University route to PR: Hongkongers aged 30-49 apply to study in Australia, taking families with them
- Australia’s new migration pathways result in more Hongkongers applying to universities there
- New trend emerges of mature students applying for visas, planning to take dependants with them
There has been a sharp rise in the number of middle-aged Hong Kong residents applying to pursue higher education in Australia and hoping to relocate their families there, according to latest data from Canberra.
Between November last year and January, 155 people aged 30 to 49 applied to study in Australia and take their dependants with them, a 57 per cent rise from 99 in the same period last year.
For more than a decade, there were only about 30 applicants in this age group over that period each year.
The trend followed Australia’s announcement of new pathways to permanent residence (PR) for Hongkongers after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020.
According to details unveiled last October, holders of temporary graduate visas or temporary skills shortage visas who have lived in Australia for three to four years may apply for PR from Saturday.
The PR visas are granted to those who have completed their studies or worked on a temporary visa and lived in Australia for three to four years, enabling them to remain with PR status, paving the way for them to apply for citizenship after a year.
According to education consultants, Hongkongers who started studying in Australia in 2015 and 2016 and stayed on from 2019 would be the first batch to benefit from the new route to PR.
The new pathway resulted in a spike of applications by Hongkongers hoping to meet the criterion of studying in Australia for at least two academic years, with most older applicants choosing master’s degree programmes.
8,800 Hongkongers eligible for new Australian pathways to permanent residency
Latest figures from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs showed that 1,640 Hongkongers applied for student visas between last November and January, up 7 per cent from the same period of the previous year.
The total was a record high since such data became available in 2005.
Of the total, 98 applied for visas for their dependants, up from 68 in the same period of last year, a significant 44 per cent increase.
Most striking was the rise in middle-aged Hongkongers and their dependants applying for student visas, something not seen before.
There were 49 such applications for dependants, up from 31 last year and five times the past average of fewer than 10.
A similar trend has been seen in applications to Canada, which has also eased migration routes for Hongkongers. The Post reported earlier that some education consultancy and immigration companies received several inquiries from those aged 40 to 60 interested in applying to study there.
Willy Kwong, general manager of AAS Education Consultancy, which focuses on studying in Australia, said his clients’ profiles had changed from mainly younger students.
Lately, he has been dealing mainly with middle-aged clients keen to take advantage of the new migration pathways and most wanted to move as families.
He said some Australian universities had noted the growing interest from Hongkongers, particularly mature students keen on two-year master’s degree courses, and were offering scholarships.
Kwong expected the number of senior secondary students going to Australia after this year’s university entrance exams to rise.
Australia opens door to Hongkongers with permanent residency scheme
Compared with studying in Britain and Canada, he said Hongkongers preferred Australia for the better weather, proximity to Hong Kong and less drastic time zone differences.
These factors mattered to families who preferred sending some members first, with the others going later, he added.
A spokesman for the Australian consulate in Hong Kong said there were currently about 8,800 Hongkongers holding temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visas who would be eligible for the new visas.
06:15
BN(O) passport holders flee Hong Kong for new life in the UK, fearing Beijing’s tightening control
Another 2,584 Hong Kong passport holders had their visas extended for a further five years under visa arrangements implemented in July 2020.
Australia hoped the new immigration pathways would attract Hongkongers with skills and talent, who would build business links, help boost productivity and contribute to the economy.
“Hong Kong migrants have a long history of positively contributing to Australia over many generations,” the spokesman said.
Britain to change BN(O) visa scheme to allow younger Hongkongers to apply
Britain and Canada also eased their entry rules for Hongkongers after the national security law was introduced in June 2020, banning bans acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces.
About 103,900 Hongkongers applied for Britain’s new pathway to citizenship in the first year of its visa scheme.
Canada’s pathway, requiring applicants to work or study, attracted 9,110 applications for the open work permits in the first nine months of last year and a record 6,385 student visas were granted last year.
