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Side Employment | Employment Visa To Work For Yourself And Also A Full Time Employer | Both At The Same Time?

December 27th, 2023

Posted by / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 3 responses


 

Is There Such An Animal As A Hong Kong Employment Visa To Work For Yourself?

Employment Visa To Work For Yourself

Employment visa to work for yourself?  How can you have your cake AND eat it in Hong Kong – working for both yourself and a third-party employer at the same time?

QUESTION

Hi,

I’ve read (or I think I read) that with an employee visa we can transform it to an investor visa with the agreement of the employer.

I don’t find this anymore on the immigration website. Is it right?

What is the procedure to follow (my employer told me he agrees to make what is needed).

Thank you for your help.

TEXT ANSWER

Employment Visa To Work for Yourself?

If you are currently employed and wish to explore the option of starting your own side business in Hong Kongg, there is a unique pathway available to you. Rather than completely transforming your employment status to an investment visa, you can seek permission from the Immigration Department to join in a side business while maintaining your current employment.

Side Business

To secure an ’employment visa to work for yourself’ and embark on this path, you will need the consent of your existing employer. With their permission, you can approach the Immigration Department and request their approval to engage in a side business. Your primary rationale for employment remains intact, as you will still be employed by your current employer. However, your employer will provide a letter of no objection that supports your desire to pursue a side business.

Apply To ImmD

To successfully obtain the Immigration Department’s permission, you will need to provide a detailed explanation of your side business and demonstrate that it is properly registered. It is crucial to show that your side business will complement your stay in Hong Kong and will not hinder your ability to continue providing employment services for your sponsoring employer.

Pass The Test

In most cases, the Immigration Department is satisfied with these circumstances and grants permission for you to operate your side business while maintaining your full-time employment with your existing employer. This provides a unique opportunity to expand your professional horizons and explore entrepreneurship while still benefiting from the stability of your current employment.

A Little Known Visa

As you point out, this particular approach is widely advertised on the Immigration Department’s website. However, you may have come across this information in one of our previous posts as we try to provide valuable insights and guidance to navigate the intricacies of the Hong Kong immigration process.

Last Words …

I trust you find this information useful as you consider the potential of an employment visa to work for yourself.  Seeking professional assistance can ensure a smooth and successful application process. Our team is dedicated to providing the support and expertise you need to make your entrepreneurial aspirations in Hong Kong a reality.

 

 

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

 

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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.

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RESPONSES
  • mak3r

    13 Jan 2021 am31 8:13am
    01

    Hi, I am about to relocate to HK for a full time offer which my company will sponsor my employment visa (under GEP). There were some conversations between me and a foreign company (foreign to HK) about working for them on a part-time basis while I am in HK. I did some research and found there were two legal pathways of going at this,

    1. Being employed as an independent contractor of the foreign company
    2. Form a sole proprietorship to act as consultant for the foreign company

    I’ve gone through your past podcasts and understand that for the 2nd pathway, applying for a so-called side line visa is a must.

    For the 1st pathway though, does the same rule applied?

    Many thanks!

    • The Visa Geeza

      26 Jan 2021 pm31 2:29pm
      02

      Makes no difference. Under your employment visa you are permitted ONLY to work for your sponsoring employer while your feet are terra firma HK. Any work outside of that requires the permission of your employment visa sponsor in writing AND the permission of the Immigration Department BEFORE you engage in any side activities however couched and remunerated

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