries, including Canada and Britain, have created specialised visa schemes for Hongkongers following the imposition of the national security law in June last year that bans acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.

Willy Kwong, general manager of expo organiser AAS Education Consultancy, said daily inquiries about Australia’s permanent residency visa streams for the city’s residents had increased by nearly a third since details of the scheme were announced.

“We held two webinars to illustrate the pathway in November each with a quota of 150, and they were full after a few hours,” Kwong said.

Residents in their 30s and 40s were showing an interest in pursuing advanced studies in Australia, which was previously not a popular option for master’s degrees, with the goal of settling down there, he noted.

Interest in studying in Australia spikes among Hongkongers after country unveils new pathways to citizenship

Under new programme, residents will be able to obtain permanent residency in as little as three years provided they meet requirements Hongkongers who might have previously chosen Britain for overseas study are now opting for Australia, including older residents pursuing master’s degrees

Under new programme, residents will be able to obtain permanent residency in as little as three years provided they meet requirements

Hongkongers who might have previously chosen Britain for overseas study are now opting for Australia, including older residents pursuing master’s degrees