May 2026

4 Realistically Achievable Visas | Live | Work | Establish A Business In Hong Kong | Employment Visa

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Musing / 1 response

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 a talk about the Hong Kong visas that are the most realistically achievable to live, work or establish a business in Hong Kong. So, if you’re a foreign national hoping to establish a business in Hong Kong, you may be wondering about the visa requirements. One of the options available to you is the regular employment visa IF your company is already ‘well established’.

Employment Visa?

The regular employment visa is designed for foreign nationals who have professional skills, knowledge, or experience that are not readily available in Hong Kong. To qualify for approval, you must meet a specific set of criteria as assessed by the Immigration Department. One of these is that your company must already be ‘well-established’

Well-Established?

This means that the company that you own:

Has been trading for at least 12 months.
Ideally profitably.
Is already an employer of Hong Kong locals.
Has suitable business premises.
Has sufficient funds to operate solvently.

Who Can Apply?

To be deemed a Professional for the purposes of this visa, the Immigration Department is looking for applicants who have a university degree and at least two years of post-graduation working experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity.

If you don’t have a university degree but have technical qualifications, then you must have at least five years of post-qualification working experience in similar roles.

For those who only have a high school education, the Immigration Department expects to see that you have at least ten years of post-secondary working experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity.

How To Get One?

To secure a regular employment visa if you’re ‘establishing a business’ you need to be at least a 50% shareholder in a well-established company registered Hong Kong company. You need an employment contract with your own enterprise with compensation broadly commensurate with market rates.

The Immigration Department will look into the company’s history, including its turnover, local staffing, and business operations, to ensure that it’s a bona fide sponsor.

If you successfully obtain a regular employment visa, you’ll receive a two-year stay limit. This visa only allows you to work for the business that has sponsored you, doing the specific work outlined in your contract.

These criteria can be adjusted depending on the actual circumstances of the application but generally stated a wholly new company cannot expect to secure an employment visa for one of the founding-owners. It’s the business investment visa as an entrepreneur which is the correct visa type to apply for as new companies are by definition not ‘well established’ and so the criteria for approval is to demonstrate that the new business can contribute substantially to the economy of Hong Kong in order to anticipate approval.

Can You Establish a Business on the Side?

If you are an out-and-out employee working for a third-party employer and want to establish a side business or do some freelancing, you may apply for permission from the Immigration Department. You must have written approval from your employer that they have no objection to your side endeavours.

Last Words …

Obtaining a regular employment visa CAN be a way to establish a successful business in Hong Kong. However, make sure to fulfil all the requirements and understand the limitations of the visa before starting your business.

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Establish A Business In Hong Kong

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The Rest of the Series

1 – Introduction

2 – Policy

3 – Shenzhen Shuttle

4 – Just Visiting

5 – Working Holiday Visa

6 – Employment Visa

7 – Study-then-Work Visa

8 – Investment Visa

9 – Loved Ones

10 – Big Question Answered

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03

Apr 2026

What Exactly Do You Need To Include In A Visa Application To Join In A Side Business In Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 9 responses

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?

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 working as a Business Manager (3+ years) for a Hong Kong based company who holds my working visa.

My employer has agreed that I can work outside of my current company as a sole proprietor / freelance.

I have registered and got my BRC and waiting on forms to open a bank account.

My questions is, what is the best way to approach immigration / who to write to regarding acceptance of my sole proprietorship?

1) My employer to write a letter confirming that they allow me to work outside the company – is there anything you would advise to include / not include?

2) A personal letter from myself outlining my business activates / plan – during work for my current company I have been approached by a number of other businesses and sometimes friends who want certain services for Hong Kong companies.

Do I need to outline in detail or just explain what services I will be offering?

Do I then need to link how this will benefit Hong Kong and potentially create new jobs etc?

Any advice would be great as this will hopefully be the last step and I can start accepting work during my free time and keep immigration happy.

Thanks!

ANSWER

Yes, so as you’ve understood, going about getting the permission of the director of immigration to join in a side business requires you essentially to get the permission of your current employer to confirm that they have no objection to you taking up this side business. And they need to do that in writing.

And, insofar as the inclusions, essentially, so long as the employer, a sponsor, clearly denotes that he has no objection to taking up that side employment, then really that’s the sum of that correspondence part to the Immigration Department. Then in terms of your personal letter from yourself outlining your business activities, yes, essentially what you do is you talk about the work that you do for your current employer, how you have sufficient time, free time, that you could use productively, and you’ve been approached by various parties in Hong Kong to provide those services. Consequently, in anticipation of the Immigration Department approving you to uptake that side business you have established, a sole proprietorship and you are standby ready to begin work on side projects the moment that the director of immigration authorises it in writing.

So, yes, I would essentially set out in your current letter to the Immigration Department the rationale for you wishing to take up that side employment. At this point, I wouldn’t really get into issues about how it’s going to benefit Hong Kong and potentially create new jobs and the like; the expectation of a side business is that it’s something you do on the side, something that supplements and supports the income that you receive from your current employer. And by giving you permission to join in the side business, the Immigration Department are essentially saying, okay, we acknowledge that you have other talents that could be marketable, we don’t particularly want to stand in your way of you being able to exercise those marketable talents for profitable end, just so long as your current employment interests are not compromised by your proposed side business activities – hence the Immigration Department needing the permission of the employer to go forward with an approval for such an application.

So, yes, I wouldn’t harp on too much about how you’re going to create local jobs and add a lot of value to the economy of Hong Kong. Essentially, the side business process anticipates that there is some value creating activity. There’s no need to argue for it as such, and clearly, if you do believe you’re going to create new jobs, then that begs the question as to whether or not that’s a part time side business or whether it’s a full time business. And if it’s a full time business, then clearly you need to stop working for your current employer and make an application for a wholly fledged business investment visa instead.

So, essentially, those are the two things that you need to be thinking about when crafting your letter to support the proposition that you should be allowed to join in your side business.

It’s an application to the 5^th floor of immigration tower, addressed to the residence section; you can send it in by mail. There’s no need to show up with your passport to progress this type of application, and the Immigration Department will deal with you via correspondence through to your approval.

I hope you found that useful.

VisaGeeza.Ai – Making Hong Kong Immigration A Lot Easier

Join in a Side Business in Hong Kong

VisaGeeza.Ai – 13 Years In The Making

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More Stuff You May Find Useful Or Interesting

Are There Any Advantages To Being An Existing Resident Of Hong Kong When Making An Application For An Investment Visa?

Newcomers Guide To Getting A Hong Kong Employment Visa (Infographic)

Can I Employ Myself By Getting A Hong Kong Investment Visa?

Sometimes Large Employers Experience Hong Kong Employment Visa Application Refusals – Why Might This Be So?

The Merits Of Applying For The Reconsideration Of A Refused Hong Kong Visa Application


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02

Apr 2026

Hong Kong Immigration… What Does It Mean… Shenzhen Shuttle?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Musing, Visitor Visas / No responses

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 potential pitfalls of the Shenzhen Shuttle, a method used by some individuals to extend their visitor visa in Hong Kong. Learn about the challenges of constantly shuffling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and explore alternative strategies for securing a visitor visa extension.

Understanding the Shenzhen Shuttle

The concept of the Shenzhen Shuttle refers to the practice of repeatedly crossing the Hong Kong-China border or visiting Macau in order to extend a visitor visa. Essentially, individuals engage in this back-and-forth movement to reset their visa’s duration of stay when it is about to expire. While some see this as a way to extend their stay in Hong Kong, it is essential to understand the risks and complications that come with the Shenzhen Shuttle method.

Risks and Difficulties of the Shenzhen Shuttle

2.1 Immigration Scrutiny and Bona Fide Assessment

During each re-entry attempt, immigration officers assess the legitimacy of your visitor status. They evaluate your genuine intent as a visitor, and if they suspect that you are attempting to abuse the system, it can lead to denial of entry. This can result in a shortened duration of stay, such as receiving only a week instead of the usual 90-day limit.

2.2 Uncertain Extension Periods

While the Shenzhen Shuffle may provide short-term extensions, it does not guarantee long-term security. Relying solely on this method can create uncertainty and disrupt your plans, as you never know how long you will be granted to finalize your affairs before being asked to leave.

Alternatives to the Shenzhen Shuttle

Instead of relying on the risky Shenzhen Shuttle method, consider exploring alternative strategies to extend your visitor visa in Hong Kong:

3.1 Apply for an Extension of Stay

A more certain and preferred way of seeking an extension of your visitor visa is to apply online or at Immigration Tower in Wanchai.

3.2 Seek Professional Immigration Assistance

Engaging an immigration expert who specializes in Hong Kong visa matters can provide valuable guidance. They can help assess your situation, explore legitimate visa extension options, and navigate the application process more effectively.

3.3 Applying for Other Visa Types

Hong Kong offers various visa categories that may better suit your long-term plans. Investigate options such as employment visas, investment visas, or study visas that align with your qualifications and intentions. Applying for the appropriate visa type can provide more stability and a clear path towards achieving your goals.