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Hong Kong International School and Public-School Admission Application Procedures and Fees
The “school application” described in this document covers kindergarten, primary, and secondary school degree application services for the following types of schools:
(1) International Schools
(2) Private Schools
(3) Public Schools (including government schools, aided schools, subsidized schools, and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools)
Students holding Hong Kong permanent resident status or Hong Kong non-permanent resident status are eligible to apply to the above schools. Applicants must hold a valid Hong Kong residence permit (e.g., dependent visa) and meet the corresponding admission requirements according to the type of school applied for.
1. Service Fees
Service Item Fee (HKD)
Fee (HKD)
Application to 5 international schools
29,800
Application to 8 public schools
29,800
Each additional jointly applied public school
+3,000
Each additional jointly applied international school
+5,000
Academic Assessment Fee
1,500
The fee specifically includes the following services:
(1) Preliminary consultation on Hong Kong's education system and school selection;
(2) Recommendation of suitable international schools or public schools based on the student's background, academic level, and family needs;
(3) Assistance in assessing the student's admission eligibility (including age, grade level, residency status, academic records, etc.);
(4) Review and preparation of required application documents (transcripts, recommendation letters, identity documents, proof of address, etc.);
(5) Assistance in completing and submitting online or paper application forms;
(6) Guidance for parents in preparing for admission interviews or written tests (if applicable), and provision of mock practice sessions;
(7) Liaison with the admissions offices of target schools and follow-up on application progress;
(8) Reporting to clients on application status (interview invitations, admission results, waiting lists, etc.);
(9) Assistance in arranging payment of deposit fees, tuition fees, and other school-required fees;
(10) Obtaining and forwarding admission offer letters and registration documents to the client's designated address;
(11) Assistance in completing admission registration procedures (including purchasing school uniforms, textbooks, arranging school buses, etc., if applicable);
(12) Assistance for parents in understanding the Hong Kong Education Bureau's Central Allocation and Discretionary Places mechanisms (for public schools only).
II. Payment Terms and Methods
Upon receipt of your confirmation of engagement, we will issue and send an invoice together with the wiring instructions to you for your settlement. When you arrange the payment, please put our invoice number of account number in the message section and then send an email copy of the remittance receipt to us for our records. Because of the nature of service, we require full payment in advance. And once the service is commenced, no refund of service fee will be made.
We accept cash, HKD check, TT and credit card through PayPal. An extra handling fee of 5% will be charged if paid by PayPal.
III. Admission Requirements by Educational Stage (Kindergarten to Senior Secondar)
|
School Type |
Stage | Identity and Age Requirement |
Language Proficiency |
Admission Method and Key Policies |
|
Government/ Aided |
Kindergarten |
Identity: Must be a Hong Kong resident (holding right of abode / right of landing / unconditional stay) Age: Must turn 2 years and 8 months old in the admission year |
Cantonese primarily English as supplement |
Direct application to schools (some participate in the "Kindergarten Education Scheme") |
| Primary |
Identity: Must be a Hong Kong resident (holding right of abode / right of landing / unconditional stay) Age: Must turn 5 years and 8 months old before September 1 of the admission year Proof of Residence: Must provide proof of address in Hong Kong (for school net allocation) |
Cantonese & English |
"Mandatory participation in the "Primary One Admission System": Comprises two stages “Discretionary Places" (September) and "Central Allocation" (January). |
|
| Secondary |
Identity: Must be a Hong Kong resident (holding right of abode / right of landing / unconditional stay) Age: Primary 6 graduates |
Cantonese & English |
"Mandatory participation in the "Secondary School Places Allocation System": Comprises "Discretionary Places" (30%) and "Central Allocation" (70%). *Results of the "Internal Assessments" from the second term of Primary 5 directly affect the allocation band. |
|
| DSS/ Private |
Kindergarten / Primary / Secondary |
Identity: Must be a Hong Kong resident (holding right of abode / right of landing / unconditional stay) Age: Set by individual schools, generally consistent with public schools |
DSS: Local curricula mostly in Cantonese and English; non-local curricula require English as the medium of instruction Private: Varies by school (e.g., ISF Academy requires Putonghua & English) |
Direct application to schools; schools set their own written test and interview formats and dates. *Transfer before Secondary 3 is preferable to allow students to select subjects according to HKDSE requirements. *Transfer applications at Secondary 5 or above will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on individual academic assessments and availability of places. |
| International Schools |
Kindergarten / Primary / Secondary |
Identity: Must be a Hong Kong resident (holding right of abode / right of landing / unconditional stay); some schools give priority to non-local passport holders Age: Strictly aligned by date of birth against grade level (must turn the specified age by August 31 or December 31 of the admission year) Parent/Guardian: At least one parent/guardian must reside in Hong Kong |
Sufficient English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to cope with an all-English teaching environment. |
Direct application to schools; schools set their own written test and interview formats and dates. *Transfer before Grade 10 is preferable to allow for determination of curriculum system and subject selection. |
Admission Planning Recommendations for September 2027 Intake
(1) Government/Aided Schools: The Primary One Admission System will start accepting applications from September 2026; the Secondary One Admission System will start accepting applications from January 2027. Government/aided schools require participation in the Central Allocation, and missing the application period will result in loss of allocation opportunities.
(2) DSS/Private Schools: Independent admissions; most schools accept applications for the following academic year from July to October 2026, with different deadlines for each school.
(3) International Schools: Popular international schools generally open applications from August to November 2026, with deadlines mostly concentrated between October 2026 and January 2027; some schools adopt rolling admissions throughout the year and close once places are filled.
Parents are advised to start planning one year in advance to ensure sufficient preparation time and enhance the chances of successful admission.
IV. Application Procedures
(1) International Schools / Private Schools / DSS Schools Application Procedures (Rolling Admission or Fixed Deadlines)
|
No. |
Step |
Service Content |
Estimated Timeline |
||
|
1 |
Initial Consultation & School Selection |
Assess student background (academic level, English proficiency, interests and strengths), recommend 5-8 suitable target schools based on parents' expectations and the student's profile, and introduce each school's admission
policies, curriculum features, and application requirements |
1 Week |
||
| 2 |
|
Assist clients in organizing required application documents, including past transcripts, extracurricular activity records, and identity documents, ensuring complete materials |
2 - 4 Weeks | ||
| 3 |
|
Submit applications via school websites or by post, ensuring all application forms and materials are delivered accurately and on time, and assist with payment of application fees |
1 - 2 Weeks | ||
| 4 |
Admission Assessments & Interview Arrangements |
Assist in coordinating examination arrangements and travel planning, provide interview question banks for students and parents as reference, continuously follow up on interview results, and draft waiting letters or thank-you
letters as needed |
International Schools: 1-6 months after application submission Private/DSS: 1-3 months after application submission |
||
| 5 |
Admission Decision Follow-up |
Continuously track school review progress, assist clients in interpreting admission, waiting list, or rejection notices; provide follow-up strategy recommendations for those on waiting lists |
1-12 weeks after interview |
||
| 6 |
Admission Registration Assistance |
Assist clients in paying deposit fees / first installment of tuition within the specified deadline, completing registration procedures, confirming placement, and interpreting school debenture or capital levy agreement terms |
1-4 weeks after receiving offer |
(2) Government / Aided / Subsidized Schools Application Procedures (Central Allocation Mechanism)
|
No. |
Step |
Service Content |
Estimated Timeline |
| 1 |
Initial Consultation & Planning |
Arrange academic assessment, explain the Primary One / Secondary One Admission Systems, analyze the school net corresponding to the residential address, and provide recommendations on the scoring methods and admission criteria of preferred schools |
July of the year prior to admission (recommended to start services at this time to allow sufficient planning time) |
|
2 |
Discretionary Places Application Assistance |
Assist clients in preparing and submitting Discretionary Places application forms (Primary 1: limited to 1 school; Secondary 1: up to 2 schools), provide school selection strategy recommendations, and ensure complete and accurate application documents |
Primary 1: September Secondary 1: January (recommend completing document preparation 2 months in advance) |
| 3 |
Discretionary Places Results Follow-up |
Follow up on school result announcements and assist successful clients in completing registration procedures within the specified deadline |
Primary 1: November Secondary 1: March |
| 4 |
Central Allocation School Choice Guidance |
For those not offered Discretionary Places, provide Central Allocation school selection strategies, assist in filling in school preferences (Part A: cross-net choices; Part B: home-net choices), and maximize allocation opportunities |
Primary 1: January Secondary 1: April (recommend completing guidance 2 weeks before the selection deadline) |
| 5 |
Central Allocation Results Follow-up |
Follow up on the Education Bureau's announcement of allocation results and assist clients in completing registration procedures |
Primary 1: June Secondary 1: July |
| 6 |
"Knock Door" (Backup Application) Support |
If allocation results are unsatisfactory, organize knock-door documents for clients (CV, application letters, recommendation letters, etc.), and provide lists of knock-door schools and interview preparation recommendations |
Immediate activation after the announcement of Central Allocation results (knock-door documents should be prepared in advance for immediate submission after results are announced) |
Note:
(1) The above timelines are estimates based on general circumstances. Actual timelines may vary depending on individual schools' administrative arrangements, application periods, document completeness, and availability of places. For popular schools or cases with incomplete documentation, processing times may be extended. Parents are advised to allow sufficient time and begin application planning as early as possible.
(2) The timelines for the Central Allocation mechanism are subject to the official announcements of the Education Bureau for the relevant year and are subject to change without prior notice.
V. Document Checklist
No.
Applicant (Student) Documents
Parent/Guardian Documents
1
Copy of valid passport
Copies of valid passports of both parents
2
Copy of Hong Kong visa
Copies of Hong Kong identity cards and Hong Kong visas of both parents
3
Copy of first entry "white slip" to Hong Kong
Copies of the first entry "white slips" of both parents
4
Copy of birth certificate (in English/Chinese or notarized translation)
Copies of Hong Kong-Macau Travel Permits of both parents (for Mainland Chinese students only)
5
Copies of official transcripts for the past two years (in English/Chinese or notarized translation)
Copy of Hong Kong proof of address (utility bills, tenancy agreement, or bank statements from the past 3 months, if available)
6
Copy of student Hong Kong identity document (if any)
Completed school application questionnaire (template will be provided)
7
Copy of student's Hong Kong-Macau Travel Permit (for Mainland Chinese students only)
Family photo
8
Passport-size photos (electronic and printed copies)
Note:
(1) All documents not in English or Chinese must be translated by a certified translation agency.
(2) The above are the initial required documents and may be supplemented or adjusted according to the specific circumstances of the student and family.
9
Student's personal casual photo (electronic copy)
10
Copy of recommendation letter from current or former school (if required)
11
Copies of certificates for extracurricular activities, awards, or special talents (if any)
12
Copy of vaccination records and health check-up report (as required by school)
13
Copy of name change document (if applicable)
VI. Disclaimer and Important Notes
(1) Admission decisions at Hong Kong international schools are made independently by each school's admissions committee. Our services aim to enhance the quality of applications but do not guarantee admission to any specific school.
(2) Central Allocation results for public schools are influenced by factors such as available places, school net quotas, random numbers, and other elements. We can assist in correctly submitting applications but cannot influence allocation outcomes.
(3) Schools reserve the right to make the final determination on grade placement after comprehensive assessment based on the applicant's written test and interview performance, past conduct records, and the availability of places in the relevant grade.
(4) The definitions of school types including international schools, private schools, DSS schools, government schools, aided schools, etc., are subject to the determination of the Hong Kong Education Bureau.
(5) All fees (including service fees and school-related fees), application conditions, eligibility criteria, and admission regulations are subject to revision by the Hong Kong Education Bureau or individual schools at any time without prior notice. Please refer to the latest official announcements or contract versions for the most current information. We can develop a customized timeline and application strategy based on your child's age, background, and educational goals, and provide full follow-up at each stage to ensure parents do not miss any critical milestones. For detailed service information, please feel free to contact the Kaizen Education Team.
If you wish to obtain more information or assistance, please visit our official website at www.kaizenvis.com or contact us through the following and talk to our professionals:
T: +852 2341 1444
M: +852 5616 4140, +86 152 1943 4614
WhatsApp/ Line/ Wechat: +852 5616 4140
Email: info@kaizenvis.com