Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

I Have A Socially Advantageous Yet Modestly Capitalised Business Plan – Can I Get An Investment Visa For Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / 12 responses

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 […]

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Why Do Hong Kong Technology Startups Mostly Struggle To Win Investment Visa Approvals For Their Founders?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in 60 Second Snapshot, Employment Visas, Investment Visas / No responses

I’m often asked how feasible business investment visas are for foreign nationals seeking to establish a new technology start up here. Bootstrappping and running Lean can be a double edged sword as a foreign national starting up in Hong Kong… PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: […]

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,” […]

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa (Business Investment) – A Practical Guide

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Musing, Resource, VG Front Page / No responses

The Hong Kong entrepreneur visa (business investment) is arguably the most challenging immigration status to acquire in the HKSAR… PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This primary portal page—which historically outlines the general qualification principles and describes an approvability test accommodating early-stage commercial concepts—must now serve as […]

How To Apply For A Hong Kong Investment Visa Without Paying For Professional Help – 10 – The Catch 22

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Musing / No responses

I have given this talk around town for the last couple of years now and so pleased to finally add it to our coverage of the Hong Kong investment visa. This segment speaks to the proverbial issue of having started your Hong Kong business before you have received the permission of the Hong Kong Immigration Department […]

Business Investment Visas – A Leg Up For Start Ups In Hong Kong

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Musing / 7 responses

Intro to the Hong Kong Startup Scene from Casey Lau After waaaay too much time had passed I finally made it to my first StartupsHK event held at the Hive last week. Casey Lau, serial entrepreneur and 15 year veteran of the  Hong Kong start up scene, put on a great show last Thursday, which I am […]

Why Do The Immigration Department Prefer A Limited Liability Company To Underpin A Hong Kong Investment Visa Application?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Hadley Says…, Investment Visas / 4 responses

This post deals with the reasons why the Immigration Department favors limited liability companies in the process of Hong Kong investment visa applications. PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: Historically, this advisory explained why ImmD favored a private limited liability company over sole proprietorships or partnerships […]

Can I Do Business In Hong Kong Yet Live In Shenzhen To Save Costs & Commute Across The Boundary Each Day To Do My Business?

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

Do Business in Hong Kong Yet Live In Shenzhen? Living in Hong Kong ain’t cheap, that’s for sure …     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 entrepreneurs attempting to establish a local commercial […]

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How Do Brand New Businesses Establish Their Financial Bona Fides To Be Deemed A Suitable And Credible Sponsor For A Hong Kong Employment Visa?

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

Your company is brand new – will ImmD buy into your intentions to sponsor a foreign national to be the first employee?  QUESTION As a new company I want to hire a manager who has special talent from overseas? How can I prove our financial capability as a new company? ANSWER In a completely new […]

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Hong Kong Business Investment Visas – The Catch 22 For Foreign National Entrepreneurs

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Musing / 3 responses

    PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This installment breaks down the systemic procedural conflict where a visitor is legally prohibited from working or managing a company, yet ImmD demands evidence that an enterprise is viable before granting an entrepreneur visa. The historical strategy of […]