Getting Your Hong Kong Documents Ready for Australian Immigration

High Court apostille — authenticating your documents

Hong Kong is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention under its own arrangements, separate from mainland China's accession. The High Court of Hong Kong issues apostilles through its Apostille Service Office.

Where to apply. Counter No. 5, LG1, High Court Building, 38 Queensway, Hong Kong. The fee is HKD 125 per document. Payment options include cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS, and cheque. Processing takes two working days for most documents.

Applying from overseas. If you have already left Hong Kong, send your documents by post with a bank draft for HKD 125 per document. The High Court returns apostilled documents by ordinary airmail at no extra charge, or by registered airmail for an additional HKD 15.50.

Which documents can be apostilled? The High Court will apostille documents signed by a notary public, Commissioner for Oaths, or recognised public official. Eligible documents include birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, court orders, diplomas, criminal record certificates, company documents from the Companies Registry, academic certificates, and notarised affidavits, powers of attorney, or declarations.

The key requirement. Your document must first be signed by a recognised public official or notary public before the High Court will apostille it. A plain photocopy or unsigned document will be rejected.

Do you actually need an apostille? The Department of Home Affairs accepts certified copies for most visa applications. Apostilles are not routinely required. However, some skills assessment bodies may request apostilled documents. Check with your specific assessing authority before paying. Start with certified copies and only arrange apostilles if specifically asked.

Police clearance — the CNCC

The Department of Home Affairs requires a police certificate from every country where you've lived for 12 or more months in the past 10 years. For Hong Kong, this means a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) from the Hong Kong Police Force.

How to apply. Submit your application through the Hong Kong Police Force Online Applications Platform. The fee is HKD 283. Processing takes approximately 15 calendar days. Since January 2026, postal, drop-in, and representative applications from overseas have been discontinued — the online platform is now the only option for applicants outside Hong Kong.

Fingerprint changes. From March 2026, some applicants may be able to complete the process without submitting fingerprints. Check the Police Force website for the latest requirements when you apply.

Validity. The CNCC is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Since skilled visa processing can take several months, time your application so the validity window covers your expected grant date.

If you also lived in mainland China. Hong Kong and mainland China have separate police clearance systems. If you lived in mainland China for 12 or more months in the past 10 years, you need a separate police clearance from the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in the relevant mainland jurisdiction. The Hong Kong CNCC does not cover time spent on the mainland.

To upload, scan the original and submit it through ImmiAccount as a colour PDF or JPEG.

Health examinations — panel clinics

Australian immigration health assessments must be completed at a panel-approved clinic. In Hong Kong, these are operated by Bupa Medical Visa Services.

Generate a HAP (Health Assessment Portal) referral through your ImmiAccount, then book directly with a Bupa clinic using your HAP ID. You cannot walk in without a referral. The exam covers a medical history review, physical examination, and chest X-ray (for applicants aged 11 and over). Some visa subclasses also require blood tests. Bring your passport and HAP ID letter. Bupa sends results directly to Home Affairs electronically — you don't upload anything yourself.

Cost is approximately AUD 350 to AUD 500 (roughly HKD 1,800 to HKD 2,600) depending on your visa subclass. For a full breakdown, see our Hong Kong-to-Australia cost guide.

Identity documents — BN(O) vs HKSAR passports

This is one of the most important decisions for Hong Kong applicants. Many hold both a British National (Overseas) passport and an HKSAR passport, and the choice of which to submit affects visa eligibility.

### Which passport to use

The Hong Kong streams within subclasses 189, 191, 482, and 485 require you to hold a valid HKSAR passport. If you are applying through one of these Hong Kong-specific pathways, submit your HKSAR passport.

For other visa subclasses — such as standard skilled worker or partner visas — either passport may be accepted. However, the passport you submit can affect English language testing requirements and other eligibility criteria. Discuss the implications with a MARA-registered migration agent before lodging your application.

### Birth certificates

Hong Kong birth certificates are issued by the Immigration Department or the Births and Deaths Registry. These certificates are bilingual (English and Chinese), so translation is not normally required. If you don't have your original, apply to the Immigration Department for a certified copy.

### Marriage certificates

Marriage certificates issued by the Registrar of Marriages in Hong Kong are bilingual. A certified copy is accepted for Australian visa applications. For partner visa applications, see our list of migration agents who specialise in partner visas.

Educational documents — HK universities and JUPAS transcripts

Hong Kong universities issue academic transcripts and degree certificates in English or bilingual format. This reduces the translation burden that applicants from other parts of Asia often face.

University transcripts. Request official transcripts directly from your university's registry. Transcripts should be sealed in the university's official envelope if being posted to an assessment body. Most Hong Kong universities — including HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, CityU, and HKBU — provide English-language transcripts as standard.

Sub-degree qualifications. If you completed a Higher Diploma or Associate Degree, provide the certificate and full transcript. Assessment bodies evaluate these against the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Degree certificates. You need certified copies of your degree certificate. If your university offers digital verification, check whether your assessing body accepts it.

Professional qualifications — HKICPA, HKIE, and others

Several Hong Kong professional bodies have established assessment pathways with their Australian counterparts.

### Accountants — HKICPA to CPA Australia

If you hold HKICPA membership and are seeking assessment by CPA Australia or Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, there are established pathways for evaluating your qualifications. Prepare certified copies of your HKICPA membership certificate, academic transcripts, and employment references.

### Engineers — HKIE to Engineers Australia

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) is a signatory to the Washington Accord. This means HKIE-accredited engineering degrees may be eligible for fast-track assessment by Engineers Australia, potentially skipping the full Competency Demonstration Report (CDR). You will need certified copies of your degree and transcript, plus evidence of HKIE accreditation.

If your degree is not Washington Accord-accredited, you will need to prepare a full CDR with three career episodes, a summary statement, and a continuing professional development list.

Skills assessments by profession

A skills assessment is required for most skilled visa applications (subclasses 189, 190, 491, and 482). The assessing body depends on your nominated occupation. Each body has its own document requirements.

### ACS (Australian Computer Society)

ACS assesses ICT occupations. You need certified copies of your degree certificate and transcript, plus employer references on company letterhead confirming your job title, duties, and dates. Since most Hong Kong qualifications are in English, translation is rarely needed for ACS submissions.

### VETASSESS

VETASSESS assesses a wide range of professional, managerial, and trade occupations. Requirements vary by occupation group but generally include certified copies of your qualification, transcript, and employment references.

For eligibility estimates, try the Migratio points calculator or speak with a migration agent who specialises in skilled visas.

Translation requirements

Hong Kong applicants have a significant advantage here. Most official Hong Kong documents — birth certificates, marriage certificates, academic transcripts, degree certificates, and police clearances — are issued in English or in bilingual English-Chinese format. This means translation is often not required.

When you do need translation. Some older documents, private-sector employment records, or documents issued by smaller organisations may be in Chinese only. If any document submitted to the Department of Home Affairs or a skills assessment body is not in English, you need a certified English translation. NAATI-accredited translators (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) are strongly preferred.

Search the NAATI directory for translators accredited in Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin) to English. Many work remotely and accept scanned documents. Expect to pay approximately AUD 50 to AUD 120 per page.

Common mistakes Hong Kong applicants make

Submitting the wrong passport for Hong Kong stream visas. The Hong Kong streams within subclasses 189, 191, 482, and 485 require an HKSAR passport. Submitting a BN(O) passport for these pathways can result in your application being refused.

Forgetting to get a separate mainland China police clearance. If you lived in mainland China for 12 or more months, you need a PSB clearance from the relevant mainland jurisdiction in addition to your Hong Kong CNCC. The two systems are completely separate.

Applying for the CNCC too early. If your certificate expires before your visa is granted, you will need a new one. Time it so the 12-month validity window covers your expected grant date.

Assuming apostilles are required. Home Affairs accepts certified copies for most visa applications. Don't pay for apostilles unless specifically asked.

Not keeping enough certified copies. You may need to submit documents to Home Affairs, your skills assessment body, a professional registration body, and your employer at the same time. Get at least four certified copies of each key document.

Skipping translation for Chinese-only documents. While most Hong Kong documents are bilingual, some older or private documents are in Chinese only. These need a certified English translation before submission.

Next steps

Documents are one part of a larger process. For help deciding which visa pathway suits you, see our Hong Kong visa options guide. To estimate costs in HKD and AUD, use the visa cost calculator. For what life looks like after you arrive, read our settling in Australia guide.

If you want professional help, Migratio connects you with MARA-registered migration agents who specialise in Hong Kong-to-Australia moves. You can search by visa type or read our guide on how to choose a migration agent. To see where you stand on the points test, try the points calculator.

Related resources

- Hong Kong to Australia — 2026 Overview
- Visa Options for Hong Kong Citizens Moving to Australia
- Cost of Moving to Australia from Hong Kong
- Settling in Australia from Hong Kong
- How to Choose a Migration Agent
- What Is a Skills Assessment?
- Find a Skilled Visa Agent

How do I authenticate Hong Kong documents for Australia?

Hong Kong documents can be apostilled through the High Court of Hong Kong at 38 Queensway. The fee is HKD 125 per document, with processing typically within two working days. Documents must first be signed by a notary public or other recognised public official before the High Court will issue an apostille.

Which passport should I submit with my visa application — BN(O) or HKSAR?

This depends on which visa you're applying for. The Hong Kong streams within subclasses 189, 191, 482, and 485 require an HKSAR passport. For other visas, either passport may work, but the choice can affect English testing requirements. Consult a MARA-registered migration agent about the implications for your specific application.

How do I get a Hong Kong police clearance?

Apply through the Hong Kong Police Force Online Applications Platform. The fee is HKD 283 and processing takes approximately 15 calendar days. Since January 2026, overseas applicants must use the online platform rather than postal applications.