Visa and Immigration Support for Hong Kong
Bringing overseas staff or yourself into Hong Kong to run a newly formed company usually requires an employment visa, assessed against both the company's operating status and the applicant's qualifications. We prepare and file these applications alongside company formation and secretarial work.
Visa Routes
| Route | Who it's for | Key assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Employment visa | Overseas staff joining an existing or new company | Genuine business need + applicant qualifications |
| Investment visa | Entrepreneurs actively running their own business | Viability and substance of the business plan |
| Dependant visa | Spouses and unmarried children under 18 | Approval of the main applicant's visa first |
How We Handle Applications
Route Selection
Confirm employment vs investment visa fit.
Documentation
Compile business case and qualification evidence.
Filing
Submit to the Immigration Department.
Dependants
File family applications alongside the primary visa.
Documents Typically Required
- Company business registration and evidence of operating activity
- Applicant's academic and professional qualifications, translated where necessary
- Employment contract, or for investment visa applicants, a business plan
- Proof of relevant work experience for the role applied for
Why Applications Get Delayed or Refused
The most common issue is a thin or generic application - a business case that does not clearly demonstrate genuine need for the specific role, or a business plan without real operating substance behind it. Immigration officers assess both the company and the individual; strength on one side does not offset weakness on the other.
Working With Company Formation
Visa applications go more smoothly when the underlying company is properly structured and can demonstrate genuine business activity - which is why we typically handle visa applications as an extension of company formation and secretarial work, connected to your company's actual filings.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a newly incorporated company sponsor an employment visa?
Yes, but the business case needs to be demonstrated clearly - a new company has no trading history to point to, so the application needs to show genuine operational need through other evidence: business plans, funding, contracts, or a clear operational timeline. A thin or generic application is the most common reason for delay or refusal at this stage.
What is the difference between an employment visa and an investment visa?
An employment visa is assessed on whether the company has genuine need for the specific role and whether the applicant is qualified for it - typically used when someone is joining an existing operation. An investment visa is for entrepreneurs actively establishing and running their own business, assessed on the viability and substance of the business plan rather than an employer-employee relationship.
Is there a minimum investment amount required for an investment visa?
There is no fixed statutory minimum investment threshold for this route - assessment focuses on whether the business plan is viable and substantive, not a specific capital figure. That said, an application needs to demonstrate the business has real resources and a credible operating plan behind it, which in practice means underfunded plans face more scrutiny.
Can my spouse and children join me on a dependant visa?
Generally yes, once the main applicant's visa is approved - spouses and unmarried children under 18 can typically apply for a dependant visa. We usually file these applications alongside the primary visa application so the whole family's relocation timeline stays aligned, rather than sequencing them separately.
How long does an employment visa application typically take?
Processing times vary and are set by the Immigration Department rather than by us, but a well-prepared application with a clear business case and complete documentation moves through the standard track without the delays caused by requests for missing information. We prepare applications specifically to avoid the back-and-forth that extends processing time.
