Browse Our Most Recent Content (& Beyond)

Hong Kong Visa Applications Face Increasingly Rigorous Immigration Scrutiny Updated November 8, 2026. Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published. Historically, Hong Kong visa applications, as examined by the Hong Kong Visa Geeza in Considerably Heightened Diligence by ImmD on All […] Keep Reading...>

November 9th, 2026

How Does The Admission Scheme For Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) Differ From GEP? Over 13 years ago, on June 6th, 2013 I was interviewed by five law students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong about my experiences practicing immigration here over the last 20 years. More than 13 years on, in 2026 as I […] Keep Reading...>

November 8th, 2026

Hong Kong Work Visa Application? How important is sponsor-profitability, especially for start up businesses less than 12 months old? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published. Hong Kong Work Visa Application? Historically, as examined by the Hong Kong Visa Geeza in […] Keep Reading...>

November 7th, 2026

Graduate Management Trainee Visa? Graduate Management Trainee Visa – and the question of a foreign national fresh graduate taking up employment in Hong Kong – is a thorny one and much depends on the identity of the employer offering the role and the profile that employer has as an immigration sponsor in Hong Kong. Practice […] Keep Reading...>

November 7th, 2026

Share Equity Compensation Suffice Instead of Cash Salary? Will equity compensation suffice instead of cash? To what extent can salary be replaced with performance-based equity compensation in case of a Hong Kong employment visa? No one has asked me this type of question about compensation for employees for about 17 years now so I’m grateful […] Keep Reading...>

November 6th, 2026

GEP Work Visa | The General Employment Policy  Enters a New Era of Skills-Based Immigration The Evolving GEP Work Visa Assessment Regime, Technical Professionals Stream and Employer Sponsorship Requirements GEP Work Visa: For more than three decades, the General Employment Policy (GEP work visa) has been one of the principal mechanisms through which Hong Kong […] Keep Reading...>

November 5th, 2026

How & Why Hong Kong Seeks To Attract Foreign National Talent The Hong Kong Talent Imperative: Strategic Evolution, Institutional Architecture & Practical Realities   The architecture of Hong Kong’s immigration system has long reflected its structural position as a global entrepôt, financial intermediary, and service-driven economy. Lacking domestic natural resources, the territory’s economic viability depends […] Keep Reading...>

November 4th, 2026

I Am An Independent Contractor Not An Employee – Can I Get An Employment Visa As An Intercompany Transferee? Sometimes, round-pegs-in-square-holes situations crop up which make the challenge of securing a Hong Kong employment visa especially daunting! This question raises a very interesting set of circumstances which make for an interesting visa application experience ahead! […] Keep Reading...>

November 3rd, 2026

Hong Kong Employment Visa Lost If You Have A Terrible Boss & Want To Leave? What’s The Risk To Your Hong Kong Employment Visa? Should you be worried that your employment visa status in Hong Kong might be undermined if you choose to leave the employ of an unsavoury employer? Practice Update 2026 – This […] Keep Reading...>

November 2nd, 2026

Divorce Visa Hong Kong – What Happens Now If Your Marriage Is Falling Apart? First Published Years Ago! Updated October 2026   When a marital relationship collapses in Hong Kong, the non-resident spouse faces not only emotional turmoil and the complexities of matrimonial litigation, but also an immediate immigration dilemma. Under the Immigration Department’s Policy […] Keep Reading...>

November 1st, 2026

Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published Under Hong Kong immigration practice, the concept of procedural limbo during visa transitions has long been one of the most misunderstood aspects of immigration control. In Hong Kong Immigration… What Does It Mean… Twilight […] Keep Reading...>

October 31st, 2026

Long Stay Visitor? Been In Hong Kong More Than 180 Days In A One Year Given Period …     Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published Under Hong Kong immigration control, foreign nationals who repeatedly enter the territory to maintain […] Keep Reading...>

October 27th, 2026

Visitor Status Upon Arrival Intend To Work In Hong Kong? Is it ever legal to work in Hong Kong – especially on a short term basis – with  Visitor status – without the permission of the Director of Immigration? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice […] Keep Reading...>

October 25th, 2026

Can You Get A Hong Kong Employment Visa By Suing ImmD? Crazy, True Story Going Back 15 Years   First Published August 27, 2012   Sue his way to a Hong Kong employment visa? It is a very rare occasion indeed that private court hearings see the light of day and it tickles me pink […] Keep Reading...>

October 24th, 2026

Rent an Apartment in Hong Kong as a Frequent Visitor? If you find yourself often in Hong Kong as a frequent Visitor is it lawful and / or possible to rent an apartment in order to keep accommodation expenses down …     Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of […] Keep Reading...>

October 23rd, 2026

Work in Hong Kong on a Visitor Visa? First Published September 22, 2021 & Updated October 2026 Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published Under Hong Kong immigration law, the foundational rule remains unequivocal: individuals entering as visitors are strictly prohibited […] Keep Reading...>

October 22nd, 2026

The 2026 Immigration Facilitation Scheme, Authorised Host Organisations and the 14-Day Employment Exception Short Term Work For Visitors To Hong Kong   Practice Update: The 2026 Immigration Facilitation Scheme, Authorised Host Organisations and the 14-Day Employment Exception Hong Kong has long maintained a clear distinction between individuals entering the territory as visitors and those admitted […] Keep Reading...>

October 21st, 2026

Working In Hong Kong So, what are the immigration implications of getting married and then having children in Hong Kong if you are a temporary resident presently holding an employment visa? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published. Historically, as discussed […] Keep Reading...>

October 20th, 2026

What Chance Does A Published Author Have Under The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme?   How the Content Must Now Be Read in Light of the Updated QMAS (Quality Migrant Admission Scheme) Policy In the legacy casework analysis examined in What Chance A Published Author Under The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme?, the substantive discussion centres on […] Keep Reading...>

October 16th, 2026

The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) Visa Update | From Inception Until The Present Day     “Over three decades of legal advisory practice in Hong Kong have made one reality abundantly clear: the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme is not an administrative entitlement, but an active, highly selective talent-curation mechanism. Following the definitive structural overhaul […] Keep Reading...>

October 15th, 2026

Navigating The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)     “Over three and a half decades of Hong Kong immigration practice, we have never seen a policy landscape as sharply divided as today’s. While routes like the Top Talent Pass Scheme and the Entrepreneur visa now demand aggressive, on-the-ground economic proof – payroll, physical […] Keep Reading...>

October 14th, 2026

Practice Direction: Hong Kong’s IANG Visa – From Graduate Retention to Economic Participation     “The Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates has fundamentally evolved from a post-study retention bridge into an engine of active economic participation. While acquiring a qualifying degree from Hong Kong or its Greater Bay Area campuses unlocks an initial 24-month runway […] Keep Reading...>

October 13th, 2026

A Strategic Shift: Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) Moves from Talent Attraction to Economic Contribution   “The Top Talent Pass Scheme represents an unprecedented, radical departure from Hong Kong’s traditionally cautious immigration playbook. By stripping away upfront employer sponsorship and letting top-tier graduates and genuine high-earners vote with their feet, the government engineered […] Keep Reading...>

October 12th, 2026

Although this case study is based on a situation I was asked to provide guidance to many years ago, its content is still relevant today.   Our client was a French national with a wife and 5 year old daughter – all of them, French citizens. He had first arrived in Hong Kong in 2004 […] Keep Reading...>

October 11th, 2026

What Do You Get For Your Money When You Instruct A Hong Kong Immigration Consultant? First Published 2012 (15 Years Ago – Look How Young I Am!) PRACTICE UPDATE OCTOBER 2026: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: Look, if you head over to any expat forum or Reddit […] Keep Reading...>

October 10th, 2026

A Major Change: The Upgraded Assessment Regime for Hong Kong’s Entrepreneur Visa     “The era of ImmD ‘let’s see what happens’ discretion is dead. Under post-April 2026 administrative practice, the Immigration Department has replaced narrative flexibility with an uncompromising high-expectation of ‘substantial’ contribution to the economy of Hong Kong. For independent business founders, securing […] Keep Reading...>

October 8th, 2026

Hong Kong Immigration Is Changing. So Are We. Regular visitors to the Hong Kong Visa Geeza website may have noticed that parts of our extensive immigration knowledge library have not been updated as frequently as they once were. There is a reason for that. Behind the scenes, we have been undertaking what is probably the […] Keep Reading...>

October 7th, 2026

Can you be both settled in Hong Kong, have taken the HKSAR as your only place of residence, yet go and work overseas all at the same time? QUESTION Thank you so much for your wonderfully informative website. I have a question about the timing of starting a new job working for a non-HK employer […] Keep Reading...>

October 6th, 2026

Hong Kong Employment Visa – A Flexible Beast? Life in Hong Kong throws up many new opportunities and this question seeks to understand the implications for 7 years continuous residency in respect of an eventual right of abode application where an overall switch over in life plans sees a lady intending to relinquish her Hong […] Keep Reading...>

October 2nd, 2026

The test for the right of abode for foreign national children resident in Hong Kong for 7 years is the same as for adults but the manifestation of that PR takes a slightly different form… QUESTION I’ve heard that our children can independently hold permanent residency once they turn 7.  Is this correct and if […] Keep Reading...>

September 30th, 2026

Question: Hi there, I am interested in migrating to Hong Kong, wasn’t sure what is the best route – getting employment take times, and I wonder what might be the alternative. I am going to open a domain company but not sure if that works. I need some help to explore some of options but […] Keep Reading...>

September 29th, 2026

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...>

September 25th, 2026

Hong Kong Work Visa Post-Graduation Working Experience? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published. Historically, as examined by the Hong Kong Visa Geeza in Hong Kong Work Visa – Is 2 Years Post Graduation Work Experience An Absolute Prerequisite?, the conventional […] Keep Reading...>

September 22nd, 2026

Extend Hong Kong Work Visa if Your Passport Is About to Expire? How can you extend your Hong Kong work visa if your passport  has only a very limited amount of time remaining on it before it expires? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since […] Keep Reading...>

September 17th, 2026

Sponsor An Employment Visa For a Business Partner-Friend? Is ever a good idea or actually even possible for sponsor an employment visa for a related party? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published. Historically, as examined by the Hong Kong Visa […] Keep Reading...>

September 14th, 2026

Caught Working In Hong Kong Without An Employment Visa? If you are working in Hong Kong (paid, unpaid, or temporarily transferred in) without lawful authorization to work, you are committing a breach of condition of stay under the Immigration Ordinance. You face a fine of up to HK$50,000 and up to 2 years’ imprisonment, as […] Keep Reading...>

September 10th, 2026

Employment Visa Holder Working ‘On-the-Side’ in Hong Kong 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 PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: The advice regarding securing ImmD permission […] Keep Reading...>

September 7th, 2026

How Old Must the Company Sponsoring My Hong Kong Employment Visa Be? Hint … it must be ‘well-established’. Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published. Historically, as examined by the Hong Kong Visa Geeza in How Will Your Employment Visa Application […] Keep Reading...>

September 3rd, 2026

The Bona Fides Of A Hong Kong Employer As A Suitable AND Credible Sponsor 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? PRACTICE UPDATE: How to read in light of current ImmD policy: While […] 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. PRACTICE UPDATE: How to read in light of current ImmD policy: While this guide historically advises applicants that a standard two-year forecast, a general […] 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 Contract Ends on the Same Day as My Hong Kong Work Visa What can I do If my employment contract ends on the same day as my Hong Kong work visa and I need to stay here a while longer to sort out my affairs? Employment contract ends on the same day as my […] 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

Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published Under Hong Kong immigration law, the administrative protocols governing the expiration of employment visas have undergone a decisive tightening, fundamentally altering the status-adjustment strategies available to outbound or transitioning foreign professionals. In Can I […] Keep Reading...>

August 14th, 2026

Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice since it was first published Under Hong Kong immigration control, maintaining continuous presence through back-to-back border runs—the classic “Shenzhen shuttle” or Macau turnaround—represents an inherently fragile strategy that inevitably attracts severe scrutiny at the control point. In I Have […] Keep Reading...>

August 10th, 2026

Hong Kong Change of Employer Application (GEP Work Visa) 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? How Can I Resign From My Current Job BEFORE My Hong Kong Change Of Employer Application Has Been Approved? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of […] 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

Transfer From a Hong Kong Working Holiday Visa To A GEP Work Visa? 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.   Practice Update […] 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

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