Am I eligible to apply to the GEP visa without employment offer?

No. Without schemes such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) or Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the GEP visa is heavily dependent on a guaranteed job position with a Hong Kong based employer who is your sponsor.

What is the cost of Hong Kong employment visa?

The normal visa/entry permit fee is usually approximately HKD 230 (to be paid at the time of application).This is likely to change, so never forget to check the fees of ImmD.

What if I want to change employers in Hong Kong?

Your GEP visa is tied to your sponsoring employer and specific position.41 If you wish to change jobs, you must obtain prior approval from the Immigration Department, even if your current visa is still valid.42 This essentially requires a new application with the new employer.

Hong Kong Employment Visa – How to Apply

Is being a financial centre hustler in the vibrant Hong Kong your dream? The most important step is to get a visa to work in Hong Kong. The General Employment Policy (GEP)- visa is the primary option of foreign professionals.

What is Hong Kong General Employment Policy Visa?

The most popular work visa scheme, which is applied to foreign nationals (excluding the Mainland Chinese residents, who utilize the ASMTP scheme), to have obtained a job offer in Hong Kong, is the General Employment Policy (GEP) that is not quota-based and is examined on the case-by-case basis.

Granted Eligibility Requirements of the GEP Visa

The applicant (employee) and the sponsoring company (employer) must meet the following requirements which are mandatory to be successful. These requirements are strongly maintained by the ImmD in order to safeguard the local labour market.

Requirements (Applicant) of the employees

Confirmed Job Offer: The bona fide job offer must be in an actual company that is based in Hong Kong.
Professional Qualifications: You will have to be of good educational quality, usually a relevant university degree (Bachelor’s or higher).6 In special cases, however, demonstrable technical qualification, much related experience, and professional performances can be sufficient.
Clean Record: This requires that you have no criminal background or security objections.
Special Skills: Your skills, knowledge or experience should be considered to add value to Hong Kong and they should not be easily found in the local labor force.
Valid Travel Document: The required travel document/ passport must be valid.

Employer Requirements (Sponsor)

Legitimate Company: Sponsoring employer should be a legitimate company in Hong Kong that is registered in Hong Kong.
Market-Rate Remuneration: The remuneration package comprising of a salary, accommodation, medical and other fringe benefits provided to you must be in tandem with the current market rates of a position of the same position in Hong Kong. This avoids the employment of foreign professionals with the aim of paying them low wages.
Justification of Hire: The employer should justify well why the job could not be filled in the home town showing a real effort to recruit the local.employing a foreign professional in lieu of a local applicant.

This is the submission of the Application to ImmD

The application package can be submitted by you, or your employer/agent to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD).

Recommended: Online submission through the special e-service portal that is provided by the ImmD.
Alternative: Post to the Receipt and Despatch Sub-Unit, Immigration Tower, Wan Chai.

Wait to be Processed and Answer Questions

After being submitted, the file will be reviewed by the ImmD.

Formal Processing Time: 4 weeks after submission of all documents (complete).
Realistic Time: The real time can be expected to take between 6 and 8 weeks because of possible requests of additional information (clarifications about salaries, job responsibilities, or company finance) by the case officer. Be ready to give out any other information requested by the case officer in haste.

Pick-up and Pay with Your e-Visa

When the ImmD approves it successfully, the e-Visa (electronic visa) label, which is typically provided by email, will be provided.
Paste the visa label on a blank page on your passport.
Before the e-Visa runs out (usually after 3 months of issue), you have to enter Hong Kong.

Have Your HKID Card registered

Upon arrival, when your authorized remain in Hong Kong is over 180 days, you must apply to obtain a Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) within 30 days of entry.35 This is done at the Registration of Persons Office.

Professional Advice on a Hassle-Free Application

In order to make your application an efficient and successful process, please keep in mind the following tips of experts:

Quality of the Documents is Important: all the documents should be clear, and high-resolution scans and must be in English or Chinese, or, a certified translation must be attached.
Justify the Need: Justification letter of the employer (on Form ID 990B) is usually the most important one. It should clearly explain why your particular skills are needed and they are unavailable in the talent pool locally.
Dependant Visa: The Dependant Visa allows successful applicants of GEP to bring on board a spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of one hundred and eighty. They have the freedom to work or study freely.
Keep Current: The immigration laws are constantly varied.39 To stay updated on the latest forms and requirements, the immigration office of Hong Kong (ImmD) should always be referred to and used.

FAQs

Am I eligible to apply to the GEP visa without employment offer?
No. Without schemes such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) or Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the GEP visa is heavily dependent on a guaranteed job position with a Hong Kong based employer who is your sponsor.
What is the cost of Hong Kong employment visa?
The normal visa/entry permit fee is usually approximately HKD 230 (to be paid at the time of application).This is likely to change, so never forget to check the fees of ImmD.
What if I want to change employers in Hong Kong?
Your GEP visa is tied to your sponsoring employer and specific position.41 If you wish to change jobs, you must obtain prior approval from the Immigration Department, even if your current visa is still valid.42 This essentially requires a new application with the new employer.

Final Thoughts

Securing a Hong Kong employment visa is a rigorous process, but one that is highly rewarding. By understanding the core requirements of the General Employment Policy (GEP), meticulously compiling the necessary documents, and ensuring your employer provides a robust justification, you position yourself for success.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. The Hong Kong Immigration Department constantly updates its policies and requirements. Readers are strongly advised to verify all details directly from the official ImmD website or consult with a qualified immigration professional before submitting any visa application or making final decisions.