Is It Ever OK to Work in Hong Kong on a Visitor Visa?
Posted in Employment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Visitor Visas, Your Question Answered /
First Published September 22, 2021
Is it ever OK to work in Hong Kong on a visitor visa?
You would assume, quite reasonably, that if the Hong Kong Immigration Department advised you that is was OK to come to Hong Kong as a visitor and work, then that would be kosher, right?
Wrong!
In this question, it is more than apparent there have been cross-wires in the preparations for these professionals to come to Hong Kong and it’s time to sort things out – and quickly!
QUESTION
“My client has 2 employees who arrived in Hong Kong on a visitor visa with a view to then undertaking employment for the company.
They are professionals (engineers) so not sure which scheme would be best to apply under. Apparently, they were advised by the Hong Kong Immigration Department that the easiest way to enter Hong Kong and commence work was to enter on a visitor visa.
The visitor visas run out in December 1 but I understand they have been working whilst on a visitor visa which I said I did not think was allowed?
They are now at the point where they have to apply for an extension / employment visa. I have advised (using your helpful information!) of the process for applying for the employment visa. However, for some reason, our client thinks they can just apply to extend the visitor visa and the employees can continue to work? I’m sure this isn’t correct.
Also, on Form 990A, they have queried what to detail where it says section 2 – proposed date of entry and proposed period of stay. They are currently in Hong Kong so what would the proposed date of entry be?”
UPDATE: ShortTerm Employment As A Visitor
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The Hong Kong Visa Geeza (a.k.a Stephen Barnes) is a co-founder of the Hong Kong Visa Centre and author of the Hong Kong Visa Handbook. A law graduate of the London School of Economics, Stephen has been practicing Hong Kong immigration since 1993 and is widely acknowledged as the leading authority on business immigration matters here for the last 24 years.
