Browse Our Most Recent Content (& Beyond)

This is joining in a side business albeit in another name…and a solution for certain types of Hong Kong Employment Visa holders thinking about freelancing in Hong Kong QUESTION Info -NZ Passport holder -Working in Hong Kong for three years with an employer. Hello I would like to know how I would go about starting a business […] Keep Reading...>

September 7th, 2026

Where your proposed employer is a brand new company you can expect the Hong Kong Immigration Department to look very closely at the enterprise to make sure that it is in fact a suitable sponsor for your working visa permissions. In many ways, the due diligence which the Hong Kong ID undertake is very much […] Keep Reading...>

September 3rd, 2026

Can any old entity successfully sponsor an employment visa extension under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates? What qualifies a Hong Kong employer as a suitable and credible sponsor? QUESTION I am currently in Hong Kong on IANG Visa. My company would need to help me to sponsor the IANG visa once my limit of […] Keep Reading...>

August 31st, 2026

Successfully Apply For An Entrepreneur Visa In Hong Kong A comprehensive guide to successfully apply for an Entrepreneur Visa in Hong Kong, covering all aspects from business plan to financial projections. Ownership Structure The ownership structure of your business plays a crucial role in your visa application. The Hong Kong Immigration Department generally expects applicants […] Keep Reading...>

August 28th, 2026

I Have Sworn A Declaration That I Am Leaving Hong Kong To Receive An MPF Refund … Am I Now Precluded From Making an Application for the Right of Abode Here? QUESTION I have been resident in Hong Kong for 5 and a half years on a working visa. I lost my job over 6 […] Keep Reading...>

August 23rd, 2026

Employment law and immigration law are often overlapping but must be dealt with separately…this post talks about what can be done if someone’s employment contract ends on the same day as their Hong Kong work visa, but they need to stay in Hong Kong for a while longer to sort out their affairs. What can […] Keep Reading...>

August 20th, 2026

One of the more upsetting parts of being a Hong Kong immigration consultant is learning that one family member alone, due to an unfortunate combination of circumstances, finds herself the odd one out by not having been able to correctly manage her visa status here – and all, essentially, through no fault of her own. […] Keep Reading...>

August 17th, 2026

Simple question this one with an easy answer and indicative of the fact that, even though quite a straight forward issue, the information is not otherwise readily available anywhere else on the web. QUESTION I am a Canadian citizen, working in Hong Kong holding an employment visa for 7 weeks. I want to stay after […] Keep Reading...>

August 14th, 2026

How is the Shenzhen Shuttle impacted where there is a history of long stay visits in Hong Kong combined with multiple employment visa refusals? QUESTION Hi, I have been in Hong Kong for 2 years as a Visitor and my work visa application was denied for the second time a couple of weeks ago. My […] Keep Reading...>

August 10th, 2026

Hong Kong change of employer application – how can you readily manage the should-you-resign-before-your-change-of-work-visa-sponsorship-application-has-been-approved conundrum? QUESTION I have held a Hong Kong work visa for 2 .5 years now and I am currently in the process of finalizing an offer letter with a new employer here. I need your advice in relation to the timing […] Keep Reading...>

August 7th, 2026

So, just what immigration options for parents accrue to a foreign national holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card? QUESTION Hi there!  A foreign national became a permanent resident after many years study and work in Hong Kong. Now he wants to sponsor his parents holding Canadian passports to become a P.R. In Hong Kong […] Keep Reading...>

August 3rd, 2026

You know how it is… you arrive in Hong Kong for a year of fun and adventure and then you want to stay… This article deals with the transfer from a Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa to a full Employment Visa. QUESTION Hi there! I’m an Australian citizen in Hong Kong, working under a working holiday visa […] Keep Reading...>

July 31st, 2026

So, how does your prior immigration record in Hong Kong impact on future visa applications? Do the Hong Kong Immigration Department cross-refer previous applications for a visa to current application for a visa? QUESTION Hello! I have a question regarding to my working visa. Previously I have been working in Hong Kong in the skin […] Keep Reading...>

July 28th, 2026

Having a relationship with a Chinese partner resident on the Mainland can be problematic if you wish to share your lives together in Hong Kong… QUESTION I am looking to take up employment in Hong Kong soon. My biggest concern is the ability and feasibility for my girlfriend from Mainland China to be able to […] Keep Reading...>

July 23rd, 2026

Do the Hong Kong Immigration Department expect every foreign national employee of Hong Kong registered companies to have employment visas even if they have never worked (or never will work) in the HKSAR? QUESTION Is there any problem with a Hong Kong registered company employing someone currently resident in Malaysia for a role supporting one […] Keep Reading...>

July 20th, 2026

How important is sponsor-profitability, especially for start up businesses less than 12 months old? QUESTION I have been recruited by a newly established company (12 months old as of this week). They have never hired a foreigner and have tasked me with completing the visa forms, both employee and employer versions. The Employer-side application requires […] Keep Reading...>

July 14th, 2026

I Lived In Hong Kong For 11 Years – And Have Been Gone For The Last 7 – Can I Still Get Permanent Residency? It happens a lot more often than you might imagine. You’d think that the many early years in Hong Kong ought to count towards your right of abode but all too […] Keep Reading...>

July 10th, 2026

Extend a Hong Kong business investment visa?  Not so long ago the Hong Kong Immigration Department made life quite easy for certain entrepreneurs when it came time to extend a business investment visa… QUESTION  OF  THE  WEEK For extending my Hong Kong investment visa for the first renewal, do you recommend submitting any other materials aside […] Keep Reading...>

July 6th, 2026

Hong Kong is such a draw but sometimes it’s just not going to be… QUESTION Hi Stephen, I am 25 Years old Indian National. I don’t have any kind of degree. I own a business from past seven years in India. I am applying for jobs from past 4 months but in most of the […] Keep Reading...>

July 2nd, 2026

How Can I Prove The Veracity Of My CV For My Hong Kong Employment Visa Application If A Prior Employer Is No Longer In Business? If you’re claiming skills, knowledge or experience on your CV as part of your argument for a Hong Kong Employment Visa Application – what’s the gig if you can’t fully  support […] Keep Reading...>

June 30th, 2026

Is the Right of Abode in Hong Kong passed along to the spouse of a permanent resident such that is claimable after the death of your PR holding husband..? First Published November 20 2013 – Still of Interest Today QUESTION This query is for  my cousin who is an adult. She was born in Pakistan and […] Keep Reading...>

June 28th, 2026

Foreign nationals seeking to work in Hong Kong have a lot of stake in an employment visa application so when it doesn’t work out positively where does that leave their proposed relationship? QUESTION Hi, After the recruitment process in a multinational company in Hong Kong, they decided to employ me, so I signed the offer […] Keep Reading...>

June 23rd, 2026

Does being married to a Hong Kong permanent resident whilst living in China impact on continuity of ordinary residence for the purposes of a right of abode application subsequently? QUESTION Hi, Your website is incredibly helpful! However, my situation doesn’t seem to have an answer yet, so here goes! I’m a UK national and have […] Keep Reading...>

June 19th, 2026

Can you live in China yet remain a HK resident with a valid Hong Kong employment visa? QUESTION We are a married couple with children and have lived in Hong Kong for 3.5 years.  We are moving to Shanghai soon (my husband’s employer is moving us).    We currently have a Hong Kong employment visa for […] Keep Reading...>

June 16th, 2026

Many foreign nationals holding Hong Kong employment visas labour under the misapprehension that their employer somehow controls their immigration destiny by virtue of the fact that they sponsor their residence in Hong Kong. Nothing could be further from the truth! This is a common misconception amongst foreign workers, especially if they find themselves in some […] Keep Reading...>

June 12th, 2026

The rule for dependant visas in Hong Kong is very simple and easy to understand. In order to qualify, the family members must be either the legal spouse or unmarried children under the age of 18. Where the principal applicant is moving to Hong Kong for work or investment, the family members simply follow in […] Keep Reading...>

June 11th, 2026

So what options are available to Hong Kong dependant visa holding foreign nationals when their spouses are leaving Hong Kong and they want to stay? QUESTION  OF  THE  WEEK I am here on a Hong Kong dependent visa with my husband. He is planning to leave his employment in Hong Kong and return to his home […] Keep Reading...>

June 8th, 2026

Establish A Business In Hong Kong | Employment Visa | Can You Get One? The employment visa under the General Employment Policy is detailed in this video … Establish a business in Hong Kong and get yourself an employment visa? A few years ago, I was invited by the good guys at WYND to give […] Keep Reading...>

May 4th, 2026

So, you sense there’s an opportunity to augment your salary with some freelance work so how do you go about making an application to join in a side business in Hong Kong? QUESTION Dear Visa Geeza, I have listened to your podcasts regarding sole proprietorship and followed the information given. Background information – I am currently […] Keep Reading...>

April 3rd, 2026

Extending Your Hong Kong Visitor Visa Via The Shenzhen Shutttle? Navigating The Shenzhen Shuttle | Extending Your Visitor Visa | Tips & Risks Over the last 20 years or so I have coined a number of phrases in Hong Kong immigration parlance. In this short video I discuss the Shenzhen Shuttle. Discover the risks and […] Keep Reading...>

April 2nd, 2026

Hong Kong Dependant Visa Navigating dependant visa conditions – is it possible to have my wife removed from the dependent visa as we no longer live together and have separate lives – can she obtain her own visa instead of being dependent on me? Can I remove her immediately from my sponsorship? Discover how Hong […] Keep Reading...>

April 1st, 2026

This post on how to apply for a Hong Kong investement visa without paying for professional help deals with the differences between  work visa vs investment visa. I have given this talk around town for the last couple of years now and so pleased to finally add it to our coverage of the Hong Kong investment […] Keep Reading...>

March 30th, 2026

IANG Work Visa for Non-Local Graduates If you’re a non-local graduate looking to kickstart your career in Hong Kong, you will be eligible to apply for the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) work visa. The IANG work visa was established in 2008 to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, contributing to Hong Kong’s competitive […] Keep Reading...>

March 27th, 2026

Just how ‘flexible is the Hong Kong investment visa? QUESTION  I’m Swedish and currently in the process of applying for a Hong Kong investment visa. In addition, I have an interview for a consulting position with another organization. They will not support me with an employment visa and have asked me if I can also […] Keep Reading...>

March 26th, 2026

Is There Any Special Visa Type For Foreign National Media Professionals Seeking To Live & Freelance In Hong Kong? Independent media professionals often occupy a round-pegs-in-square-holes situation when it comes to being able to practice their trade in Hong Kong and this question discusses how they might go about being able to do so. QUESTION […] Keep Reading...>

March 25th, 2026

What Pathways To An Employment Visa Exist For A Fresh, Foreign University Graduate Arriving In Hong Kong Seeking Career Opportunities Here? Whilst the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates afford a clean pathway to working permission for foreign nationals freshly graduating from Hong Kong universities, the situation is very different if your degree is from overseas […] Keep Reading...>

March 24th, 2026

I Was Convicted Of A Crime And Removed From Hong Kong – How Do My Visa Options Look Now? First Published November 6, 2018 – Still of Interest Today Life in Hong Kong can throw up many challenges, none too much greater than the following: QUESTION Hello, and thank you for the opportunity to ask […] Keep Reading...>

March 23rd, 2026

This question gets to the heart of permitted activity as a Visitor and the ability to remain here on an indefinite basis on that status. QUESTION Hi, I am a New Zealander currently staying in Hong Kong with my partner who is a permanent HKID card holder. I do not have a HKID card, just […] Keep Reading...>

March 20th, 2026

Can I Get A Depedant Visa For An Elderly Parent If I Have A Permanent HK ID Card? I get 30-40 questions each week and not all of them merit a podcast answer. Some are answered quickly via email and for the next few days I’ll post some of these anonymised replies here. A Depedant […] Keep Reading...>

March 19th, 2026

How Important Are Employment Testimonials In A Hong Kong QMAS Visa Application? The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme is designed to attract ‘top notch’ talents to the HKSAR and, by my reckoning, only about 5% of applicants ever receive a Golden Ticket. Of course if you happen to have a Nobel prize or you are an […] Keep Reading...>

March 18th, 2026

Is It A Good Or A Bad Sign That The HKID Keep Coming Back With Further Requests For Information? This question seeks to understand what you should make of repeat requests for information from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID) during the course of your visa application. QUESTION “Good day. In the course of what […] Keep Reading...>

March 17th, 2026

10 Must Have Resources For A Hong Kong Legal Dependant Visa First Published July 1, 2013 and updated December 15, 2023 – But The Advice Holds Good Today Continuing our series of 10 Must Have Resources, I have put together this list of materials from our various websites which is designed to help steer you through the […] Keep Reading...>

March 16th, 2026

The Hong Kong Immigration Department are not especially receptive to what can appear to be family reunion via the back door… Can you use the Foreign Domestic Helper visa to employ your mother in Hong Kong? QUESTION Hello, My wife and I are on work visas in Hong Kong and are expecting a baby in […] Keep Reading...>

March 13th, 2026

What’s the Best Hong Kong Visa Option for a Recently Graduated British National?   QUESTION Hi Stephen, From  May through November 2013 I was employed in a well known and large company in Hong Kong under the training visa for a period of 6 months. During the end of this tenure the company decided to […] Keep Reading...>

March 12th, 2026

Business visit to Hong Kong? With Hong Kong having such a liberal visa-upon-arrival regime (with more than 160 nationalities being granted permission to visit for between 7 and 180 days – depending on which passport you carry), it is understandable that there is confusion as to what is permitted activity if you are a ‘business […] Keep Reading...>

March 11th, 2026

It happens a lot more often that you might imagine. You’d think that the many early years in Hong Kong ought to count towards your right of abode but all too often disappointment is in the offing… QUESTION Thank you very much for this informative website! I hope you’ll be able to answer my question, […] Keep Reading...>

March 10th, 2026

In this post, I talk about  the Hong Kong unconditional stay and when it might be useful to you. Hong Kong unconditional stay plays a lesser yet still important role in immigration status to acquire in the HKSAR today… On March 21, 2014 I gave a presentation at the Chinese Club entitled Business Immigration to Hong Kong – A […] Keep Reading...>

March 9th, 2026

Will what has been done before impact on a Hong Kong Prolonged Visitor Visa out of policy application now? QUESTION I have a general question regarding conditions of stay for a Hong Kong prolonged visitor visa. On the Hong Kong Immigration website it says: “Subject to the following conditions of stay: (a) he shall not take any […] Keep Reading...>

March 6th, 2026

Remain in Hong Kong under an Employment Visa sponsored by an ex-Employer? Unusual set of facts in this case and a question never posed to me in this fashion previously… QUESTION I have been in Hong Kong since 2011 under an employment visa but have recently quit my job. The last time my visa was […] Keep Reading...>

March 4th, 2026

This question mainly relates to business rather than immigration law but is still an important question nonetheless… QUESTION Hello I have a Hong Kong  dependant visa that gives me the right to work in Hong Kong. I have been offered a Regional Asia role based out of Hong Kong by a Canadian company. This company is […] Keep Reading...>

March 3rd, 2026

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