POSTERN

Hong Kong

General Employment Policy. A US professional with skills needed in Hong Kong may apply for an employer-backed employment entry permit under the quota-free General Employment Policy.

Free, with the law behind every answer

General Employment Policy

Employment entry and stay for the approved professional job, subject to immigration conditions.

Who qualifies

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

1

Does it fit your family?

One question, from the program’s own rules.

Do you have a binding job offer in that country?

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Time
The issuing authority decides the application after the complete sponsored file and prerequisite approvals are lodged.
Cost
Government charges are assessed under the issuing authority’s schedule; sponsor, translation and document costs are separate.
The hard part
Employer evidence of a hard-to-fill specialist role and market-level pay.
3

Citizens by 2035.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

  1. 2027
    First residence permit

    3 years, renewable for 3 years at a time.

  2. 2030
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 3 years.

  3. 2033
    Renew the permit

    Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 3 years.

  4. 2034
    Permanent residence

    Seven continuous years of ordinary residence immediately before applying, plus a declaration that Hong Kong is the applicant’s place of permanent residence, establishes right of abode for a non-Chinese national.

  5. 2034
    Apply for citizenship

    With a language test and a civics test.

  6. 2035
    Citizenship
Language
Sufficient Chinese is one of the factors Immigration weighs.
Civics
Willingness to abide by China’s Constitution and laws.
Time away
At seven years a qualifying resident can establish right of abode. Chinese naturalisation is a separate discretionary application with no fixed residence clock; Immigration weighs habitual residence, family, income, tax, character and an intention to continue living in Hong Kong.
Two passports
Usually not: new citizens are asked to give up their other citizenship.
  • Seven years of continuous ordinary residence can produce right of abode; Chinese nationality then requires a separate discretionary application.
  • How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
  • This country asks new citizens to give up their other citizenship.
The law behind these dates
4

Living there.

Time you must spend there
The program sets no minimum number of days. Renewal still expects it to be your home.
Tax
Where you become tax resident follows the days you spend there and where your home is. We map it for your family before you move.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

5

Start today.

  1. Secure a Hong Kong professional offer and submit the GEP application with employer records online.Open immd.gov.hk ↗
  2. Gather these documents.
    • The signed job offer, salary, and recognized qualifications
    • Health cover for the move
6

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →
7
ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

Cover