graduateshotline logo
Last Updated: March 13, 2021

Working in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a beautiful country to work and live in, offering a satisfying abroad experience. Work visas are however difficult to obtain with many vacancies being filled by local immigrants and professionals. However with the right set of qualifications and proper research, one can bag the opportunity to work and settle down in this diverse country.

Hong Kong Work Visa

Hong Kong The work permit issued to skilled foreign professionals comes under the Employment for Professionals scheme of the country. There is no limit to the number of visas, and these permits are issued to individuals based on the assessment of their qualifications and specific skills set that are not possessed by the Hong Kong local citizens. So if someone is highly qualified and the country has a shortage of their specific skills, getting a work visa will not be an issue for them. There are multiple categories under which one (or their sponsor) can apply. Most workers will fall under General Employment Policy (GEP) or Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS).

Eligibility Requirements to Apply for Work Permit (GEP)


Documents Required for Hong Kong Work Permit

All documents that are not in English or Chinese must be accompanied by certified translation certificates.

Documents Required From the Employee:
Documents Required From the Employer:

Hong Kong Work Visa Must Knows

There is no restriction on the number of work visas issued (no quota). Around 40,000 visas were issued in 2018 under GEP policy. As the visa processing may take around 4-8 weeks with possible further delays, applicants are encouraged to file their applications early to ensure a smooth visa journey.

How to Apply for a Hong Kong Work Visa

The following steps are described in order to describe the process by which an individual may apply for a regular Hong Kong work visa:
  1. The individual must download and fill out the relevant application form from the Hong Kong Immigration Department website. In the case of a GEP work visa, the required forms are ID 990A (to be filled in by the applicant) and ID 990B (to be filled in by the employing company).
  2. The applicant must then compile all of his/her required documents, which are listed in the 'Documents Required' sections in this article. These articles should either be in English or Chinese. In case they are in another language, they must be officially translated to the former.
  3. Then the applicant must then submit the visa application to one of either the Hong Kong Immigration Department or the nearest Chinese mission or consulate. In case the applicant is a foreign national and currently resides in the Chinese mainland, they can instead submit their application to the Immigration Division of the Office of the Hong Kong Government in Beijing.
  4. These applications must be either mailed or handed to the office in question in person. The applicant also has the choice to make their sponsor, in most cases the local employer, file the application on their behalf.
  5. The Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID) will inform the applicant about their result. The duration of the approval period is subject to a variety of factors; however, it typically takes around 4 to 6 weeks from the date of submission.

TechTAS

TechTAS is a fast-track arrangement to get talented non-local workers to HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region). The sponsoring company has to apply for a quote and then the skilled professional has to submit credentials (Graduates from the top 100 Universities of the world may get extra preference). A company allotted with a quota by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) can accordingly sponsor a person they consider eligible to apply for an employment visa for a 12 month validity period. Eligibility for employment under TechTAS are favorably considered if:

Hong Kong Visa for Dependents

Individuals who have been approved for a work visa under the GEP have the option to bring their spouse and/or their children to Hong Kong under their dependent policy. People who have a work visa or have applied for the same will have to be the sponsor of their dependents. The following factors may favor the dependent applicants:

Documents Needed for Dependent Visa

The application process requires the applicant to have the following documents:


Work Visa