A 33-year-old Mainland Chinese woman has been sentenced to two months in prison for using a forged overseas university diploma to gain admission to a Hong Kong master’s programme and apply for the corresponding student visa. The Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence on 16 September after the defendant pleaded guilty to obtaining services by deception. Investigators found she paid RMB 500,000 to an agent who supplied the counterfeit certificate. Immigration officers intercepted her at Hong Kong International Airport in November 2025, and under caution she admitted never attending the institution named on the document. The Immigration Department emphasised that making false statements to an immigration officer carries a maximum 14-year jail term, while deception offences under the Theft Ordinance can lead to 10 years. The case highlights the SAR’s zero-tolerance stance on fraudulent applications amid a broader push to attract legitimate students through the Study in Hong Kong campaign. Universities have been urged to adopt digital credential wallets and blockchain registries to authenticate transcripts. Education consultants advise overseas applicants to use authorised credential evaluators and warn that visa refusals for dishonesty are often shared with other jurisdictions, jeopardising future mobility.
Source: Hong Kong Immigration Department
