Definition of Local and Non-local Students
According to the Education Bureau (EDB), LOCAL STUDENTS, for the purpose of admission to post-secondary programmes, are defined as follows:
The student is a holder of:
| LS1 (Sample) | HKID Card (Permanent) 香港永久性居民身份證 |
| LS2 | Documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR showing right to land / right of abode in Hong Kong 由香港特區入境事務處簽發享有香港特區的居留權／入境權之證明文件 |
| LS3 (Sample) | One-way Permit for entry to Hong Kong 中華人民共和國前往港澳通行證（單程證） |
| LS4 (Sample) | Full-time employment visa / work permit 來港就業入境簽證／進入許可證 |
| LS5 (Sample) | Dependant visa / entry permit (for students who were below 18 years old) Note Note Students holding dependant visa / entry permit who were below 18 years old when they were first issued with such visa / entry permit by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. 受養人簽證／進入許可證（未年滿18歲的學生）註 註 獲香港特區入境事務處首次簽發受養人簽證／進入許可證時未年滿18歲的學生，均視為本地生。 |
| LS6 (Sample) | Visa / Entry permit for Quality Migrant Admission Scheme 優秀人才入境計劃（簽證／進入許可證） |
| LS7 (Sample) | Visa / Entry permit for Capital Investment Entrant Scheme 資本投資者入境計劃（簽證／進入許可證） |
| LS8 (Sample) | Visa / Entry permit for Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents 輸入中國籍香港永久性居民第二代計劃（簽證／進入許可證） |
| LS9 (Sample) | Visa label for unconditional stay 無條件限制逗留（簽證） |
According to the EDB, NON-LOCAL STUDENTS, for the purpose of admission to post-secondary programmes, are defined as follows:
The student is a holder of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR:
| NLS1 | Student visa / entry permit 學生簽證／進入許可證 |
| NLS2 | Visa / Entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates 在非本地畢業生留港／回港就業安排下的簽證／進入許可證 |
| NLS3 | Dependant visa / entry permit (for students who were 18 years old or above) Note Note Students holding dependant visa / entry permit who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa / entry permit by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR. 受養人簽證／進入許可證（已年滿18歲的學生）註 註 獲香港特區入境事務處簽發受養人簽證／進入許可證時已年滿18歲的學生，均視為非本地生。 |
Applicants who do not hold any of the documents in LS1 – LS9 above are defined as NON-LOCAL students.
For enquiries concerning the definition of local and non-local students and corresponding education policies, please contact the Higher Education Division of the EDB:
| Email: | edbinfo@edb.gov.hk (Attn: Higher Education Division) |
| Enquiry Hotline: | (852) 3509 7396 |
Following the Government's announcement on 31 July 2025 regarding the revision of the eligibility criteria for government-subsidised post-secondary student places and subsidies, the JUPAS Office will implement corresponding administrative arrangements in the 2027 JUPAS Admissions Exercise. Details of these arrangements will be announced in accordance with the standard timeline for releasing information by the JUPAS Office (i.e. in late September 2026). For enquiries relating to the above-mentioned revision and the associated education policies, please contact the Education Bureau (EDB) directly via edbinfo@edb.gov.hk.
For enquiries related to the JUPAS applications please contact the JUPAS Office at:
| Email: | |
| Enquiry Hotline: | (852) 2334 2929 / 2233 2929 (Operating Hours) |