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On April 4th I gave a talk at Centre O Connect in Sheung Wan about some of the quirky ways to get working permissions in Hong Kong and delighted to share them with you now in this series of  8 short videos.

You can download the slides here.

PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy:

Historically, this presentation explored the more unconventional, creative strategies for securing lawful working permissions in Hong Kong, highlighting the Investment as Entrepreneur visa under the General Employment Policy as a remarkably versatile vehicle. The Geeza unpacked how resourceful foreign nationals—including freelancers, boutique consultants, and creative professionals who did not fit the traditional mold of a sponsored corporate employee—could effectively write their own immigration ticket. The guidance emphasized that the entrepreneur stream was commercially forgiving and flexible: applicants did not need massive capital or an elaborate enterprise to succeed. With modest seed funding of a few hundred thousand dollars, a flexible desk in a serviced office or co-working space, and a credible business narrative outlining how the venture would achieve viability and gradually phase in local hiring over two to three years, an applicant could comfortably satisfy ImmD’s discretionary “substantial contribution” test.

The game has changed from a creative, accessible workaround into a locked corporate gate that summarily bars lean, bespoke, or unconventional setups. ImmD no longer accommodates inventive structural plays, solo consultancies, or micro-enterprises under the investment stream. Under post-April 2026 administrative practice aligned with TTPS Category A operational substance (~HKD 2.5M enterprise scale), the entrepreneur visa requires heavy, unyielding operational hardware audited on day one: HKD 1.5M–2.0M in deployed corporate bank liquidity, an executed commercial lease for exclusive physical premises (“four walls”) disqualifying serviced offices and co-working desks entirely, and active Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) payroll contributions for 2–3 local Hong Kong permanent residents. Unless an applicant has secured formal admission into an officially accredited government incubator (such as Cyberport or HKSTP)—the only remaining mechanism to waive these empirical prerequisites—attempting to leverage the entrepreneur stream for a nimble or unconventional working arrangement will result in swift and summary refusal.

The Rest of the Series

Introduction

You ALWAYS Need A Visa To Work in Hong Kong

The Working Holiday Visa

The Study-then-Work Visa

The Top Notch Talent Visa

The Dependant Visa

The Entrepreneur Visa

D-I-Y Applications

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