Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

How Does Pre-Existing Business Ownership Impact On A Hong Kong Prolonged Visitor Visa Application?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Family Visas, Visitor Visas, Your Question Answered / 4 responses

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, foreign nationals holding an equity stake in a local enterprise face rigorous scrutiny when applying for discretionary stay permissions, where the boundary between passive asset ownership and prohibited operational […]

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Is There A Minimum Number Of Days You Need To Be In Hong Kong In Order To Maintain Your Investment Visa Status?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Special Programmes, Your Question Answered / 4 responses

Hong Kong is a small place with borders on our doorstep so how much time do you need to be physically in Hong Kong to retain your Hong Kong investment visa? PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This article addresses the common scenario of mobile entrepreneurs […]

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Will Performance-Based Equity Compensation Suffice Instead Of A Cash Salary For A Hong Kong Employment Visa?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

To what extend the salary can 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 to the questioner for raising it as she did. QUESTION I have successfully registered […]

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What Will The Immigration Department Make Of A Third Party Objection To An Application For A Hong Kong Investment Visa?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / 4 responses

Objection to an application for a Hong Kong investment visa? Revenge is a dish best eaten cold, as they say. PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This advisory piece regarding how ImmD handles malicious or competitive third-party objections must now be read alongside the department’s forensic […]

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How Do You Prove To The Hong Kong Immigration Department That You Have Tried To Recruit Locally?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 1 response

Excellent question earlier this week. Great opportunity to slay a few sacred cows. QUESTION Hi, one of the requirements for the work visa application is a proof of genuine vacancy. What if a sponsoring company doesn’t do job ads? What can he present? He does recruit locally via his network since he is just a […]

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Can I Still Sponsor A Hong Kong Dependant Visa For My New Wife If I Hold An Employment Visa But Am Presently Between Jobs?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

What will ImmD make of an application to sponsor a dependant visa by a Hong Kong employment visa holding foreign national who doesn’t presently have a job here? QUESTION I am in between jobs (currently on an employment visa in Hong Kong) and plan to get married soon (outside HK). I would like to arrange […]

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QOTW: Can I Get An Employment Visa Again If I Still Owe Taxes From The Last Time I Worked In Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Case Study, Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

What is the interplay between unpaid taxes and a Hong Kong employment visa application subsequently? QUESTION Hi, I worked in Hong Kong last year, 2013, and left the city mid year after my work terminated. When I left, my company filed a IR56G “leaving Hong Kong” tax form for me with the IRD. However, I […]

Hong Kong Employment Visa Self-Sponsorship – The Reality For Entrepreneurs Masquerading As Employees

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Musing / 6 responses

PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This warning against attempting to bypass the investment visa test by setting up a company, owning shares, and applying for an employment visa as a “self-sponsored employee” carries far heavier consequences today. Historically, ImmD would simply “pierce the corporate veil,” […]

The 7 Things Your Employer Needs To Know About The Immigration Process When Applying For A Hong Kong Employment Visa

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Musing / 6 responses

Applying for a Hong Kong Employment Visa? You’ve been offered a job in Hong Kong and you need an employment visa. But your new employer has no experience about the process, so what do you need to tell them? 1. Firstly, there’s the approvability test – namely – you need to possess special skills, knowledge […]

Will Civil Or Non-Criminal Penalties Accruing To A Business Impact The Hong Kong PR Application Of One Of Its Directors?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / No responses

How is an application for Hong Kong PR (permanent residency or the right of abode) impacted as a result of non-criminal litigation and Court sanctions? QUESTION My partner and I run a company (LTD) in Hong Kong. We’ve been a bit behind on our bills and most likely the company will be taken to court […]

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