Eligibility
-
A student-applicant must:
-
be an unmarried resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ("HKSAR");
-
have the right of abode, right to land or valid permission to remain without any condition of stay (other than the limit of stay) in the HKSAR, and should provide a copy of the relevant supporting document; and
-
attend a school belonging to one of the categories of schools as stipulated in the individual financial assistance schemes.
-
- Students holding visitor visas, two-way exit permits, student visas only or who are dependents of student-visa / visitor-visa holders are not eligible.
The following classes of persons are not eligible to apply for student financial assistance for the 2027/28 school year and after:
- persons and their dependants currently staying in the HKSAR under various talent and investment-related entrant schemes which include but are not limited to the Top Talent Pass Scheme, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents, the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme, the General Employment Policy (GEP), the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), the GEP and ASMTP (Technical Professionals Stream), the Technology Talent Admission Scheme, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme; and
- persons currently staying in the HKSAR on student/training visas and their dependants and persons currently staying in the HKSAR on Working Holiday visas.
-
An applicant must be the parent or guardian (as recognized under Guardianship of Minors Ordinance, Cap 13) of the student-applicant(s). Otherwise, applicants must explain in detail with proof why this cannot be complied with in the application form.
-
Applicants with children receiving whole-day child care services (i.e. groups aged 0 to 2 and 2 to 3) must pass the means test and the “social needs" test within the same assessment period in order to qualify themselves for the fee remission. For details, please refer to the “Social Needs” Assessment Form for Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission (SFO 235A) (only applicable to whole-day fee remission application from children aged between 0 and 3 attending child care centre or kindergarten-cum-child care centre).
-
Generally speaking, if families currently in receipt of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) have children studying in kindergartens or child care centres, they should apply direct to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for school-related assistance for their children's school fees and kindergarten education expenses, and they do not need to apply to the Student Finance Office (SFO).
-
If families currently in receipt of the CSSA have children not being covered by the CSSA, such applicants may submit applications to SFO. SFO may request the applicants to provide a copy of the Annex of “Notification of Successful Application” or Annex of “Notification of Revision of Assistance” issued by SWD for proving that the student-applicants are not CSSA recipients, if necessary. Families with members in receipt of Old Age Living Allowance, Old Age Allowance or Disability Allowance can still submit “Household Application Form for Student Financial Assistance Schemes” to SFO for financial assistance.