The answer first
The General Employment Policy (GEP) is the main route for a Hong Kong employer to bring in a professional from overseas. The application is made by the employee with the employer acting as sponsor. If approved, the employee is normally granted an initial stay of up to 36 months, tied to employment with that sponsor.
The Immigration Department normally takes about four weeks to process a complete application. Approval is at the Department's discretion and cannot be guaranteed by any employer or adviser.
At a glance
- Who it is for
- Professionals with special skills, knowledge or experience, joining a Hong Kong employer
- Not available to
- Chinese residents of the Mainland (separate scheme), and nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Initial stay
- Up to 36 months on employment condition, or the length of the contract if shorter
- Extensions
- Normally in a 3-year then 2-year pattern, subject to continued eligibility
- Processing time
- About 4 weeks after all documents and the fee are received
- Government fees
- HK$600 application fee (non-refundable); visa issuance fee HK$600 (stay of 180 days or less) or HK$1,300 (more than 180 days)
- Family
- Spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 may apply as dependants
- Permanent residence
- May apply after ordinarily residing in Hong Kong for a continuous period of at least 7 years
Eligibility
The employee
- A good education background, normally a first degree in a relevant field. Good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities or relevant experience may be accepted in special circumstances.
- Special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong.
- No known record of serious crime and no security objection.
The job and the employer
- A genuine job vacancy that is relevant to the applicant's qualifications or experience.
- A remuneration package, including salary, accommodation, medical and other benefits, broadly in line with the market level for professionals in Hong Kong.
- An employer able to show that the business is genuine and can support the position. For a new company, this usually means a credible business plan, funding and evidence of operations.
Key takeawayThe strength of the sponsoring company matters as much as the applicant. A newly incorporated company with no operations, no premises and no funding will find it harder to justify hiring from overseas.
The application, step by step
| Step | What happens | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | Collect the applicant's documents and the employer's company documents, employment contract and business information | Employer and applicant, with our help |
| 2. Submit | Submit the application forms and documents to the Immigration Department | Applicant and sponsor |
| 3. Pay and wait | Pay the HK$600 application fee; the Department processes the case and may ask for more information | Immigration Department |
| 4. Approval | If approved, pay the visa issuance fee and obtain the visa | Applicant |
| 5. Arrival | Enter Hong Kong, then apply for a Hong Kong identity card within 30 days | Applicant |
| 6. Extensions | Apply within the last 3 months before the limit of stay expires (ideally at least 6 weeks before) | Applicant and employer |
Documents the employer typically provides
- Business Registration Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation.
- Latest audited financial statements or, for a new company, a business plan and evidence of funding.
- Employment contract or offer letter setting out position, duties, salary and benefits.
- Company profile, organisation chart and evidence of business operations.
- Recent Employer's Return or MPF records, where available.
Conditions of stay and important warnings
- The visa is tied to the sponsoring employer. A change of employer requires prior approval from the Immigration Department.
- If the employment ends, the sponsor should notify the Immigration Department, and the employee's permission to stay may be affected.
- Leaving Hong Kong is required before the limit of stay expires, unless an extension has been approved; check the current rules on pending extension applications before relying on any grace period.
- Top-tier GEP employees with assessable income under salaries tax of at least HK$2 million over two years may qualify for a longer extension on time limitation only.
Please confirm current rulesImmigration policies, fees and extension patterns are reviewed from time to time. We check the current Immigration Department guidebook at the time of each application.
How DBMS Global can help
- Assessing eligibility for both the employee and the sponsoring company before you commit.
- Preparing the application and supporting documents, and responding to Immigration Department enquiries.
- Applications for dependants, extensions and changes of employer.
- Payroll, MPF and tax set-up once the employee arrives.
- We cannot guarantee the outcome of any visa application. Decisions rest solely with the Immigration Department.
Official references
- Immigration Department: General Employment Policy and guidebook, www.immd.gov.hk
- Immigration Department: fees for specified schemes (effective 26 February 2025), www.immd.gov.hk