Employment Visa

Employment Visa | Bestar

Employment Visa

To work in Hong Kong, foreign nationals must secure an employment visa through the Immigration Department (IMMD), most commonly via the General Employment Policy (GEP).

Main Visa Options

• General Employment Policy (GEP): Requires a confirmed job offer from a local sponsoring employer for a role that matches your skills and cannot be easily filled locally.

  
  

• Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS): Allows high earners (HK$2.5M+ annually) or graduates from top global universities to move to Hong Kong without a prior job offer.

Key Requirements

• Job Offer: A confirmed position with market-rate pay and benefits.

  
  

• Qualifications: A relevant university degree or specialized professional experience.

  
  

• Sponsorship: A local Hong Kong company to sponsor the application.

How to Apply

1. Prepare Documents: Collect your passport copy, academic certificates, employment contract, and employer business documents (like the Business Registration Certificate).

   
   

2. Submit Online: File Form ID 990A and supporting files via the GovHK Portal.

   
   

3. Pay Fees: The standard visa fee is HK$230.

   
   

4. Processing Time: Takes about two to three months.

If you want to proceed, tell me:

• Which visa category fits your situation (GEP with a job offer, or TTPS)?

  
  

• Do you already have a job offer in Hong Kong?

  
  

GEP or TTPS

To determine which visa pathway fits you best, let's look at the core trade-offs between the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS).

Comparison: GEP vs. TTPS

Feature	GEP (General Employment Policy)	TTPS (Top Talent Pass Scheme)
Job Offer Required?	🏢 Yes. You must have a confirmed job before applying.	🆓 No. You can apply without a job offer.
Key Criteria	Role cannot be easily filled locally; market-rate salary.	High income OR a degree from an eligible top university.
Employer Onboarding	High burden. The employer must prove local recruitment failed.	None. The employer does not need to sponsor the initial visa.
Flexibility	Tied to your sponsor. Changing jobs requires IMMD approval first.	Complete freedom to change jobs or start a business.

Which one should you choose?

Choose GEP if:

• You already have a confirmed job offer from a Hong Kong company.

• Your employer is willing to sponsor you and submit corporate financial documents.

• You do not meet the specific high-earning or top-university criteria of the TTPS.

Choose TTPS if:

• You meet Category A: Your taxable income was HK$2.5 million+ (~USD $320,000) in the past year.

• You meet Category B or C: You graduated from an eligible top-100 global university.

• You want the freedom to look for a job or switch employers easily after arriving.

To help you narrow this down, let me know:

• Do you hold a degree from a top-100 globally ranked university?

• Has a Hong Kong employer already extended a formal job offer to you?

How Bestar Hong Kong can Help

Bestar Hong Kong provides end-to-end corporate and immigration assistance to simplify your Hong Kong employment visa application under the General Employment Policy (GEP) or Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS). By combining corporate secretarial expertise with dedicated human resources consulting, Bestar Hong Kong removes the administrative friction from employee sponsorship, document drafting, and direct liaison with the Hong Kong Immigration Department (IMMD).

🎙️ Quick Answers

How can a corporate services firm help me get a Hong Kong work visa?

An experienced corporate services provider like Bestar manages your entire visa timeline. They evaluate applicant profiles against current IMMD guidelines, package complex company documentation for local sponsors, and accurately structure employment justifications to maximize your approval rates.

Do I need a local sponsor to apply for a Hong Kong GEP visa?

Yes, a legally registered local corporate entity must sponsor your GEP application. The sponsoring employer is required to present valid local business registration records, financial standing proofs, and a robust justification explaining why the specific role cannot be filled by the domestic workforce.

💼 Why Navigating Hong Kong Visas Requires Professional Help

Securing an entry permit under the General Employment Policy (GEP) or the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) demands strict alignment with shifting regional policies. Securing an approval relies on meeting a multi-layered framework of institutional standards:

• The Local Recruitment Test: Sponsoring businesses must actively demonstrate that a genuine search for local workers was conducted and failed before onboarding an overseas specialist.

  
  

• Market-Rate Compensation Assessments: The proposed salary, housing provisions, and benefits packages must explicitly match local market benchmarks to avoid rapid IMMD rejections.

  
  

• Corporate Viability Reviews: Sponsoring businesses must present comprehensive financial returns, physical lease agreements, and corporate tax declarations to verify their operational baseline.

How Bestar Hong Kong Optimizes Your Visa Application

Bestar unifies corporate administration, payroll processing, and visa advisory into a centralized cross-border solution.

[Profile Assessment] ➔ [Document Optimization] ➔ [IMMD Portal Filing] ➔ [HKID & Compliance]

1. Holistic Profile & Stream Assessment

Bestar conducts pre-application evaluations to match your career background or company hires with the ideal pathway—whether that is the GEP, the TTPS, or the ASMTP. This avoids processing dead-ends caused by filing under an incompatible stream.

2. Sponsoring Employer Documentation Prep

For international businesses incorporating a new entity, Bestar manages company registration, opens corporate bank accounts, and structures local compliance frameworks. They ensure your business satisfies operational audits so it can seamlessly function as a qualified visa sponsor.

3. Precision Justification Drafting

Bestar's HR advisory team assists corporate clients in drafting technical role justifications, business deployment roadmaps, and global talent comparisons required by immigration officers during structural audits.

4. Continuous IMMD Intermediary Support

From initial submission via the online GovHK Portal to addressing technical supplementary details or informational requests, Bestar acts as your direct regulatory liaison to prevent processing delays.

5. Post-Visa Payroll & Ongoing Compliance Integration

Once your visa label or electronic notification is approved, Bestar supports your transition by coordinating mandatory corporate governance. This includes payroll outsourcing, annual statutory audits, and mandatory MPF enrollment.

📊 Quick Comparison: Core Hong Kong Visa Paths Managed by Bestar

Visa Framework	Core Target Audience	Direct Job Offer Required?	Primary Administrative Hurdle
GEP (Professionals)	Skilled international experts, executives, and specialists.	Yes	Proving local workforce shortage and company operation.
TTPS (Top Talent)	High earners (HK$2.5M+) and top-tier global university alumni.	No	Documenting exact global taxable income and degree recognition.
ASMTP (Mainland Talents)	Qualified experts and professionals originating from Mainland China.	Yes	Stringent background verification and local entity sponsorship.

📈 Unlock Your Global Growth in Hong Kong

Eliminate the administrative burden of cross-border immigration. Whether you are an expanding SME setting up a regional base or a professional transitioning to a new local opportunity, clear compliance pathways are essential.

Contact the corporate services experts at Bestar Hong Kong to secure a detailed visa or corporate secretary proposal:

• 🏢 Hong Kong Office: Flat D, 20/F, Eton Building, 288 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

• 📞 Direct Office Telephone: +852 3565 1861.

• 💬 New Business Enquiries (WhatsApp): +65 8836 4489.

• ✉️ Corporate Email: admin@bestar-asia.com.

If you want to move forward with your relocation or business expansion, let us know:

• Are you looking to secure a visa for yourself as an individual, or are you an employer looking to sponsor international staff?

Employer Looking to Sponsor International Staff

Here is our guide:

hong kong employer sponsorship guide

This comprehensive PDF outlines your statutory responsibilities as a sponsoring company, lists the mandatory corporate documents required by the Immigration Department (IMMD), and details the step-by-step timeline from local recruitment testing through to final e-Visa issuance.

As a Hong Kong employer planning to sponsor international staff under the General Employment Policy (GEP), your application hinges entirely on proving that the hire is vital to your business and cannot be easily sourced from the local labor market.

3 Sponsoring Rules for Employers

To act as a qualified sponsor, your enterprise must meet three core immigration criteria:

• Bona Fide Operation: You must have a physical, fully operational commercial office space in Hong Kong. Virtual offices or residential addresses are almost always rejected for new sponsorships.

  
  

• Financial Viability: You must prove the business is financially solvent. This requires providing your latest audited financial reports, Profits Tax Returns, or corporate bank statements showing sufficient operating capital.

  
  

• Fair Compensation: The remuneration package (salary, housing, medical, or allowances) must strictly match prevailing market rates in Hong Kong for that specific industry and rank.

Step-by-Step Sponsorship Process

[1. Local Recruitment] ➔ [2. File Form ID 990B] ➔ [3. IMMD Portal Filing] ➔ [4. Manage RFIs]

1. Conduct the Local Recruitment Test

Before hiring from overseas, you must post the job vacancy locally (e.g., on local job boards, LinkedIn, or newspaper ads) for at least 2 to 4 weeks. Keep exact records of all local applications received and document why they did not meet the job requirements.

2. Prepare the Corporate Document Pack

While your international candidate fills out Form ID 990A, your company's HR or authorized officer must complete and sign Form ID 990B. You will need to attach:

• Your Business Registration Certificate (BRC).

• Copy of the signed Hong Kong Employment Contract.

• A formal Letter of Justification detailing why the candidate's unique skills or global experience are essential to your expansion.

3. File Digitally & Manage Inquiries

The complete dossier can be submitted online via the GovHK Electronic Filing Portal. Processing typically takes 2 to 3 months. During this window, the IMMD frequently issues an RFI (Request for Information) demanding deeper structural or financial explanations.

Streamlining with Bestar Hong Kong

If your business does not have a dedicated in-house global mobility or legal team, Bestar Hong Kong can manage this entire corporate burden for you. We audit your company's financial papers to ensure compliance, draft the technical role justifications to satisfy immigration inspectors, and handle all RFI correspondence directly with the IMMD to prevent visa rejections or delays.

To help tailor the next steps for your business, let us know:

• Is your Hong Kong corporate entity newly incorporated (a startup), or is it an established operating business?

• How many international employees are you planning to sponsor at this time?

Newly Incorporated Startup or an Established Operating Business

The Hong Kong Immigration Department (IMMD) applies completely different scrutiny frameworks depending on whether your sponsoring entity is a newly incorporated startup or an established operating business.

Case A: Newly Incorporated Startup (Under 12 Months)

Because a new company lacks historic tax returns and audited financial records, the IMMD focuses heavily on future viability, infrastructure, and capital.

• The Core Hurdle: You must prove your startup is a bona fide operating business, not a shell company created purely to manufacture a visa.

  
  

• Mandatory Submissions:

  
  

  • Proof of Capitalization: Corporate bank statements showing sufficient funds to sustain operations and pay the sponsored employee’s salary for at least 12 months.

  • Comprehensive 3-Year Business Plan: A detailed document detailing your product/service, market analysis, revenue projections, and specific benefits to Hong Kong’s economy.

  • Commercial Office Proof: A signed tenancy agreement for a dedicated physical commercial office space. Virtual offices or residential addresses are routinely rejected.

  • Local Staffing Plan: A clear roadmap demonstrating your commitment to hiring local resident staff and enrolling them in Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) schemes as the business grows.

    
    

• 💡 The Fast-Track Exception: If your startup is formally backed by a government-accredited incubator program (such as Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks (HKSTP), or InvestHK's StartmeupHK), the IMMD significantly relaxes these structural and financial proof requirements.

🏢 Case B: Established Operating Business (Over 12 Months)

For businesses with a mature local footprint, the IMMD relies on historical proof of substance rather than projections.

• The Core Hurdle: Proving that a local Hong Kong resident cannot readily fill the vacancy, and that the hire’s compensation matches the local market.

  
  

• Mandatory Submissions:

  
  

  • Financial Statements: The company's latest audited financial reports and Profits Tax Returns filed with the Inland Revenue Department.

  • Local Employee Footprint: Proof of existing local headcount, typically supported by recent MPF contribution statements and employment contracts.

  • Local Recruitment Evidence: Physical proof (job board postings, interview logs) showing you actively tried to source the talent locally for 2–4 weeks before turning overseas.

How Bestar Hong Kong Bridges the Gap

For Startups 🚀	For Established Businesses 🏢
Drafts the technical 3-year business plans and financial forecasts required by the IMMD.	Manages Local Recruitment Test compliance and logs the required recruitment records.
Establishes initial statutory structures, corporate bank accounts, and local MPF setups.	Packages complex audited financials and structures corporate tax documentation cleanly.
Liaises with IMMD when officers question the lack of historical trading data.	Coordinates swift responses to Requests for Information (RFIs) to prevent processing delays.

To help map out your timeline or connect you with Bestar, let us know:

• Is your business a new independent startup, or is it a subsidiary funded by an overseas parent company?