Hi, I came from HK and has been living in Canada for the last 30 years. Just completed my visa journey last month so I can offer you the accurate and most update info:
Do you need a police cert from Hong Kong?
Read the NVC guidelines. So clear and no grey area. No guesswork needed. (BTW, the above "country of nationality" means Hong Kong before you left, disregard your nationality back then)
How to know 100% for sure you don't need one?
After your submitted "civil documents" are accepted, the Canadian (RCMP) police cert included, NVC will make a remark by the side of your uploaded Canadian police cert reminding you to obtain also the Hong Kong police certificate IF they need one. If there is no such remark, you absolutely sure don't need one.
(You never need to, or can, submit a Hong Kong Police Cert at the application stage. Why? See below)
Some facts about Hong Kong police certificate:
- One can only apply for the Hong Kong police certificate when you have the invitation letter for visa interview from the Montreal Consulate. This is one of the few MUST HAVE docs to apply.
- Applying is a breeze. All you need is to fill in a couple of real simple forms, a copy (no originals needed) of your HK identity (HKID card or birth certificate), set of certified fingerprints, a fee of HK$240.
- Hong Kong people living overseas (myself included) can complete the application all by mail, forms are all downloadable online.
- Actual issuing time of the certificate is about 2 weeks time.
- You will never see or have copy of the issued certificate. It will be sent to the Montreal Consulate directly.
Conclusions
- If you left Hong Kong before you turned 16, and never went back living there, you don't need one.
- Even if you need one, it is not an immediate issue. It can only be done at the next stage (when you have an interview invitation), and can easily be obtained. And you will have ample time to get it.
I wish it answers your question. Relax.
My visa interview prep works benefited tremendously by reading other VJers' input. I decided to give back here.
