How Do You Go About Changing Your Hong Kong Employment Visa Sponsorship at Immigration Tower?
Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Hadley Says…, VG Front Page / 42 responses
If you have left the employ of your current employment visa sponsor, or even just thinking of doing so, you need to undergo what is known as a change of sponsorship application before you start working for anyone else in Hong Kong, including yourself!
FIRST PUBLISHED APRIL 19, 2013
To do this you have to consider it just like an entirely new visa application.
Just because you have a stamp in your passport that says ‘employment’ this is not a carte blanche approval to work for just anyone you like or can act on an entrepreneurial seizure without considering the ramifications of unauthorised immigration activity in Hong Kong.
If you are seeking to work for another employer you have to pass the employment visa approvability test.
If you are seeking to work for yourself – or in partnership with someone else – you have to pass the investment visa approvability test.
Complete details on how to do this are contained in the Hong Kong Visa Handbook and elsewhere on the Hong Kong Visa Geeza blog.
To go about changing your Hong Kong employment visa sponsorship you have to submit your application bundle on the 5th floor residents section of Immigration Tower with the correct application forms and expect the process to take between 4 and 8 weeks to complete.
It could very possibly take much longer depending on the strength and quality of your application, the length of time you have been previously resident in Hong Kong and whether or not you have already breached your conditions of stay by taking up an unauthorised employment before realizing that it’s illegal to start your own business or work for any employer other than your current employment visa sponsor.
Remember, there’s no such thing as a ‘flexible’ working visa in Hong Kong.
Every new employment or business activity proposed must be cleared first by the Director of Immigration and you could find yourself in some very hot water if you do not comply with Hong Kong’s immigration laws as ignorance is no defence!
More Stuff to Help You Along
I want to change jobs with a significant reduction in my base salary – how will this impact on my Hong Kong employment visa change of sponsorship application?
What do you need to to do if there has been a change in the details of your Hong Kong employment visa sponsor but no change in your employer?
What happens if you inadvertently breach your conditions of stay by taking up an unauthorised employment in Hong Kong without first applying for a change of visa sponsorship?
I’ve lost my job – what happens to my Hong Kong employment visa?
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The Hong Kong Visa Geeza (a.k.a Stephen Barnes) is a co-founder of the Hong Kong Visa Centre and author of the Hong Kong Visa Handbook. A law graduate of the London School of Economics, Stephen has been practicing Hong Kong immigration since 1993 and is widely acknowledged as the leading authority on business immigration matters here for the last 24 years.
Phil
I’ve filed an application for change of employment 3 weeks ago. But I have not received the letter of acknowledgement. Is that normal? And is the file being processed only after I receive the acknowledgement letter?
The Visa Geeza
It might have gotten lost in the mail. Wait 10 days more then go and visit ImmD (24/f) to see if they can track it down.
Rishi
To transfer the current visa to new employer name do I need to get Release letter from previous employer?
The Visa Geeza
You need some proof of the final date of employment. You do not need the permissions (Release) of your prior employer. Generally a copy of the correspondence with your employer setting out the resignation date is sufficient. This assumes you have an employment visa issued under GEP.
NH
I’ve been waiting for a working visa for a Hong Kong English school since September 2022
Why is it taking so long?
The Visa Geeza
No idea. Could be your employer; could be background checks on you. The National Security Law invoked more stringent checks on foreign national teachers.
Mohit K
My current Visa Expires in February 2023 and my daughter is on dependant visa. In an ideal scenario we both would have applied for extension. However, I am in the middle of change is employment. Once I get the approval- do I need to apply for my daughter’s dependant visa extension separately?
The Visa Geeza
Yes. But dont let her depedant status expire before your application is finalised.
Andrew
I have submitted my application to change my sponsoring employer. Am I able to travel whilst the visa is being transferred?
The Visa Geeza
Yes.
Jeremy
My work visa expires on the 31th of July and I want to change my employer. When can I start submitting my new visa with my new employer? Does it have to be within 4 weeks of my visa expiration or can it be earlier ?
The Visa Geeza
You can submit at any time after you have received the formal job offer. No need to wait until your present limit of stay expires.
Adam
I have changed the sponsorship recently. Whether my previous employer get any notification from immigration department stating that your current contract will be terminated on particular date ?
The Visa Geeza
No.
SH
I have employment visa of my current employer and if I want to change my employer then my salary should be higher then my current salary or can I change my employment visa in case of lower salary.
The Visa Geeza
It can be lower but no lower than market rates paid to simialr professionals – and you’ll need to justify it in your argument.
Sheila
I currently have employment visa and stayed in Hongkong for 5 years and would like to change my visa to dependent visa sponsored by my husband. Would there be any problems on applying for PR after 2 years?
The Visa Geeza
No problem at all – just make sure you change over while your present employment visa remains valid.
Marcus
Hi, after the application (to change the employment visa sponsor) has been submitted (and the passport has been returned), is it possible to leave HK to travel while the sponsor change is being processed? Or is there a requirement to stay in HK during this process?
Thank you!
The Visa Geeza
Yes you can travel during the time it takes ImmD to complete your change of hong kong employment visa sponsorship application.
Derek
Currently in HK, it’s difficult to get through to the Immigration Dept’s line. The situation is, I have already resigned from my current firm that sponsored my employment Visa. I have recently changed firms and have filed for a Visa change, however I was not able to get a reference ID to check the status as I completed the form and placed it in the drop box as stated.
I would like to know how is the best way to reach out to the Immigration dept to expedite the process, as my notice period is up and I’m currently not allowed to work till I get the Visa approved. Thanks for your reply I would appreciate that.
The Visa Geeza
Hello – under present ImmD WFH arrangements it is very difficult to reach ImmD officers. Normally you would email their enquiry@immd.gov.hk email address with your file reference number. Without a reference number however you just have to sit tight until you receive one in the mail or otherwise hear from the officer eventually tasked with your file. Expediting I’m afraid is a bit of a tall order with ImmD at sixes and sevens I’m afraid.
L
Can you continue to work for your current visa sponsor during the notice period or do you have to wait until the sponsorship has been transferred to the new employer ?
The Visa Geeza
You must wait until your application to change sponsor has been approved.
Jack
Hi,
I’d like to hire someone in our Hong Kong office to work in our IT Department. He’s been living and working in Hong Kong for 9 years and he already has an employment visa which is due to run out in 2023. What steps do I need to take to transfer his visa sponsorship, how long does this take, and what is the cost?
Thanks in advance,
The Visa Geeza
Here you go: https://hongkongvisasherpa.com/hr-director/change-of-employer/
ImmD fees are HKD230 for the visa label upon approval.
DP
” Your spouse’s dependent visa is not impacted by your own change of employer/sponsorship arrangements”
On similar note – if employer changes and Visa transfer is initiated, what about the dependent visa of family ( Wife and Children )
The Visa Geeza
No impact.
mary
I dont know how to ask questions here but if someone can answer me correctly…
if your in hongkong working as a domestic helper
then after 4 yrs I found a new job but not a dh
is there a possible way that I can apply to another job such as hotel management, dishwasher, waiter…..is there any one can answer me please thank you.
The Visa Geeza
No it’s impossible. The best you can do is to change to a dependent visa if you married a HK resident.
MM
Hi,
Let me brief my scenario before my question. I am working with some employer in Hong Kong and they separated there IT section with some other company name and transferring my employer in visa, so in that case do i also need to transfer my sponsor(wife) visa also which is sponsored by myself if yes then what would be the procedure?.
Thanks & Regards
The Visa Geeza
Your spouse’s dependent visa is not impacted by your own change of employer/sponsorship arrangements.
chantelle
What forms do I need to fill out when doing my change of sponsorship application?
Do I need to fill out the ID91 extension of stay?
The Visa Geeza
This information is dealt with extensively on our websites. Use form ID91