A Complete Guide to Migrate to Hong Kong – Benefits, Application Process, & More

This complete guide to Hong Kong immigration provides a detailed overview of all the different types of visas that are available for people who are desirous of immigration to Hong Kong and the eligibility criteria for the respective visas. There are several visas available for foreign nationals and their family members to live and work in Hong Kong. We shall take a look at each of them in detail.

Why to Immigrate to Hong Kong?

In the recent past, immigration to Hong Kong has been considerably increased. And most of the Indians choose a QMAS visa. To know what factors are attracting most Indians, check out the below benefits of immigrating to Hong Kong.

• Democratic Country
• Low taxes
• Low cost of living
• Easy to get resident status and less time to get Citizenship
• Zero Corruption rate
• Free Education
• Honest Government

How can I Immigrate to Hong Kong from India?

There are various visa types available for Indians to immigrate to Hong Kong as provided in the article above. You can get in touch with our experts at Global Tree Hong Kong immigration advisors to get a detailed explanation of the process.

Visas for Entering Hong Kong for Employment or Investment

• General employment policy (GEP) – Work visa
• Investment visa for Hong Kong
• Imported workers Visa for Hong Kong
• Training visa for Hong Kong
• Quality migrant admission scheme (QMAS)

[Read More: Best Countries To Migrate From India]

Visas for Entering Hong Kong for Employment or Investment

Few visas are specifically intended to work or invest in a local Hong Kong company or start a new business in the country. We take a look at each of them in detail.

1. General Employment Policy (GEP) – Work Visa

The General Employment Policy visa is best suited for the entry of those individuals who plan to stay in Hong Kong to pursue a career as a skilled professional. The GEP is not specific to any sector, as a result, all those individuals who have specialized skills, expert knowledge, or experience in any field are eligible to apply for the visa, if they meet the other conditions given below.

Eligible Requirements for Hong Kong Immigration through GEP

• There should be no security concerns related to you or records of any serious criminal activity.
• You should have a good academic background and should submit proof of the same.
• You should have a valid job offer from a company based in Hong Kong.
• You should be able to confirm the offer and the job should be relevant to your skills and experience level.
• Also, it should be established by the Hong Kong Employer that no local of Hong Kong was able to fill the position.
• The remuneration paid to you should be under the prevailing wages at the market level for your level of skills, expertise, and experience.

Stay Duration for GEP Visa

A person arriving in Hong Kong on the GEP visa will be permitted to stay in the country for 24 months, or the duration of the contract of employment, whichever is shorter.

Can I take my Family to Hong Kong on a GEP Visa?

Yes, you can take your family to Hong Kong on the GEP visa as dependents if they can meet the following criteria

• You can provide proof of the relationship between the primary applicant and the dependent.
• There is no criminal record related to the dependent.
• The primary applicant can prove that he will be available to support the dependant’s living expenses and provide them with accommodation.

If you have stayed in Hong Kong for more than seven years under the GEP visa, you can apply for the right to abode.

2. Investment Visa for Hong Kong

If you are planning to set up or invest in a local business in Hong Kong, you can be eligible to apply for the investment visa for Hong Kong if you satisfy the criteria stated below.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for an Investment Visa for Hong Kong?

• You should have no records of any criminal activity.
• You should have a strong academic background and should be able to provide documentary evidence for the same.
• You should provide all documents necessary to prove that you will be able to positively contribute to the country’s economic growth, with the following considerations.
• A proper business plan for your proposed business
• The planned turnover for your business
• The financial resources are available to you
• The sum of investment that you intend to make
• The number of new local jobs that your business will create.
• Details about any new technology or skills, that can be introduced by your business.

Duration of Stay under the Investment Visa

You will be permitted to stay for an initial period after which you can apply for renewal. Once you have completed seven years in Hong Kong under this visa, then you can apply for the Right to abode, which is a permanent residence visa for Hong Kong.

3. Imported Workers Visa for Hong Kong

The Imported Workers Visa scheme is suitable for workers who plan to live and work in Hong Kong under the Supplementary Labor Scheme. This scheme enables employers or corporations who find it difficult to obtain local employees to import workers from out of the country. The following eligibility requirements need to be met

What are the Eligibility Criteria for Imported Workers' Visas for Hong Kong?

• The workers should be well suited and appropriately qualified to fill the selected position
• The terms and conditions of employment, and remuneration, are on par with the rest of the local market.
• The worker is committed to working for the employer sponsoring his visa and does not intend to seek employment out of contract
• There are no criminal records against the imported workers
• The employer has enough financial viability to employ the applicant

Duration of Stay for Imported Workers

Imported workers can stay for 24 months initially and renew their visa four weeks before the expiry date. Once you complete seven years, living under this visa, then you can apply for Right to Abode

4. Training Visa for Hong Kong

The training visa for Hong Kong applies to those individuals, who wish to enter Hong Kong to receive training for skills that are related to their current sector of work. You will need to fulfill the following criteria, to be eligible for Hong Kong Training visa

• There should be no criminal records or objection on security grounds against you
• The company that is sponsoring you should be a well-established one
• There should be a signed contract between your sponsor and you
• There should be a proper justification of the duration of your stay based on the training you are expected to receive.

Duration of stay for Training Visa

You will be able to stay for a maximum duration of 12 months under this visa. You will also be able to get a dependent pass for your spouse and unmarried children who are under 18 years to accompany you

5. Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

The QMAS is intended for highly skilled individuals who wish to stay in Hong Kong to grow their careers in Hong Kong. To qualify for entering Hong Kong under the QMAS, you will need to fulfill the following requirements and clear a point-based test.

[Read More: Benefits of Settling Abroad as an Entrepreneur]

What are the Requirements to Apply for QMAS for Hong Kong?

• You should be either 18 years old or more
• You should be able to demonstrate that you will be able to financially support your dependents as well as yourself.
• There should not be any criminal records against you or your dependents
• You should be able to communicate fluently in English and/or Chinese (either Cantonese or Putonghua)
• You will need to have a strong academic background
• You should pass the General Points Test or the Achievement-based Points Test to be able to apply once you satisfy the conditions stated above.

Duration of Stay Under QMAS

If you arrive in Hong Kong with the General Points Test, then you can stay in Hong Kong for 24 months. If you have entered under the Achievement-based Points Test, will be able to stay for eight years.

Eligibility for Dependent Family

Spouse and unmarried children under 18 years of age are eligible to apply for a dependent visa.

Top FAQs Asked by Indians travelling to Hong Kong

What visa type should I apply for Hong Kong Immigration?

The visa type you apply for will be based on the purpose of your visit to Hong Kong. You can get in touch with our Hong Kong immigration advisors at Global Tree to know more about the same.

How to apply for Hong Kong Immigration?

You will need to follow the fulfilling steps to apply for Hong Kong immigration.

• Visit the official website of the Hong Kong government
• Choose the visa type from the list of visas
• Download the appropriate visa forms
• Fill the form and submit it along with appropriate documents
• Wait for a decision from the embassy of China

You can take the expert advice and assistance of our immigration advisors at Global Tree to apply for Hong Kong immigration

What are the types of Documents Required for Applying to Hong Kong Immigration?

• Valid passport
• A copy of the visa application form
• Recent photograph

Apart from the above, you will also need to submit additional documents based on the type of visa you are applying for.

General Employment Visa

• Proof of academic qualification
• Application form provided by the company
• Proof of offer letter
• Proof of relationship with dependent
• Passport of dependent

Investment Visa

• Proof of academic background and experience
• Proof of financial status
• Appointment letter if applicable
• Two-year Business plan in detail
• Proof of posts that are created for local employees
• Business registration certificate of the sponsor if eligible
• Operating licenses and certificates for business

Imported workers Visa

• Proof of academic qualifications and training
• Proof of medical fitness
• Application form by sponsoring employer
• Copy of employment contract by the employer
• Copy of in-principle approval

Training Visa

• Proof of educational qualifications
• Application form by employer
• Proof of training contract by the employer
• Proof of financial status of the employer
• Detailed business plan of employing company

How much does it Cost for Hong Kong Immigration?

A Hong Kong visa will cost you around 190 HKD, which is INR 1,745 per person. And I can be paid only through bank draft.

How long will it take for Processing a Hong Kong Visa?

It would take a minimum of two weeks to process the Hong Kong Visa.