Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China is a highly prosperous free port and international metropolis. It is the third largest financial center in the world, an important international financial, trade, shipping center and international innovation and technology center. It is also one of the freest economies and most competitive cities in the world. It enjoys a high reputation in the world and was introduced by GaWC to rank third in the world’s first-tier cities. For entrepreneurs who intend to invest in Hong Kong (that is, come to Hong Kong to start or participate in business), this plan will help them integrate smoothly, enjoy the local convenient tax and fee preferential system, make Hong Kong their home, and their children can enjoy high-quality local education.
The procedures for establishing a company are simple, and products enter the mainland with zero tariffs, and spouses and children can accompany.
1) Foreign citizens;
2) Or Chinese citizens who hold a Chinese passport and live overseas, and meet one of the following conditions:
– The applicant already has permanent resident status overseas;
– The applicant has lived abroad for more than one year before the application recently (referring to regions or countries other than Mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macao Special Administrative Region of China), And the application is submitted from outside these areas.
There is no minimum investment requirement specified by the authorities when applying for the entrepreneur visa. However at the time of processing your application, the authorities will closely examine your proposed business plan to assess if your proposed investment is sufficient for the business you plan to set up. In this regard, you must ensure that your proposed investment covers the start up and operational expenses of your business for at least the initial 3-6 month period.
(i) the applicant is in a position to make substantial contribution to the economy of the HKSAR, with consideration factors including, but not limited to, business plan, business turnover, financial resources, investment sum, number of jobs created locally and introduction of new technology or skills. Details of these consideration factors are as follows:
An applicant who wishes to establish or join in business in Hong Kong should submit a two-year business plan stating the nature of the business, market analysis, market positioning, business direction, sales targets, product marketing strategy, etc. in order to demonstrate that the business is suitable for and capable of developing in Hong Kong. The applicant should also submit a two-year forecast of the profit-and-loss account statement, cash flow statement and balance sheet to demonstrate the feasibility of the business in terms of operation, finances and development.
If the applicant is running relevant business overseas or has joined in a business in Hong Kong, he/she should submit the profit-and-loss account statement and balance sheet showing the business turnover and profit in the previous year. Those who intend to establish business in Hong Kong should submit a two-year forecast of profit-and-loss account statement and balance sheet as mentioned above, including the anticipated business turnover in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the business operation and development.
The applicant should submit statements of his/her personal and company bank accounts in the previous year and proof of other sources of funding, as well as the company’s latest audited financial report (if any) to demonstrate that he/she has sufficient financial resources to run the relevant business in Hong Kong and also support the smooth operation and sustainable growth of the business.
The applicant should submit documentary proof showing the amount of capital investment in Hong Kong. The Immigration Department will consider whether the investment amount is able to support the operation of the business.
The applicant should set out the organisational structure of his/her business and the required number of staff and posts, based on the nature and scale of the business. He/She should indicate the number and level of actual jobs created locally (e.g. managers, administrators, professionals, clerical support staff, etc.).
The applicant should explain how the new technology or skills to be introduced can inspire creativity in the high-value-added industries in Hong Kong, and whether he/she has taken out patent, contributing to the long-term development of Hong Kong as a knowledge-based economy.
(ii) Start-up Businesses
Entrepreneur visa application must be sponsored by a local sponsor – a company or an individual. The sponsor takes the onus of assuming responsibility for your repatriation, if the circumstances so arise. To apply for entrepreneur visa in Hong Kong, the following documents are required:
Documents required from the applicant:
Completed Application Form
– Completed Application Form (Sponsor)
– A copy of the sponsor’s Hong Kong identity card
– A copy of the personal particulars page of the sponsor’s passport.
Applicants under this work permit scheme are eligible to bring their family members (spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 years of age to Hong Kong) with them to Hong Kong. A dependant visa application must be filed for each family member for this purpose. The dependant’s length of stay is tied to the applicant’s length of stay in Hong Kong and dependant visa holders are free to take up employment or study in Hong Kong, as applicable.
Applicants should complete application form ID 990A. The employing companies should complete application form ID 990B. The application forms (ID 990A and ID 990B) can be obtained free of charge from the following offices:
| A. | Forms and documents to be submitted by the applicant for entry application |
| Forms/Documents Required |
|---|
| Application for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong (ID 990A) |
| The applicant’s recent photograph (affixed on page 2 of application form ID 990A) |
| Photocopy of applicant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For an applicant who is currently staying in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), photocopy of his/her valid travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSAR and the latest issued “e-Visa” (if applicable). A Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document may submit a photocopy of his/her People’s Republic of China (PRC) resident identity card. |
| Photocopy of applicant’s Hong Kong identity card (if any) |
| Photocopy of proof of academic qualifications and relevant work experience@ |
| Photocopy of the applicant’s Macao identity card [for Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) residents only] |
| Photocopy of the applicant’s household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only] |
| Photocopy of proof of the applicant’s overseas residence, such as copy of official documents showing the applicant’s conditions of stay and limit of stay endorsed by overseas authorities [for overseas Chinese holding PRC passports only] |
| B. | Forms and documents to be submitted by the employing company |
| Forms/Documents Required |
|---|
| Application for Employing Professionals in Hong Kong (ID 990B) |
| Photocopy of the company’s employment contract with or letter of appointment to the applicant containing information about post, salaries, other fringe benefits and employment periods |
| Photocopy of the Business Registration Certificate@ |
| Photocopy of proof of financial standing (e.g. latest audited financial report, trading profit and loss account, or profit tax return)@ |
| Documents with details of company background such as business activities, mode of operation, background/ connection of company, product ranges, sources and markets, membership of chamber of commerce (if any), etc. (supported with catalogues, brochures, etc.)@ |
| Detailed business plan (e.g. information on source of funds, estimated capital injection, nature/mode of business activities, expected turnover, sales volume, gross and net profit in the coming years, and proposed creation of local job posts, etc.) [for companies newly set-up within 12 months only]@ |
@ Submission of the documents is not required if the applicant or the employing company fulfills the facilitation measure(s) under the GEP and ASMTP.
| C. | Forms and documents to be submitted by each accompanying dependant of an applicant for entry under the GEP |
| Forms/Documents Required |
|---|
| The applicant’s application form, Application for Entry for Employment as Professionals in Hong Kong (ID 990A) with Part B duly completed by the dependant |
| The dependant’s recent photograph (affixed on page two of the application form ID 990A) |
| Photocopy of the dependant’s travel document containing personal particulars, its date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For a dependant who is currently staying in Hong Kong, photocopy of his/her travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSAR and the latest issued “e-Visa” (if applicable). A Chinese resident of the Mainland who has not been issued with a travel document may submit a photocopy of his/her PRC resident identity card. |
| Photocopy of evidence of the applicant’s relationship with the dependant e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, family photographs, family letters (with envelopes), census record book and Privilege Card for Single child (if applicable) |
| Photocopy of the dependant’s Macao identity card [for Macao SAR residents only] |
Photocopy of the dependant’s household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only] |
| D. | Forms and documents to be submitted by the applicant for extension of stay application |
| Forms/Documents Required |
|---|
| Application for Extension of Stay (ID 91) |
| Original and photocopy of the applicant’s valid travel document and, where applicable, his/her previous travel document showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSAR and the latest issued “e-Visa” (if applicable). |
| Photocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity card |
| Forms and supporting documents listed in Part (B) above * |
| Documentary proof of the applicant having an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of tax assessment, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous tax assessment year issued by the Inland Revenue Department or relevant tax documents [only applicable to those who choose to apply for assessment under the top-tier employment stream] |
* Applicants without change of employment are only required to provide a supporting letter from the current employer stating the applicant’s position, total monthly remuneration and period of employment.
Notwithstanding that the documents and information required have been furnished, applicants, accompanying dependants and employing companies may still be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with the application(s) when necessary.
Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.
Completed application forms, i.e. ID 990A and ID 990B, and all supporting documents may also be submitted by the applicant or the employing company in one of the following ways to the Immigration Department. All the forms must be duly completed and signed. Where there are accompanying dependants, each dependant must complete and sign Part B of application form ID 990A. For a dependant under the age of 16, it must be signed by the parent or legal guardian.
| Receipt and Despatch Sub-Unit Hong Kong Immigration Department 2/F, Immigration Tower 7 Gloucester Road Wan Chai, Hong Kong |
| The Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing No. 71, Di’anmen Xidajie, Xicheng District Beijing 100009 People’s Republic of China The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai 21/F, The Headquarters Building, 168 Xizang Road (M), Huangpu District Shanghai 200001 People’s Republic of China |
[Note]:
Some Chinese diplomatic and consular missions have implemented the arrangement that applications for visas for Hong Kong from persons holding foreign ordinary passports will be handled by the “Chinese Visa Application Service Center”. Applicants may contact the nearest Chinese diplomatic and consular mission for details.
It normally takes four weeks to process visa/entry permit applications for employment upon receipt of all the required documents. The Immigration Department will not be able to start processing the application unless all the required documents and information have been received.
All applications are processed and determined by the Immigration Department. Approval of applications is entirely discretionary and is subject to changes in government policies. The Director of Immigration reserves absolute discretion to refuse any application even if the application meets all eligibility criteria.
If the application is submitted to the Immigration Department directly, upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by the Immigration Department will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS). After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
If the applicant or his/her authorised representative attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay, the relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. After payment, the applicant or his/her authorised representative will be issued with an “e-Visa” printed on a sheet of A4 white paper on the spot. The applicant can then download or print the “e-Visa” through the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application.
If the application is submitted to an overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office) or the Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO), the visa/entry permit fee should be paid directly to the Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO as appropriate.
Once the receipt of application has been acknowledged, applicants can enquire their application status here or through the 24-hour telephone enquiry system at (852) 3160 8663.
If the application is submitted to the Immigration Department directly, upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by the Immigration Department will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS). After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
If the applicant or his/her authorised representative attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay, the relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. After payment, the applicant or his/her authorised representative will be issued with an “e-Visa” printed on a sheet of A4 white paper on the spot. The applicant can then download or print the “e-Visa” through the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application.
If the application is submitted to an overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office) or the Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO), the visa/entry permit fee should be paid directly to the Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO as appropriate
A visa/entry permit (in the form of “e-Visa”) will be issued upon successful application. Upon immigration arrival clearance in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, an “e-Visa” holder should present his/her valid travel document and the “e-Visa” saved on a personal mobile device or printed on a sheet of A4 white paper, and scan the encrypted QR code on the “e-Visa” with the optical reader at an immigration counter.
For applications submitted to Chinese diplomatic and consular missions or the Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (Beijing Office) or the Immigration Division of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai (SHETO), visas/entry permits will be issued through the relevant Chinese diplomatic and consular missions or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office or the Immigration Division of the SHETO as appropriate. The visa/entry permit label should be affixed onto a blank visa page of the applicant’s travel document for presentation to an immigration officer upon arrival in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Persons admitted as professionals under the GEP will normally be granted an initial stay of 36 months on employment condition, or in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter), upon entry. They may apply for extension of stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) within four weeks before their limit of stay expires. Such applications will be considered only when the applicants continue to meet the eligibility criteria under the GEP. Successful applicants will normally be granted an extension of stay following the 3-2 year pattern, also on employment condition, or be in accordance with the duration of the employment contract (whichever is shorter).
Admitted professionals who continue to meet the eligibility criteria under the GEP and fulfil the following criteria may apply for assessment under the top-tier employment stream. They will normally be granted an extension of stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay for a period of five years upon approval.
The criteria for top-tier employment stream are as follows:
Note 1:
Applicants should provide documentary proof of having an assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2 million in the previous year of tax assessment, e.g. notice of salaries tax assessment of the previous tax assessment year issued by the Inland Revenue Department or relevant tax documents.
Professionals admitted under the GEP who are on employment condition shall only take such employment as approved by the Director of Immigration. They should seek prior approval from the Director of Immigration for any change in employment. Such applications may be favourably considered if the applicants continue to fulfil the eligibility criteria under the GEP. For those top-tier professionals who are permitted to remain in the HKSAR on time limitation only without other conditions of stay, they only need to notify the Immigration Department in writing of the change of their employment within the currency of their permitted limit of stay.
Non-permanent residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), irrespective of their nationality and type of travel document held, do not require a re-entry visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR provided that they return within the currency of their permitted limit of stay and that the circumstances upon which they have acquired their residential status remain unchanged.
Persons admitted under the GEP who have ordinarily resided in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in the HKSAR in accordance with the law.
General Employment Policy Entrants, Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents Entrants, Entrepreneurs, Non-Mainland Students and their Dependants, and Dependants of Hong Kong permanent residents and Hong Kong residents not subject to a limit of stay
This webpage sets out the entry arrangement for persons who wish to enter/stay in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for employment as professionals.
ApplicantsNote 1 who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the HKSAR may apply to come to work under the GEP.
The GEP is quota-free and non-sector specific.
This entry arrangement does not apply to:
Non-local students (referring to persons entering the HKSAR for the purpose of education with a student visa/entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration) who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time and locally accredited local programme in Hong Kong (non-local graduates) / persons who have obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time programme offered by the GBA campus of a Hong Kong university (GBA campus graduates) may apply to stay/return/come and work in the HKSAR under the “Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates” (IANG).
Note 2:
Chinese residents of the Mainland who are not non-local graduates but possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the HKSAR may apply to come to work under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP).
An application for a visa/ entry permit to take up employment under the GEP may be favourably considered if:
Overseas Chinese nationals holding People’s Republic of China passports who meet the criteria stipulated above and normal immigration requirements may apply to enter the HKSAR for employment under the GEP if:
In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, he/she requires a visa/entry permit to work in the HKSAR. While each application is determined on its individual merits, an applicant should meet normal immigration requirements (such as holding a valid travel document with adequate returnability to his/her country of residence or citizenship; be of clear criminal record and raise no security or criminal concerns to the HKSAR; have no likelihood of becoming a burden on the HKSAR, etc.) as well as the relevant specific eligibility criteria detailed above before he/she may be considered for the grant of a visa/entry permit. It should be noted that the eligibility criteria may be subject to change from time to time without prior notice.
Applicants admitted under the GEP may apply to bring in their spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union entered into by him/her in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration Note 3 and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) under the prevailing dependant policy. Persons admitted or applying for admission under the GEP will be the sponsors of their accompanying dependants to the HKSAR. An application for admission of a dependant may be favourably considered if normal immigration requirements and the following criteria are met:
This entry arrangement does not apply to:
The length of stay of such dependants will normally be linked to that of their sponsors. Any subsequent applications for extension of stay will be considered only when the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria for entry for residence as dependants (including that there is no change in circumstances which would have otherwise resulted in loss of sponsorship for the applicant, e.g. change in marriage relationship between the dependent spouse and the sponsor, or death of sponsor) and the sponsor remains a bona fide Hong Kong resident living in the HKSAR. These dependants are not prohibited from taking up employment or studies in the HKSAR under the existing policy.
For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “civil partnership” and “civil union” above mean a legal institution of a nature which is akin to spousal relationship in a marriage. The same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership and opposite-sex civil union entered into in accordance with laws outside Hong Kong are limited to only relationships which are legally and officially recognised in the places of celebration. Such relationships normally have the following features: (a) the entering into and dissolution of the relationship are governed by legislation of the place where it is entered into; (b) the relationship requires registration by the competent authority specified by the legislation of the place where it is entered into; (c) the registration is evidenced in a written instrument issued by the competent authority; and (d) parties to the relationship have a mutual commitment to a shared life akin to spouses to the exclusion of others on a permanent basis. Such relationships do not include de facto spouse, partners in cohabitation, fiancé/fiancée, etc.
It normally takes four weeks to process visa/entry permit applications for employment upon receipt of all the required documents. The Immigration Department will not be able to start processing the application unless all the required documents and information have been received.
All applications are processed and determined by the Immigration Department. Approval of applications is entirely discretionary and is subject to changes in government policies. The Director of Immigration reserves absolute discretion to refuse any application even if the application meets all eligibility criteria.