Hong Kong · Work
Hong Kong Work visa (GEP)
First stay: 3 yrs
General Employment Policy (GEP) – Professional
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Work visa (GEP) is a work route for Hong Kong. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- HKD 600 ≈ $76 · HKD 1,300 ≈ $170
- Processing
- Up to 28 days
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; decision: up to 28 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesHKD 600 ≈ $76 · HKD 1,300 ≈ $170
- HKD 600 (≈ $76)Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant.
- HKD 1,300 (≈ $170)Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less).
RenewalRenewable
Extensions normally follow a 3-2 year pattern on employment condition, or the employment contract length if shorter; professionals who meet the top-tier employment stream criteria can be granted a 5-year extension on time limitation only.
Permanent residenceAfter 7 years of residence
After a continuous period of not less than 7 years of ordinary residence you may apply for the right of abode (permanent resident status), and you must take Hong Kong as your place of permanent residence. Time as a foreign domestic helper, an imported-labour contract worker or a refugee, or spent unlawfully or in breach of a condition of stay, does not count.
ProcessingUp to 28 days
Normally takes four weeks once all documents and the fee are received; extensions normally take two to three weeks.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Hong Kong
- Work rights are limited
- Not open to passports from Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea
What you'll need
Who can apply5
- The applicant has a genuine vacancy and a confirmed job offer relevant to academic qualifications or work experience.
- The applicant should normally hold a relevant first degree.
- Technical qualifications, professional ability or relevant experience may be accepted in special circumstances.
- Mainland Chinese residents are covered by ASMTP rather than this route.
- Afghanistan, Cuba and DPRK nationals are excluded.
What you must show1
- The employer must demonstrate the professional post and market-level remuneration.
Steps1
- Immigration assesses individual applications.
When you become tax resident
How Hong Kong decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- More than 60 days in a year of assessment (aggregated visits to Hong Kong)Non-Hong Kong employment: visits to Hong Kong totalling more than 60 days in the year of assessment make the pay for those services assessable on a days-in-days-out basis; any part of a day counts.
- Foreign-source income
Territorial
Hong Kong taxes under the territorial concept: salaries tax, property tax and profits tax apply to income arising in or derived from Hong Kong, whether the person is resident or not.
All tax rules for Hong Kong Tax records checked
Full official text
Quota-free, non-sector-specific employment entry for overseas professionals with skills or experience of value to Hong Kong that are not readily available locally. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of HKD 600 (≈ $76) · Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant. 2
- A fee of HKD 1,300 (≈ $170) · Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less). 2
Requirements
- The applicant has a genuine vacancy and a confirmed job offer relevant to academic qualifications or work experience. 1
- The applicant should normally hold a relevant first degree. 1
- Technical qualifications, professional ability or relevant experience may be accepted in special circumstances. 1
- Mainland Chinese residents are covered by ASMTP rather than this route. 1
- Afghanistan, Cuba and DPRK nationals are excluded. 1
- The employer must demonstrate the professional post and market-level remuneration. 1
- Immigration assesses individual applications. 1
Stay
- Initial stay of 36 months on employment condition, or the employment contract term if shorter; extensions on application. Top-tier entrants get 5 years on time limitation only (see Top-tier employment stream route).
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Not open to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea; Chinese residents of the Mainland apply under the ASMTP. Not open to: Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea.
Work
Employment tied to approved professional role/employer and immigration conditions.
Family
Spouse/recognized partner and unmarried dependent children under 18 can apply separately. Your spouse or partner may work in Hong Kong without a separate permit.
Official sources
- General Employment Policy · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-10
- New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes · Immigration Department, Hong Kong · checked 2026-10-11
- Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong, ID(E) 998 (04/2026) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-04-01
- The Position of Non-Chinese Citizens (right of abode) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
- Notes for Guidance: Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
Work visa (GEP) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work visa (GEP) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Mainland talent (ASMTP) | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Tech professionals (GEP-TP) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| LTR · Highly Skilled Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Engineer/Specialist visa Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Work visa (GEP)?
A fee of HKD 600 (≈ $76). Non-refundable application fee, charged to the principal applicant and each dependant. A fee of HKD 1,300 (≈ $170). Visa issuance fee when the relevant period of stay is more than 180 days (HK$600 for 180 days or less).
How long can I stay on the Work visa (GEP)?
Initial stay of 36 months on employment condition, or the employment contract term if shorter; extensions on application.
How long does the Work visa (GEP) take to process?
Normally takes four weeks once all documents and the fee are received; extensions normally take two to three weeks.
Can I work on the Work visa (GEP)?
Limited. Employment tied to approved professional role/employer and immigration conditions.
Can I bring my family on the Work visa (GEP)?
Spouse/recognized partner and unmarried dependent children under 18 can apply separately.
Who can apply for the Work visa (GEP)?
Not open to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea; Chinese residents of the Mainland apply under the ASMTP. Not open to: Afghanistan, Cuba, North Korea.
Does the Work visa (GEP) lead to permanent residence in Hong Kong?
Time on the Work visa (GEP) counts toward permanent residence in Hong Kong, which the rules allow after 7 years of residence.
How are Work visa (GEP) holders taxed in Hong Kong?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work visa (GEP). The standard rules apply: Hong Kong taxes under the territorial concept: salaries tax, property tax and profits tax apply to income arising in or derived from Hong Kong, whether the person is resident or not. Income arising outside Hong Kong is not charged under those taxes; salaries tax follows where the employment services are rendered.
More in Hong Kong
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- General Employment Policy · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-10
- New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes · Immigration Department, Hong Kong · checked 2026-10-11
- Guidebook for Entry for Residence as Dependants in Hong Kong, ID(E) 998 (04/2026) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR · checked 2026-10-12
- The Position of Non-Chinese Citizens (right of abode) · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
- Notes for Guidance: Application for a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card · Immigration Department, Hong Kong SAR Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.