As Asia's major financial center, Hong Kong's Work Visa has always been a popular work visa program. The visa is open-ended, making it easy for companies to send overseas workers to work in Hong Kong, attract foreign professionals, and effectively bring in skilled professionals to fill specialized positions in Hong Kong that are lacking in the local labor market. It takes 1-3 months to apply for a Hong Kong work visa (which may be extended due to the current epidemic situation), and the process is simple and requires clear documentation.

If a company wishes to poach foreign staff from other Hong Kong companies, the employer can reapply for an employment visa for the foreign staff as long as the employer meets the requirements of the Hong Kong Immigration Department for employing foreign staff (including ensuring that their salary and benefits are not less than those of local staff) and has signed an employment contract with the foreign staff. The new employer will become the guarantor of the foreign worker's employment in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong work visas are also available for accompanying relatives, whose spouses and children can come to Hong Kong with the visa applicant, allowing the foreign employee to pursue his or her career in Hong Kong without any worries.

For those who wish to hire mainland residents to work in Hong Kong, the application process is the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), which is the same as the General Employment Policy (GEP), except that the name of the program is different. Regardless of whether it is GEP or ASMTP, as long as the visa holder has resided in Hong Kong continuously for at least seven years, he or she can apply for the right of abode in accordance with Hong Kong law.

Related Topics: Hong Kong Work Visa (GEP & ASMTP) | Hong Kong Investment as Entrepreneur Visa | Hong Kong Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)