The General Employment Policy (GEP) is Hong Kong’s main employment-visa route for non-local professionals: the employing company sponsors the application, and a person who possesses special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may apply to come to work (Immigration Department, GEP page). The GEP is quota-free and non-sector specific, and approval is entirely discretionary (Immigration Department, GEP page). Under the official criteria, the first period of stay is normally 36 months on employment condition, or the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter (Immigration Department, GEP page). Processing normally takes four weeks upon receipt of all required documents and the fee, and the fee structure is HK$600 non-refundable application fee plus a visa issuance fee of HK$1,300 where the relevant period is more than 180 days, giving HK$1,900 per person for a 36-month e-Visa (Immigration Department, fee tables page).
Who the GEP covers, and who must use another route
The GEP does not apply to Chinese residents of the Mainland; they may apply under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) if they are not non-local graduates (Immigration Department, GEP page). The ASMTP carries eligibility criteria that are the same in substance as the GEP, is quota-free and non-sector specific, and grants an initial stay of normally 36 months on employment condition or the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter, with extension following a “3-2” year pattern and a top-tier stream of five years (Immigration Department, ASMTP page).
The GEP does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of) (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Non-local students who obtained an undergraduate or higher qualification in a full-time locally-accredited programme in Hong Kong, and graduates of full-time programmes of Greater Bay Area Mainland campuses jointly established by Mainland and Hong Kong universities, may apply under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) instead (Immigration Department, GEP page). Under the IANG, recent graduates who apply within six months after the date of graduation are not required to have secured an offer of employment upon application and may be granted 24 months’ stay on time limitation only without other conditions of stay; non-recent graduates must secure an offer of employment upon application (Immigration Department, IANG page). Persons admitted under the IANG on time limitation only are free to take up and change employment during the permitted stay without prior approval (Immigration Department, IANG page).
Two further points of scope apply. The Technical Professionals Stream under the GEP (GEP(TP)) targets experienced non-degree professionals aged between 18 and 40, is subject to quota, and applies only to specific skilled trades of individual sectors (Immigration Department, GEP page). Overseas Chinese nationals holding PRC passports who meet the criteria may apply under the GEP if they have permanent residence overseas, or have been residing overseas for at least one year immediately before application and apply from overseas (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Eligibility criteria
The official criteria are cumulative; all five are assessed (Immigration Department, GEP page).
| Criterion | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| Security and criminal record | No security objection and no known record of serious crime |
| Education | A good education background, normally a first degree in the relevant field; in special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or relevant experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be accepted |
| Vacancy | A genuine job vacancy |
| Offer | A confirmed offer of employment in a job relevant to academic qualifications or work experience that cannot be readily taken up by the local work force |
| Remuneration | Remuneration package (income, accommodation, medical and other fringe benefits) broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals in the HKSAR |
Documents to be uploaded
Documents are uploaded online; some are not required where a facilitation measure applies, and documents not in Chinese or English require certified translation (Immigration Department, GEP page).
| Uploaded by | Documents |
|---|---|
| Applicant | Recent photograph |
| Applicant | Valid travel document |
| Applicant | Hong Kong identity card, if any |
| Applicant | Proof of academic qualifications and relevant work experience |
| Employing company | Employment contract or letter of appointment stating post, salary, fringe benefits and employment period |
| Employing company | Business Registration Certificate |
| Employing company | Proof of financial standing, for example latest audited financial report, trading profit and loss account or profit tax return |
| Employing company | Documents on company background |
| Employing company | A detailed business plan, for companies set up within 12 months |
Facilitation measures
Seven facilitation measures apply under the GEP and the ASMTP (Immigration Department, facilitation measures page).
| Measure | Documents not required |
|---|---|
| The employing company obtained an employment or training visa or entry permit for a non-local employee in the past 24 months | Business Registration Certificate, proof of financial standing, company background documents, business plan and staff list |
| The company is listed on the Main Board or the Growth Enterprise Market of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong | The same documents |
| Intra-company transfer to a managerial or professional post, where the transferee worked for the company for not less than one year and remuneration is commensurate with market | Proof of local recruitment exercise |
| The post falls under the Talent List professions, or annual salary (total remuneration package including fringe benefits such as housing allowance) is HK$2 million or above | Proof of difficulties in local recruitment |
| The applicant holds a bachelor’s or higher degree from an institution ranked in the top 100 of Times Higher Education, QS, Shanghai Jiao Tong ARWU or US News Best Global Universities, or in the top 30 of the US News National Liberal Arts College Rankings | Proof of local recruitment and proof of work experience |
| The applicant holds a master’s or doctoral degree in a field relevant to the job | Proof of local recruitment and proof of work experience |
| The applicant was previously approved under the GEP, ASMTP, TechTAS or QMAS, excluding approval as a dependant | Proofs of academic qualification and work experience |
Supporting documents may still be required depending on the circumstances (Immigration Department, facilitation measures page). Under the GEP and the ASMTP, employers seeking to fill vacancies falling under the Industry Segments and Occupations on the Talent List are eligible for exemption from the market availability test (Talent List Hong Kong, Immigration Facilitation page).
How to apply
Prepare the applicant’s documents and the employing company’s documents. Confirm whether any facilitation measure removes a document. Arrange certified translation of any document that is not in Chinese or English. Submit the application online as the applicant, with any dependants and the employing company. Pay the application fee at the time of submission. Pay the visa issuance fee upon approval. Collect the e-Visa.
Processing normally takes four weeks upon receipt of all required documents and the fee, and approval is entirely discretionary (Immigration Department, GEP page). The application fee is non-refundable, and refused, cancelled or withdrawn applications do not get it refunded (Immigration Department, fee tables page).
| Fee | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | HK$600, non-refundable, payable on application and also on extension applications | Each principal applicant and each dependant |
| Visa issuance fee, relevant period more than 180 days | HK$1,300 | Payable upon approval |
| Visa issuance fee, relevant period not more than 180 days | HK$600 | Payable upon approval |
| Total for a 36-month GEP e-Visa | HK$1,900 per person | HK$600 plus HK$1,300 |
Applications submitted before 26 February 2025 (11 a.m.) were charged under the old fee structure (Immigration Department, fee tables page).
Conditions of stay
A person admitted under the GEP on employment condition may only take the employment approved by the Director of Immigration, and must seek prior approval for any change of employment (Immigration Department, GEP page).
The spouse, or recognised civil partner or union partner, and unmarried dependent children under 18 may apply under the prevailing dependant policy (Immigration Department, GEP page). The sponsor must support them at a standard well above subsistence level and provide suitable accommodation, and dependants may take up employment or studies (Immigration Department, GEP page). The dependant arrangement is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), and to former Mainland residents in Macao who have held a Macao identity card for less than seven years unless they entered through the One-way Permit Scheme (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Work before a visa is issued is not permitted. Under Regulation 2(1) of the Immigration Regulations (Cap. 115A), a person landing as a visitor shall not take any employment, whether paid or unpaid, shall not establish or join in any business, and shall not become a student; contravening a condition of stay is an offence carrying a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for two years under section 41 of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) (Immigration Department, permissible activities page). Visitors may generally conclude contracts, attend short-term seminars and business meetings, and participate in exhibitions (Immigration Department, permissible activities page). Non-permanent residents need no re-entry visa if they return within the permitted limit of stay (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Extension of stay
Apply online within three months before expiry, and at least six weeks before expiry. Pay the application fee and the visa issuance fee. Extension is normally granted following a “3-2” year pattern, on employment condition, or for the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter (Immigration Department, GEP page). Processing takes about two to three weeks (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Top-tier employment stream
Admitted professionals who have been permitted to take up employment under the GEP for not less than two years, and who have assessable income for salaries tax of not less than HK$2,000,000 in the previous year of assessment, may apply (Immigration Department, GEP page). Such professionals are normally granted five years on time limitation only without other conditions of stay, and need only notify the Immigration Department of a change of employment through the online service (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Right of abode after seven years
Persons admitted under the GEP who have ordinarily resided in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in accordance with the law (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Common misunderstandings
The GEP is open to Mainland residents. The GEP does not apply to Chinese residents of the Mainland, who may apply under the ASMTP if they are not non-local graduates (Immigration Department, GEP page).
A confirmed job offer alone secures approval. Five cumulative criteria apply, including a good education background normally evidenced by a first degree in the relevant field, a genuine job vacancy, a post that cannot be readily taken up by the local work force, and a remuneration package broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals (Immigration Department, GEP page).
A GEP visa holder may change employer freely. A person on employment condition may only take the employment approved by the Director of Immigration and must seek prior approval for any change of employment (Immigration Department, GEP page).
A visitor may begin work while the application is pending. A visitor shall not take any employment, whether paid or unpaid, and contravening a condition of stay carries a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and imprisonment for two years (Immigration Department, permissible activities page).
The first visa is always three years. The initial stay is normally 36 months or the duration of the employment contract, whichever is shorter (Immigration Department, GEP page).
The fee is refunded if the application is refused. The application fee is non-refundable and is not refunded on refusal, cancellation or withdrawal (Immigration Department, fee tables page).
FAQ
Does the GEP have a quota or sector limit? The GEP is quota-free and non-sector specific; the Technical Professionals Stream under the GEP is subject to quota and limited to specific skilled trades (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Who pays and who submits the application? The applicant, any dependants and the employing company submit the application online with the fee paid (Immigration Department, GEP page).
How long does a decision take? Normally four weeks upon receipt of all required documents and the fee; extension applications take about two to three weeks (Immigration Department, GEP page).
May dependants work or study? Dependants may take up employment or studies under the prevailing dependant policy (Immigration Department, GEP page).
What is the total fee for a 36-month visa? HK$1,900 per person, comprising the HK$600 application fee and the HK$1,300 issuance fee for a relevant period of more than 180 days (Immigration Department, fee tables page).
Does time under the GEP count towards permanent residence? Persons admitted under the GEP who have ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in accordance with the law (Immigration Department, GEP page).
Policy and fee details may change without notice, and the official Immigration Department pages prevail.
Sources
- Immigration Department: General Employment Policy — page date 16-04-2026
- Immigration Department: Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals — page date 16-04-2026
- Immigration Department: Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates — page date 29-04-2026
- Immigration Department: New Fee Structure for Visa Applications under Specified Schemes; Fee Tables — fee structure effective 26 Feb 2025; page Last-Modified 20 Oct 2025; fee tables page Last-Modified 8 Apr 2026
- Immigration Department: Facilitation Measures under the GEP and ASMTP — page date 29-12-2022
- Talent List Hong Kong (Labour and Welfare Bureau): Immigration Facilitation — HTTP Last-Modified 14 Aug 2025
- Immigration Department: Permissible Activities for Visitors — HTTP Last-Modified 28 Feb 2025