Hong Kong Skilled Employee Residence

Summary

If you have a confirmed professional job offer in Hong Kong, the General Employment Policy may let you move there for that job. Your education, technical skills, or relevant experience must fit the work.

Your employer must explain why the role cannot readily be filled locally and show that the pay matches the Hong Kong market. The scheme has no general cap on applications, but each job and applicant must meet the rules.

Eligibility

You need all of the following:

• A confirmed offer for a real vacancy in Hong Kong.
• Education, technical qualifications, or substantial experience relevant to the role.
• An employer who can explain why local recruitment does not readily meet the need and why the pay is appropriate.
• A nationality covered by this policy.

The Immigration Department reviews the job and your background. A job offer or favorable quick-check result does not guarantee approval.

1. 1
   Secure the job offer Confirm that your skills and experience fit the role.
2. 2
   Prepare the joint application You provide personal records; the employer explains the job, pay, and hiring need.
3. 3
   Work in the sponsored job If approved Follow the conditions on your permission.

A confirmed offer is normally required, but does not guarantee approval.

What This Route Allows

Approval lets you live and work in Hong Kong in the sponsored job. A spouse or qualifying partner and dependent children can generally apply to join you.

You may be able to extend your stay and later apply for permanent residence after seven years of qualifying residence. Both depend on meeting the relevant rules.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a permit to move to Hong Kong and look for work. You normally need the job offer before applying.

An offer is not enough if the role, pay, qualifications, or explanation of the hiring need does not meet the requirements.

Next Steps

1. Confirm that your employer will support the application and provide company records.
2. Gather the contract, job description, pay details, and proof of your qualifications or experience.
3. Ask the employer to explain why your background is needed for the vacancy.
4. Submit the online application with the employer’s documents.

Stay up to date on this pathway

Get an email when something important changes.

Your name Email address

Website Notify me of updates

No account needed. Unsubscribe anytime.

Discussed in these reports

• Which Countries Can Americans Move to Without a College Degree?A college degree is not a universal immigration requirement. It matters most in systems that award education points, define a skilled occupation by academic…

Explore other pathways

Similar employment pathways in other destinations.

Ireland

Ireland Intra-Company Transfer Permit

A non-EEA senior manager, key employee, or trainee may transfer temporarily from an overseas company to a connected Irish entity under an Intra-Company Transfer Employment…

Residency Employment

Netherlands

Netherlands Company Transfer Residence Permit

Managers, specialists, and trainee employees may be able to transfer from a company outside the EU to a Dutch branch under the EU intra-corporate transferee route.

Residency Employment

Netherlands

Netherlands Single Permit for Paid Employment

The Dutch single permit, or GVVA, combines residence and work authorization for many paid-employment roles that do not fit a more specialized Dutch work route.

Residency Employment

Sources

• Hong Kong Immigration Department - General Employment Policy - official applicant, job, employer, dependent, and application requirements.