Application Processing Timetable – Other Applicants
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The following timetable is applicable to other applicants (including new applicants, and those who have NOT received financial assistance for primary and secondary students in the 2025/26 school year on or before 1 March 2026)
| Approximate Time | Procedures |
|---|---|
| 2026 | |
|
Before end May |
Starting from May, Applicants may complete the electronic application form, upload copies of the relevant supporting documents and submit them together online. Alternatively, applicants may submit the completed paper-based application form and copies of the relevant supporting documents to the Student Finance Office (SFO) at Tsimshatsui Post Office Box No. 96824 by post, using the addressed envelope provided. Insufficient information / documents will delay the application processing or even result in disqualification of the application. Applicants should submit fresh application for their child(ren) for every school year and fill in the form the particulars of all unmarried child(ren) residing with them. Applicants only have to submit one paper-based form or electronic form. Do not submit more than one application form (unless advised by SFO). Multiple applications from the same applicant will be voided and lead to delay in processing the application. |
|
After submitting applications by applicants |
SFO will acknowledge receipt of applications by means of SMS or by post (within around 20 working days) after receiving the applications. The acknowledge receipt will be issued by means of SMS to those applicants who have provided Hong Kong mobile phone number; for applicants who are unable to provide Hong Kong mobile phone number, the acknowledge receipt will be made in writing by post. If the Hong Kong mobile phone number or correspondence address provided by the applicants is incorrect, SFO will not be able to issue acknowledgement to these applicants. Therefore, applicants are required to fill in the relevant information accurately. If applicants do not receive any acknowledgement of receipt of applications by means of SMS or in writing from SFO within 20 working days after submitting their application form, please call SFO enquiry hotline (Tel: 2802 2345) to check so as to avoid any delay in application due to wrong / unsuccessful delivery. SFO may contact the applicants for supplementary information during application processing and when conducting means test. |
|
Starting from August |
SFO will issue the notification of result to eligible applicants. Eligible applicants will also receive an "Eligibility Certificate" on a student-by-student basis. If submitting applications on or before 31 May 2026 have provided all necessary information with supporting documents met the eligibility criteria and passed the means test, the applicants will receive the above-mentioned document starting from August. “Notification of Ineligibility” will be issued to those families which cannot pass the means test; have failed to provide the required supplementary information by the deadline set by SFO; or have withdrawn their applications. |
|
September |
Applicants receiving ECs must verify carefully the personal information and selected Scheme(s) pre-filled on the ECs. Applicants should return the completed ECs to the school in which the children are attending within one week after the commencement date of the schools or within two weeks from the issue date of ECs (whichever is the later) for processing. Schools will certify the student-applicants’ status and complete other parts and then forward the ECs to SFO. In general, SFO will not accept any ECs submitted after the deadline. |
|
End October / November or beyond |
After verifying the returned ECs, SFO will release financial assistance by autopay to those students who are confirmed to be eligible for the respective schemes they applied. SFO will send SMS to inform eligible applicants of the related payment information, if the applicants have provided their valid Hong Kong mobile phone numbers in the application form. |