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On April 21, 2017 I gave a talk at WYND Co-working space in Lan Kwai Fong entitled 10 Steps to a Successful Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Application.

PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy:

Historically, this inaugural presentation served as the welcoming front door to the entire 10-step series, orienting prospective foreign founders on the overall journey of securing an investment as entrepreneur visa under the General Employment Policy. The Geeza framed the application process not as a daunting regulatory wall, but as an accessible, navigable project where passionate entrepreneurs could turn a commercial vision into legal residence. Applicants were encouraged to see ImmD as a pragmatic, collaborative administration willing to back early-stage founders: an applicant did not need deep institutional balance sheets or an immediate operational empire to get started. By anchoring the case on an earnest business plan, committing modest seed capital of a few hundred thousand dollars, securing a flexible serviced office desk, and charting a realistic path toward gradual local hiring over two to three years, an applicant could confidently take control of their immigration destiny.

The game has changed from an inspiring, founder-friendly gateway into a severe institutional filter that bars all but heavily capitalized corporate enterprises. ImmD no longer views the entrepreneur stream as an on-ramp for aspirational startups, bootstrapped founders, or lean commercial concepts. Under post-April 2026 administrative practice aligned with TTPS Category A operational substance (~HKD 2.5M enterprise scale), the entire orientation of the process has shifted from forward-looking potential to an uncompromising, day-one empirical audit: verified HKD 1.5M–2.0M in deployed corporate bank liquidity, an executed commercial lease for exclusive physical premises (“four walls”) disqualifying serviced and co-working desks entirely, and active Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) payroll contributions for 2–3 local Hong Kong permanent residents. Unless a founder holds formal admission into an officially accredited government incubator (such as Cyberport or HKSTP), entering this process under the historical assumptions of lean capital and administrative leniency will lead directly to swift and summary refusal.

This short video sets out the introduction to the talk.

The Rest of the Series

Introduction

How We Got Here

Must Have Resources

The Startup Visa

Step 1 – Understand Policy

Step 2 – Do You Have a Visa Problem?

Step 3 – Are You An Employee?

Step 4 – A Substantial Contribution?

Step 5 – 3 Crucial Elements

Step 6 – Have You Got Enough $$?

Step 7 – A Properly Set Up Office

Step 8 – Creating Local Jobs

Step 9 – Economic Sector Advantages?

Step 10 – D-I-Y Application

DOWNLOADS

Presentation Slides

Accredited Startup Programmes in Hong Kong

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