Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

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 […]

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 Set Up A Hong Kong Company, Employ My Business Partner & Sponsor An Employment Visa For Him?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This piece explores the common strategy where one partner incorporates a company to hire their co-founder under an employment visa rather than an investment visa. While the advice historically warned that ImmD scrutinizes “new business situations” and checks whether the […]

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Lame Excuses Won’t Cut It If You’re Caught Working In Hong Kong Without An Employment Visa

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Investment Visas, Musing, Refusals & Appeals, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 2 responses

Caught Working in Hong Kong Without an Employment Visa? If you’re working in Hong Kong  (paid, unpaid or temporarily transferred in) but do not have an employment visa sponsored by your current employer you are breaking the law and could be subject to 3 years imprisonment and/or up to a HKD350,000 fine. The law is very […]

Can I Sponsor Myself For Freelance Work ‘On-the-Side’ Whilst Working For My Current Hong Kong Employment Visa Sponsor?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

This is joining in a side business albeit in another name…and a solution for certain types of Hong Kong Employment Visa holders thinking about freelancing in Hong Kong PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: The advice regarding securing ImmD permission to “join in a side business” under Section […]

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How to Successfully Apply For an Entrepreneur Visa in Hong Kong

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Feature Article, Investment Visas, Musing, VG Front Page / No responses

Successfully Apply For An Entrepreneur Visa In Hong Kong A comprehensive guide to successfully apply for an Entrepreneur Visa in Hong Kong, covering all aspects from business plan to financial projections. PRACTICE UPDATE: How to read in light of current ImmD policy: While this guide historically advises applicants that a standard two-year forecast, a general […]

QOTW: What Documents Are Needed To Extend A Hong Kong Business Investment Visa?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

Extend a Hong Kong business investment visa?  Not so long ago the Hong Kong Immigration Department made life quite easy for certain entrepreneurs when it came time to extend a business investment visa… PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This practical document checklist for extension of […]

How To Apply For A Hong Kong Investment Visa Without Paying For Professional Help – 6 – Work Visa Vs Investment Visa?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Musing / 1 response

This post on how to apply for a Hong Kong investement visa without paying for professional help deals with the differences between  work visa vs investment visa. I have given this talk around town for the last couple of years now and so pleased to finally add it to our coverage of the Hong Kong investment […]

If I Get A Hong Kong Investment Visa Can I Consult To A Single Client Only As A Pseudo-Employee?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

Just how ‘flexible is the Hong Kong investment visa? PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: Historical Editorial Standard: This Question of the Week addresses an independent professional seeking to hold a GEP Investment as Entrepreneur visa while billing 100% of their time to a single corporate […]

What Pathways To An Employment Visa Exist For A Fresh, Foreign University Graduate Arriving In Hong Kong Seeking Career Opportunities Here?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Special Programmes, Your Question Answered / No responses

What Pathways To An Employment Visa Exist For A Fresh, Foreign University Graduate Arriving In Hong Kong Seeking Career Opportunities Here? Whilst the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates afford a clean pathway to working permission for foreign nationals freshly graduating from Hong Kong universities, the situation is very different if your degree is from overseas […]

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