In Australia, Hong Kong nationals can apply for permanent residency through the Hong Kong Stream, a pathway widely regarded as having relatively low eligibility barriers. The primary applicant can also include one secondary applicant in the application. SBS Cantonese has found a growing number of posts on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu advertising the sale and purchase of places for secondary applicants under the Hong Kong Stream. Some sellers have openly listed prices as high as A$220,000.
In October 2021, the Australian Government introduced the Hong Kong Stream as part of its "safe haven" measures for Hong Kong residents. Eligible Hong Kong nationals holding graduate or temporary skilled visas can apply for permanent residency through the pathway. Spouses of primary applicants may be included as secondary applicants.
SBS Cantonese identified multiple Xiaohongshu posts offering or seeking positions as secondary applicants under the Hong Kong Stream. Many posts explicitly state that the user is "offering a Hong Kong Stream secondary applicant place" or "looking for a secondary applicant". Others seek a primary applicant planning to transition to a Subclass 191 visa through the Hong Kong Stream pathway.
Some advertisements describe the arrangement as "the most reliable pathway to permanent residency available today" and invite enquiries from people with "a genuine need for immigration status and sufficient budget". In several cases, sellers openly quoted prices of up to A$220,000.
Beyond openly advertising the sale of applicant places, some posts also claim they are willing to sponsor Hong Kong women to study in Australia, with the ultimate goal of jointly applying for permanent residency through the Hong Kong Stream 189 and 191 visa pathways.
For migration agency AAS Education & Migration, whose clients are predominantly from Hong Kong, registered migration agent Cherry said that many Australian visa categories allow applicants to include a secondary applicant. The primary and secondary applicants must demonstrate that they are in a genuine relationship, either through marriage or a de facto partnership.
Supporting evidence generally falls into four key categories:
- Proof of living together
- Evidence of financial interdependence
- Evidence of social and day-to-day aspects of the relationship
- Mutual commitment between the two parties
For secondary applicants under the Hong Kong Stream, applicants must also demonstrate Functional English proficiency. In IELTS terms, this generally means achieving an average score of at least 4.5 across the four test components.
Michelle, from AAS's marketing team, said the company has noticed a growing number of Xiaohongshu posts over the past one to two years advertising the sale or purchase of Hong Kong Stream secondary applicant places. The agency has also received enquiries via WeChat from people asking whether it offers matching services for primary and secondary applicants under the Hong Kong Stream.
She said the buying and selling of visa sponsorship arrangements has long existed in Australia. In her view, the key attractions of the Hong Kong Stream pathway are its speed and relatively low barriers to entry.
Using skilled migration as an example, Michelle noted that the points required to secure an invitation have continued to rise. Secondary applicants in skilled migration cases may also need to achieve higher English language scores to help the primary applicant gain additional points. For example, achieving Proficient English generally requires a minimum score of 7.0 in each component of the IELTS test.
By contrast, secondary applicants under the Hong Kong Stream are only required to demonstrate Functional English, which involves a significantly lower level of English proficiency.
Michelle added that partner visas typically involve longer processing times and substantially higher application costs. Compared with those pathways, the Hong Kong Stream offers clear advantages, which she believes has contributed to the emergence of a market for buying and selling secondary applicant places.
Johnny Kong, an Australian registered migration lawyer at Hemu Migration Lawyers, said that if the buying or selling of visa arrangements is discovered, the visas of both the primary applicant and the secondary applicant could be cancelled. In serious cases, those involved may also face imprisonment.
He explained that such arrangements may involve the creation or submission of false documents, which can constitute a criminal offence. The conduct may also amount to visa fraud, which is likewise a criminal matter.
Depending on the circumstances and severity of the case, offences relating to document fraud and visa fraud can both carry custodial penalties.
He also warned that even if a visa application is ultimately approved, obtaining it through illegal means can expose applicants to a range of risks and consequences, including exploitation, scams and blackmail.
As an example, he said many visa-for-sale arrangements involve instalment payments. If one party changes the terms midway through the deal or demands more money, the other party could suffer significant financial losses.
In some cases, applicants may initially present themselves as being in a genuine relationship for the purposes of the visa application. Later, however, one party could seek financial benefits or make claims against the other's assets.
"You could end up losing everything you own, and your permanent residency as well," he said.Johnny stressed that the potential consequences far outweigh any perceived benefit, and that participating in such arrangements is simply not worth the risk.
Cherry added that once a visa is cancelled, the Australian Government may bar the individual from applying for another Australian visa for up to three years. Where serious misconduct is involved, such as the use of fraudulent documents, the exclusion period can extend to 10 years.
Beyond the impact on individuals, Cherry said widespread abuse of the Hong Kong Stream pathway could prompt the Australian Government to review, amend or even discontinue the policy. If that were to happen, it could significantly affect many people who are planning to migrate to Australia through the scheme.
SBS Cantonese asked the Department of Home Affairs whether it was aware of reports of secondary applicant places under the Hong Kong Stream being bought and sold. In response, a department spokesperson said the Australian Border Force (ABF) conducts proactive and targeted sponsor compliance activities through its Sponsor Monitoring Unit to ensure sponsors comply with their obligations.
Listen to the full interview to hear migration lawyer Johnny Kong explain the potential consequences of buying and selling visa arrangements, and Cherry discuss what applicants need to prepare when a visa application includes a secondary applicant.
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