Browse Our Most Recent Content (& Beyond)

This post was first published on December 9, 2012. The question of what constitutes ‘ordinary residence’ in the determination of a Hong Kong right of abode application for a 7 year foreign national resident, can, ultimately, only be settled by the Court. The Hong Kong Immigration Department have their own means of assessing whether an […] Keep Reading...>

July 4th, 2022

Sometimes, correspondence gets lost and ImmD might close an application believing it has been abandoned when they hear nothing further from an applicant. Meanwhile, the applicant is on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome. What can you do to rectify this ultimate disconnect? QUESTION The company that is sponsoring me applied for an employment visa for me […] Keep Reading...>

July 2nd, 2022

So, what happens if a defacto partner ‘trailing spouse’ wants to take up employment in Hong Kong under a prolonged visitor visa? Is this possible? QUESTION Hi Visa Geeza, I have been offered a job in Hong Kong and me and my de-facto partner are considering the move. Whilst the company will sponsor me,  my […] Keep Reading...>

June 30th, 2022

It happens a lot. You stay and work in Hong Kong for 3, 4, 5 years and get over the hump en route to the magic 7 years needed for a Permanent Identity Card. Then you find yourself having to spend time away from Hong Kong to further your career, education or due to special […] Keep Reading...>

June 29th, 2022

First Published June 19, 2018 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...>

June 28th, 2022

The question of immigration status for mainland resident spouses of current or aspiring Hong Kong residents is a bit of a hot potato. As this PodCast answer sets out, there is a dual track system in place in the immigration system which makes for winners and losers – and for once, those with the Right […] Keep Reading...>

June 26th, 2022

First Published October 14, 2012 This is a popular topic that people query our websites about, so it’s timely that we received this question out of the blue yesterday. In my answer I refer to the following content resources: QMAS, Dependant Visa, Business Investment Visa. QUESTION “I have been working in HK since 2007 on […] Keep Reading...>

June 24th, 2022

Changing jobs in Hong Kong requires the permission of the Director of Immigration… Dear Stephen, How can I get the approval of the Immigration Department to change my Hong Kong employment visa sponsorship without my current employer learning about it? I have a stable job in Hong Kong and am finalizing an offer with a […] Keep Reading...>

June 24th, 2022

Can you swap a Foreign Domestic Helper visa into a Regular employment visa? This is a reasonable question that has an obvious answer although not for the reasons you might typically expect. In 20 years of practising Hong Kong visa and immigration consultancy, the only successful change of status application from FDH to residence visa […] Keep Reading...>

June 22nd, 2022

Want To Be An Entrepreneur In Hong Kong? Covid19 has been, and continues to be, the bane of Hong Kong but it’s going to end, sooner rather than later, and now is the ideal time to bring forward those long standing plans to ditch the rat race of full time employment and get your entrepreneurial […] Keep Reading...>

June 21st, 2022

What happens if your application for a Hong Kong training visa gets refused – will you be able to arrive and visit Hong Kong subsequently – or not? QUESTION I’ve been accepted into a startup accelerator in Hong Kong. It’s not one of the “pre-approved” ones for the so-called Start-up visa so I’ve been recommended […] Keep Reading...>

June 20th, 2022

What happens if you work for a Hong Kong company but are stationed the majority of your time outside of Hong Kong? Less than 180 days in Hong Kong during the last three years – impact on PR eligibility? QUESTION I studied in Hong Kong for 4 years, and when I graduated, I got an […] Keep Reading...>

June 18th, 2022

First Published November 23, 2017 What type of Hong Kong visa do you turn to when you have an eclectic mix of artistic talent and capabilities? QUESTION I am a Canadian Artist, Designer and Model at present I have been creating lots of project around Asia, and am looking at basing my self in Hong […] Keep Reading...>

June 15th, 2022

First Published November 19, 2017 Complex immigration scenarios sometimes present themselves with unforeseen consequences – which I am grateful to be able to explore in this excellent question just in… QUESTION I am Canadian and have lived in Hong Kong for almost 6 years. I recently quit my job and my working visa will expire […] Keep Reading...>

June 12th, 2022

What can you do about your dependant visa status in Hong Kong if you have sadly lost your much loved spouse-as-sponsor? QUESTION Hello, I came to Hong Kong on a dependent visa (my wife, a PR, sponsoring me). I have already completed 3.5 years and my visa is about due for extension. The dilemma I […] Keep Reading...>

June 10th, 2022

So what DO the Immigration Department make of applicants who too-frequently seek to change their Hong Kong employment visa sponsorship? QUESTION I was previously working in Hong Kong for a company for the past 2.5 years and switched jobs 32 days ago. My previous employer is now offering me a much senior position and really […] Keep Reading...>

June 8th, 2022

I hold a Hong Kong employment visa and want to start freelancing…   As a foreign national temporarily resident in Hong Kong on a sponsored employment visa, there are a number of different compliance issues that need to be addressed if you lose your job and you fancy embarking down the path of freelancing on […] Keep Reading...>

June 6th, 2022

Once you have persuaded the Hong Kong Immigration Department of your ability to make a substantial contribution to the economy of Hong Kong and have been granted an investment visa, can you then argue, after the fact, that actually, you have no practical need to establish office premises of your own after all? QUESTION I […] Keep Reading...>

June 4th, 2022

Will time spent in prison in Hong Kong break continuity of ordinary residence for PR purposes? First Published on April 10, 2016 QUESTION I am interested to know if there is anything I could do to strengthen the case of my application for the right of abode (permanent residency) and I am also unsure if […] Keep Reading...>

June 1st, 2022

Hong Kong Visitor Visa Facilitation Plan Launched – Short Term Employment Allowed Some helpful changes coming – limited in scope (as always) but helpful nonetheless. I will prepare a complete synopsis over the next few days once I know more (travelling at the moment in any event) but for now some links to help steer […] Keep Reading...>

June 1st, 2022

First Published January 16, 2018 Two-pronged question today starting with how to change Hong Kong employment visa sponsorship into a new job sector… QUESTION My current work visa is about to expire 5 days from now. I’ve applied for a transfer and extension simultaneously almost 4 weeks ago as I am moving to a new […] Keep Reading...>

May 30th, 2022

The Ongoing Indian QMAS Visa Agency scam, rip off, fraud has been going on for so long now that it’s time I produced an answer to this question finally.  I have literally received dozens of these types of questions in the last 2-3 years that I will deal with it definitively now. So here we […] Keep Reading...>

May 28th, 2022

This is an important question on the business investment visa for Hong Kong…. Experience suggests that the Hong Kong Immigration Department do tend to look favourably upon such business plans, but the applicant absolutely does not have it all his or her own way, as you will learn in my PodCast answer. (Please note the […] Keep Reading...>

May 26th, 2022

The question of investment visa or not is actually quite straight forward. It’s all about ‘living’ in Hong Kong… QUESTION Hi Visa Geeza, I’ve a question regarding putting up a company in Hong Kong. I’ve been reading about how “easy” it is to set up a company in Hong Kong, however, it sounds too over […] Keep Reading...>

May 24th, 2022

The Hong Kong training visa is an oft-misunderstood animal so I am grateful for this question that allows me to clear up some of the confusion. QUESTION Hi, congrats on the website, it’s very helpful! I just arrived in Hong Kong and my new potential employer is worried about the following: (a) That if I […] Keep Reading...>

May 22nd, 2022

Chances of a Hong Kong employment visa? Is it feasible to come to Hong Kong on a working holiday visa and then swap to an employment visa subsequently? Yes but… QUESTION Hi. I would like to go work in Hong Kong (I am Australian and have just finished my business degree). Just wondering if I […] Keep Reading...>

May 21st, 2022

First Published On May 19, 2012   It’s funny how this question just keeps on cropping up. I’m not quite certain where this red herring originates from as the Hong Kong Immigration Department standard communications do not specifically call for such a document (and we do not expressly request one from our clients in support […] Keep Reading...>

May 19th, 2022

if you hold a Hong Kong employment visa, bringing elderly parents to join you in Hong Kong is an area of immigration practice that is fraught with difficulty – as well as uncertainty. Dependant visas are, as a matter of policy, not available for non permanent residents yet it’s a scenario that presents itself all […] Keep Reading...>

May 18th, 2022

Got an income but no savings? What impact will this have on your ability to successfully sponsor a Hong Kong dependant visa? QUESTION Hello! I have a work visa and will apply for my husband to stay by applying for a Hong Kong dependant visa. Alas I have no savings, is there a minimum amount […] Keep Reading...>

May 16th, 2022

How is your dependant visa affected under the Mainland Talents & Professionals Scheme if your sponsor father is heading home?  What happens to a Hong Kong resident dependant visa holder sponsored by a parent holding a visa issued under the Admission of Mainland Talents & Professionals Scheme where the parent is unlikely to remain in […] Keep Reading...>

May 14th, 2022

If you are a graduate is it hard and fast that you need at least 2 years post graduation working experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity in order to secure a Hong Kong work visa – or is there some wriggle room in this regard? QUESTION Hi there, I have heard in one of […] Keep Reading...>

May 14th, 2022

Foreign nationals can come to Hong Kong to receive training – the question is how long can you reasonably expect the visa application consideration exercise to take? QUESTION I recently signed a contract for a 12-month training with one of the biggest insurance companies in Hong Kong.  My application for training visa has been submitted […] Keep Reading...>

May 12th, 2022

It hardly matters how you skin this cat, ImmD will approach it in exactly the same way… as a new business situation. QUESTION I plan to start a business with three other partners. Two of these are Hong Kong permanent residents and one of them is in the same situation as myself: recently unemployed and […] Keep Reading...>

May 12th, 2022

Intern visa for Hong Kong? Internships for foreign national students seeking experience in Hong Kong are getting ever more popular… QUESTION Hi, Our company is trying to hire an intern on a short 3-6 months internship. He holds a British passport. If he meets all the criteria on the Hong Kong Immigration Website, will there be […] Keep Reading...>

May 10th, 2022

If you leave your job and want to start your own business in Hong Kong, what are the immigration implications of this if you are a temporary resident foreign national employee? QUESTION Hi Stephen, I am in a bit of a pickle, I am currently waiting for my PR and I have a visa extension […] Keep Reading...>

May 8th, 2022

Time spent outside of Hong Kong working for a Hong Kong employer? This question has come up before but the questioner has assumed that his training visa will be extended subsequently so…  QUESTION I am married and have two kids aged 8 and 5. I have recently taken up employment in Hong Kong with a […] Keep Reading...>

May 6th, 2022

 This question raises quite a number of issues surrounding a decision to go into business for yourself in Hong Kong whilst presently holding an employment visa sponsored by a third party employer (and it’s only the immigration parts which I am qualified to address). QUESTION Hello Stephen, I have an employment visa for the remaining […] Keep Reading...>

May 4th, 2022

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...>

May 2nd, 2022

First Published October 17, 2017 What kind of activity is permitted if you are in Hong Kong on a Visitor visa? Does this include informal study? QUESTION My wife and I are spending some time here in Hong Kong. We do not work here and we do not intend to. We just enjoy living here, […] Keep Reading...>

April 30th, 2022

How can you have your cake AND eat it in Hong Kong – working for both yourself AND also 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. […] Keep Reading...>

April 28th, 2022

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 from November 1st. My biggest concern is the ability and feasibility for my girlfriend from Mainland China to be […] Keep Reading...>

April 25th, 2022

This is joining in a side business albeit in another name… 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 in Hong Kong. I would like to start a freelance business. I am worried about my visa […] Keep Reading...>

April 21st, 2022

What will the Hong Kong Immigration Department make of a very early application for an extension to a business investment visa? QUESTION I am 6 months into my first 12 month stint of an investment employment visa.  I am looking to move into a new apartment and the landlord is requesting a minimum of 12 […] Keep Reading...>

April 19th, 2022

First Published October 4, 2017 What do ImmD make of foreign nationals who hold an employment visa for a period of time, then remain here as Visitors again for a protracted time, then apply once again for an employment visa? QUESTION I was previously employed in Hong for a number of years, but have been […] Keep Reading...>

April 17th, 2022

IMPORTANT: Please note that we have no competency in Foreign Domestic Helper visas. Any such questions are best directed at an FDH agency who have significant experience in those types of visas. I receive 70-100 questions a week on this Blog and most of these are very succinct, allowing me to quickly drill down on […] Keep Reading...>

April 15th, 2022

First Published September 22, 2017 Is it possible to hold an employment visa, not work for your sponsoring employer and travel, live and possibly even work outside of Hong Kong through to the 7 years qualification mark and still qualify for the right of abode? QUESTION Hi Stephen, I have a question regarding Hong Kong […] Keep Reading...>

April 13th, 2022

INITIALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 2, 2021 – UPDATED APRIL 9, 2022 The Immigration Department Accepts Applications for Extension of Stay from Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents Outside Hong Kong under the Pandemic (With Effect From 8 April 2022) https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/ext/npr.html (Temporary Measures Update) ***************************************************************************** Happy New Year Everyone. Bit of good news just before the new year break: […] Keep Reading...>

April 11th, 2022

Can any old entity successfully sponsor an employment visa extension under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates? 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 stay is within 4 weeks of expiry. I do understand that the […] Keep Reading...>

April 9th, 2022

Getting from the Right to Land to the Right of Abode is the same as coming from a temporary visa to a permanent identity card. It’s all about the magic seven years in Hong Kong…  QUESTION I am a UK Citizen with the Right to Land. I understand that with Right to Land, I have no […] Keep Reading...>

April 3rd, 2022

There’s a lot of confusion about the Hong Kong Identity Card so today I’d like to clear it up a bit… QUESTION Hello, (1) Which visa categories require a Hong Kong Identity Card, and (2) If they require a Hong Kong Identity Card then will it allow for access to the public health care system, […] Keep Reading...>

March 30th, 2022

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