Key Takeaways
- Hong Kong’s principal employer-sponsored route for overseas professionals is the General Employment Policy, commonly known as the GEP.
- A GEP applicant generally needs a confirmed job offer for a genuine vacancy that is relevant to the applicant’s qualifications or experience and cannot readily be filled by the local workforce.
- The GEP is generally quota-free and non-sector-specific, although the separate Technical Professionals Stream is subject to quotas and limited to designated skilled trades.
- Applications must be submitted online with the required supporting documents and a non-refundable application fee.
- The Immigration Department normally processes a complete GEP application in approximately four weeks.
- Successful applicants are normally granted an initial stay of up to 36 months or the employment-contract period, whichever is shorter.
- GEP visa holders ordinarily need prior Immigration Department approval before changing employment.
What Is an Employment Visa Application in Hong Kong?
A Hong Kong employment visa application is a request for permission to enter and work in Hong Kong under an applicable immigration scheme. For most overseas professionals with a confirmed local job offer, the relevant route is the General Employment Policy. Mainland Chinese residents generally apply under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals instead.
Hong Kong offers several immigration routes for overseas and Mainland talent. The most relevant route depends on the applicant’s nationality or place of residence, qualifications, employment arrangements, and personal circumstances.
Under the General Employment Policy, applicants with special skills, knowledge or experience of value to Hong Kong that are not readily available locally may apply to work as professionals. The standard GEP is quota-free and non-sector-specific. It does not generally apply to Chinese residents of the mainland, who may instead qualify under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals.
The GEP should not be confused with the Top Talent Pass Scheme. GEP applicants generally need a confirmed employment offer, whereas eligible TTPS applicants are not required to have secured a Hong Kong job offer when applying.
Comparison of Major Hong Kong Talent Admission Routes
| Scheme | Typical applicant | Job offer required for application? | Quota position | Initial stay |
| General Employment Policy | Overseas professionals with skills, knowledge or experience not readily available in Hong Kong | Yes | Standard GEP is quota-free and non-sector-specific | Normally 36 months or the employment-contract period, whichever is shorter |
| Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals | Eligible Chinese residents of the mainland with skills, knowledge or experience needed in Hong Kong | Yes | Quota-free and non-sector-specific | Normally 36 months or the employment-contract period, whichever is shorter |
| Top Talent Pass Scheme | High-income individuals and eligible graduates of designated universities | No | Category C is subject to an annual quota; Categories A and B are not described as quota-based | 36 months for Category A; 24 months for Categories B and C |
The correct scheme should be identified before the application is prepared. Applying under the wrong route may cause delay, additional document requests, or the need to submit a fresh application.
Requirements for an Employment Visa Application in Hong Kong
A GEP application may be favorably considered when the applicant satisfies the Immigration Department’s normal immigration requirements and the following scheme-specific criteria:
- There are no security objection and no known record of serious crime concerning the applicant.
- The applicant has a good educational background, normally a first degree in the relevant field.
- In special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities, relevant experience, or documented achievements may be accepted instead of a degree.
- There is a genuine job vacancy.
- The applicant has a confirmed offer of employment.
- The proposed position is relevant to the applicant’s academic qualifications or work experience.
- The position cannot readily be taken up by the local workforce.
- The remuneration package, including salary and relevant benefits, is broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals in Hong Kong.
Each application is assessed on its individual merits. Meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee approval, and the Immigration Department may request further information or documents from the applicant, accompanying dependents or employing company.
The Immigration Department may consider matters such as:
- The relevance of the applicant’s qualifications and experience to the position.
- Whether the role represents a genuine operational need.
- Why the vacancy cannot readily be filled locally.
- Whether the remuneration is commercially reasonable and consistent with the market.
- The employing company’s business activities, financial position and operational presence in Hong Kong.
- Whether the information supplied by the applicant and employer is consistent and adequately documented.
Technical Professionals Stream Under the GEP
The Technical Professionals Stream, or GEP(TP), is distinct from the standard professional route. It targets experienced non-degree professionals aged between 18 and 40 who possess relevant professional and technical skills.
Unlike the standard GEP, the Technical Professionals Stream is subject to quotas and applies only to specified skilled trades in designated sectors. Applicants and employers should therefore confirm that the proposed occupation is covered by the current stream before preparing an application.
The existence of GEP(TP) does not remove the standard GEP option for professionals who meet the usual education, skills, and employment criteria. The appropriate route depends on the applicant’s qualifications, occupation, and the applicable Immigration Department requirements.
The Documentation Required for an Employment Visa Application in Hong Kong
Applications under the GEP are submitted online. The applicant, any accompanying dependents, and the employing company must upload the required documents and pay the applicable non-refundable application fee.
Applicant’s Documents
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, supporting documents commonly include:
- A copy of the applicant’s valid travel document showing personal particulars, issue date and expiry date.
- Where the applicant is already in Hong Kong, copies of the travel-document pages showing the latest arrival stamp, landing slip, extension-of-stay label or latest e-Visa, as applicable.
- A copy of the applicant’s Hong Kong identity card, where applicable.
- Proof of overseas residence where required for an overseas Chinese national holding a People’s Republic of China passport.
- A curriculum vitae or employment history.
- Copies of academic, professional, or technical qualifications.
- Evidence of relevant employment experience and professional achievements.
- The confirmed employment offer, employment contract or appointment letter.
- Additional information requested by the Immigration Department.
A recent photograph may be required through the online application process, but applicants should follow the current online form and document checklist rather than relying on an outdated paper-form list.
Sponsoring Company’s Documents:
The employing company may need to provide:
- The employment contract or appointment letter showing the position, remuneration, benefits and employment period.
- A copy of the company’s valid Business Registration Certificate.
- Evidence of the company’s financial standing, such as audited financial statements, management accounts, or profit tax records.
- Information about the company’s business activities, operating models, products or services, markets, and corporate connections.
- An organization chart or staffing information where relevant.
- An explanation of the operational need for the position and why it cannot readily be filled by the local workforce.
- For a newly established company, a detailed business plan covering funding, investment, business activities, forecast revenue, projected profits, and planned local job creation.
- Any further supporting information requested by the Immigration Department.
Documents that are not in Chinese or English must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by an appropriately qualified translator, such as a sworn, court, authorized, certified, expert or official translator.
The Immigration Department may request further documents even after the standard materials have been submitted. Applicants should therefore ensure that all statements about the position, salary, qualifications, and company operations are accurate and consistent.
Accuracy, Verification and False Statements
Applicants and employers should review all supporting documents carefully before submission. It is an offence to knowingly and willfully provide a false statement or information to an immigration officer.
The Immigration Department may conduct field visits or other checks to verify the authenticity of information and documents. A visa or permission obtained through information that the applicant knew to be false may have no effect.
Employers should therefore avoid exaggerated job descriptions, unsupported claims that local recruitment was impossible, inconsistent salary information or documents created only for the visa application. The commercial substance of the role and the company’s operations should be demonstrated.
Application Process for an Employment Visa Application in Hong Kong
The application process generally involves the following steps:
- Identify the correct immigration route.
Determine whether the applicant should use the GEP, ASMTP, TTPS, IANG, or another applicable scheme. - Confirm eligibility and employment terms.
Ensure that the role, qualifications, experience and remuneration align with the relevant scheme requirements. - Prepare the supporting documents.
Collect the applicant’s travel, qualification, and experience records together with the employer’s corporate and financial documents. - Submit the application online.
The applicant, accompanying dependents and employing company must use the Immigration Department’s online service to submit the application, upload supporting documents and pay the required application fee. - Respond to further enquiries.
The Immigration Department may request clarification or additional supporting evidence. Prompt and complete responses can help avoid unnecessary delays. - Receive the application results.
Once receipt has been acknowledged, applicants may check the application status online or through the Immigration Department’s telephone enquiry system. - Pay the visa-issuance fee after approval.
The approval notification provides a payment link. After payment, the applicant can download or print the e-Visa. - Present the e-Visa when entering Hong Kong.
The e-Visa may be stored on a mobile device or printed on white A4 paper and must be presented together with the applicant’s valid travel document during arrival clearance.
Processing Time
A GEP application normally takes approximately four weeks to process after the Immigration Department has received all required documents and the relevant application fee. Processing does not begin until the application is complete, and the fee has been received. Actual timing may vary according to the circumstances of the case and whether additional information is required.
Application and Visa Fees
The GEP is a “specified scheme” under the Immigration Regulations. For applications submitted from 11:00 a.m. on 26 February 2025, the principal applicant and each dependent must pay:
| Fee item | Current amount |
| Non-refundable application fee | HK$600 per applicant |
| Visa-issuance fee where the relevant period is more than 180 days | HK$1,300 |
| Visa-issuance fee where the relevant period is not more than 180 days | HK$600 |
The visa-issuance fee is payable only after approval. Payment of the application fee does not guarantee that an application will be approved.
Since 26 February 2025, a standard GEP application resulting in a visa valid for more than 180 days generally attracts HK$1,900 in government charges for each applicant: a HK$600 non-refundable application fee and a HK$1,300 visa-issuance fee following approval.
STATISTIC-SOURCE: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/specifiedschemes.html
Initial Visa Validity
A professional admitted under the GEP is normally granted an initial stay of 36 months on employment condition or for the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter.
Employment Conditions and Changing Employers
A person admitted under the GEP on employment conditions may work only in the employment approved by the Director of Immigration. Prior approval should therefore be obtained before changing employer or taking up a materially different position.
A change-of-employment application may be favorably considered where the applicant continues to meet the GEP eligibility criteria. The Immigration Department may reassess the new role, remuneration, applicant’s qualifications and the new employer’s business circumstances.
Working for a new employer before approval may breach the visa holder’s conditions of stay. Employers should include immigration approval as a condition of precedent in the new employment arrangement and allow sufficient time for processing.
Visa Extensions and Renewals
GEP entrants may apply for an extension of stay within three months before their existing limit of stay expires. Applicants should apply as early as possible and, in all circumstances, at least six weeks before expiry.
The applicant must continue to satisfy the GEP eligibility criteria. A successful extension is normally granted following a 3-2-year pattern or for the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter.
Extension applications normally take approximately two to three weeks after all required documents and the relevant fees have been received. Processing time can vary, and approval is not automatic.
Unless the Director of Immigration grants approval in exceptional circumstances, a person subject to a limit of stay must leave Hong Kong before that limit expires, even when an extension application remains under consideration. Overstaying is a serious criminal offence and may result in prosecution and removal.
Top-Tier Employment Stream
A GEP entrant may qualify for the top-tier employment stream when applying for an extension if the individual:
- Has been permitted to take up professional employment in Hong Kong under the GEP for at least two years; and
- Had assessable income for salaries tax of at least HK$2 million in the previous year of assessment.
An approved top-tier applicant may normally receive a five-year extension on time limitation only, without other conditions of stay. A person granted this status generally needs only to notify the Immigration Department online of a change in employment during the permitted stay rather than seek advance approval under the ordinary employment condition.
The Assistance Premia TNC provides
At Premia TNC, we support employers and professionals with Hong Kong employment visa applications, including the preparation and review of applicant and sponsor documents.
Our team can assist with:
- Identifying the potentially applicable immigration route.
- Preparing applicants and employer document checklists.
- Reviewing employment contracts and supporting letters for consistency.
- Coordinating the online application and document-upload process.
- Assisting with responses to Immigration Department enquiries.
- Monitoring the application status.
- Supporting payment and collection of the approved e-Visa.
- Preparing change-of-employment and extension applications.
Immigration approval remains at the discretion of the Immigration Department, and no adviser can guarantee the outcome of an application. Complete, accurate and well-supported submissions can, however, reduce avoidable delays and clarification requests.
Contact Premia TNC to discuss the documentation and procedural requirements for your proposed Hong Kong employment arrangement.
FAQs
Q1: What are the key eligibility criteria for obtaining an employment visa under the GEP in Hong Kong?
Applicants generally need a good educational or professional background, a genuine job vacancy, a confirmed offer for work relevant to their qualifications or experience, a position that cannot readily be filled by the local workforce and remuneration broadly consistent with the Hong Kong market. There must also be no security objection or known record of serious crime.
Q2: How long does the processing of an employment visa application typically take?
The Immigration Department normally takes approximately four weeks after receiving all required documents and the applicable application fee. Incomplete documents or requests for further evidence may extend the processing period.
Q3: How long is the initial Hong Kong employment visa valid?
A successful GEP applicant is normally granted an initial stay of 36 months or the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter.
Q4: Can a GEP visa holder change employers freely?
No. A GEP entrant who is subject to an employment condition may work only in the employment approved by the Director of Immigration and should obtain prior approval before changing employment. The new position must continue to satisfy the GEP requirements.
Q5: Does the employer have to prove that no Hong Kong resident applied for the job?
The official criterion is that the position cannot readily be taken up by the local workforce. The Immigration Department may ask the employer to explain the recruitment need and provide supporting information, but the evidence required depends on the particular role, company and application.
Q6: Is the GEP application free?
No. Each principal applicant and dependent must currently pay a HK$600 non-refundable application fee. If the application is approved, a further visa-issuance fee of HK$1,300 normally applies where the relevant visa period exceeds 180 days, or HK$600 where it does not.
Q7: Can an applicant enter Hong Kong as a visitor and begin working while the employment visa is pending?
No. Visitor status does not authorize employment. The applicant should not commence work until the appropriate visa or entry permit has been granted and the applicable conditions of stay permit the proposed employment.
Q8: Can family members accompany a GEP applicant?
An eligible spouse or partner and unmarried dependent children under the applicable age limit may be able to apply as dependents, subject to the current dependent-policy requirements and evidence of the relationship and sponsorship. Each dependent must submit the required documents and pay the applicable application and visa-issuance fees.
