Right Of Abode After Seven Years

The Twists And Turns Of An Unusual Hong Kong Permanent Residency Application

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Case Study, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR / 10 responses

Although this case study is based on a situation I was asked to provide guidance to many years ago, its content is still relevant today.   Our client was a French national with a wife and 5 year old daughter – all of them, French citizens. He had first arrived in Hong Kong in 2004 […]

What Are You Really Buying From A Hong Kong Immigration Consultant?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in 60 Second Snapshot, Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Refusals & Appeals, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 9 responses

What Do You Get For Your Money When You Instruct A Hong Kong Immigration Consultant? First Published 2012 (15 Years Ago – Look How Young I Am!) PRACTICE UPDATE OCTOBER 2026: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: Look, if you head over to any expat forum or Reddit […]

Considerably Heightened Diligence by ImmD on All Types of Hong Kong Visa Applications

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Musing, Refusals & Appeals, Sherpa, Visitor Visas / 2 responses

Updated October 12, 2026.   Heightened ImmD Scrutiny ImmD shifted from a traditional “process and approve” paradigm to an aggressive compliance-and-audit model. This heightened diligence has been driven by several key factors: 1. Abuse of New Talent Schemes: Massive application volumes under the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and QMAS led to illicit intermediaries selling […]

Can I Leave Hong Kong To Work Overseas At The Same Time As I Apply For The Right Of Abode In Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / No responses

Can you be both settled in Hong Kong, have taken the HKSAR as your only place of residence, yet go and work overseas all at the same time? QUESTION Thank you so much for your wonderfully informative website. I have a question about the timing of starting a new job working for a non-HK employer […]

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Can I Study Then Get Married All Whilst Holding A Hong Kong Employment Visa Sponsored By A Company I No Longer Work For?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 4 responses

Life in Hong Kong throws up many new opportunities and this question seeks to understand the implications for 7 years continuous residency in respect of an eventual right of abode application where an overall switch over in life plans sees a lady intending to relinquish her employment visa for a student or dependant visa … […]

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How Do Foreign National Children Resident In Hong Kong For 7 Years Go On To Acquire Permanent Residency Here?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Family Visas, Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 1 response

The test for the right of abode for foreign national children resident in Hong Kong for 7 years is the same as for adults but the manifestation of that PR takes a slightly different form… QUESTION I’ve heard that our children can independently hold permanent residency once they turn 7.  Is this correct and if […]

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Why There’s No Such Thing As Migrating To Hong Kong But Rather, It’s All About Your Rationale

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / No responses

Question: Hi there, I am interested in migrating to Hong Kong, wasn’t sure what is the best route – getting employment take times, and I wonder what might be the alternative. I am going to open a domain company but not sure if that works. I need some help to explore some of options but […]

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Does Time Spent Outside of Hong Kong Working For A Hong Kong Employer Break Continuity of Residence for PR Purposes After 7 Years?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / No responses

Time spent outside of Hong Kong working for a Hong Kong employer? This question has come up before but the questioner has assumed that his training visa will be extended subsequently so…  QUESTION I am married and have two kids aged 8 and 5. I have recently taken up employment in Hong Kong with a […]

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Got An MPF Refund | Impact On A PR Application | Are You Now Disqualified?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

I Have Sworn A Declaration That I Am Leaving Hong Kong To Receive An MPF Refund … Am I Now Precluded From Making an Application for the Right of Abode Here? QUESTION I have been resident in Hong Kong for 5 and a half years on a working visa. I lost my job over 6 […]

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Losing Hong Kong Unconditional Stay Status Due To Studies Abroad – A Family’s Dilemma

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Refusals & Appeals, Your Question Answered / 5 responses

One of the more upsetting parts of being a Hong Kong immigration consultant is learning that one family member alone, due to an unfortunate combination of circumstances, finds herself the odd one out by not having been able to correctly manage her visa status here – and all, essentially, through no fault of her own. […]

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