General
1. If you wish to enter Hong Kong for employment, investment, education, training or residence and you are not a person who has the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong, you must obtain an entry visa before coming to Hong Kong. To apply for such a visa, you should complete an application form (ID 812) or new form ID (E) 936A in block letters with your photograph affixed on it and send it to a sponsor in Hong Kong with:
(1) photocopies of your travel document containing your personal particulars, its date of issue, date of expiry, details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable);
(2) 1 additional identical photograph of yourself; and
(3) the documents and information required in paragraphs 7,8,10 or 11 below; and a sponsorship form for employment (ID 428B), education (ID 428D) or residence (ID 428A) as appropriate.
2. Your sponsor may submit the application, together with the required documents and a copy of his/her Hong Kong identity card, to the Hong Kong Immigration Department by post or in person to the following address:
             Hong Kong Immigration Department,
             Receipt and Despatch Unit, 2/F,
             Immigration Tower, 7 goucester Road,
             Wan Chai, Hong Kong
If your sponsor wants us to acknowledge receipt of the application, please ensure that a self-addressed acknowledgement card (ID 813) is also submitted.
3. You may also send your application directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department at the above address.
4. Application forms, sponsorship forms, and acknowledgement cards are obtainable from the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
5. Additional information is required for each type of the application. Please see paragraphs 7,8,10 or 11 as appropriate for details.
6. If your application is successful, an entry visa will be issued to your sponsor who will be asked to arrange for it to be sent to you. You must present this visa together with your passport or travel document to the immigration officer upon your arrival in Hong Kong.

Employment in Hong Kong
7. For an entry visa application for employment in Hong Kong, you must provide the following information:
(1) the name, contact address and telephone number of your employer (if your employer is also the sponsor of the application, please state so;
(2) a copy of your service contract or letter of appointment with details of post, salaries and benefits;
(3) full job description of the post;
(4) details, with proofs of your academic qualifications and experience relevant to the post, e.g. copies of diplomas, certificates and testimonials; and
(5) a letter, with supporting proof from your employer(if possible), station the reason why the post cannot be filled locally.

If you are applying to enter Hong Kong for employment as a domestic helper, you must provide the following information:
(1) the name ,contact address and telephone number of your employer;
(2) a copy of your employment contract. The employment contract is normally required to be notarized by the consulate general/commission of the country to which you belong; and
(3) a testimonial of your previous working experience in the domestic service.

If you are applying to enter Hong Kong for employment under the Labour Importation Scheme, you must provide the following information:
(1) the original and a copy of the standard Employment Contract signed between you and the employer;
(2) details, with proofs, of your academic qualifications and experience relevant to the post, e.g. copies of diplomas, certificates and testimonials; and
(3) proofs showing you are physically fit for the job, e.g. medical report.

Investment in Hong Kong
For an entry visa application for investment in Hong Kong, you must provide the following additional information:
(1) the name, size and financial undertakings of the proposed business activities.
(2) the name, address and telephone number of any partners of that business in Hong Kong; and
(3) the number of local and expatriate employees.
9. Permission given to you for employment or investment in Hong Kong will be subject to the condition that you shall only engage in such employment or investment as is approved. Domestic helpers and other workers admitted to Hong Kong under the importation of labor schemes are not eligible to bring their dependants to Hong Kong.

Education in Hong Kong
10. For an entry visa application for education in Hong Kong, you must provide the following additional information:
(1) the name, address and telephone number of the school you have registered for study;
(2) proofs of your acceptance by the school, and the class you are enrolled;
(3) your proposed accommodation in Hong Kong; and
(4) proofs of financial support.
Permission given to you for education in Hong Kong will be subject to the condition that you shall only study in the school as is approved. You cannot take up employment or engage in any business.

Residence in Hong Kong
11. For an entry visa application to join spouse, parents, children or relatives in Hong Kong, you must provide the following additional information:
(1) the name, address and telephone number of the person(s) whom you wish to join in Hong Kong (if the person(s) is the sponsor of the application, please state so); and
(2) proofs of relationship.

Fees
12. A prescribed fee in Hong Kong currency is payable upon the issue of the visa. Payment of fees should be made by our sponsor in Hong Kong at the time of collection the entry visa.

Additional Information
13. Notwithstanding that you have already furnished the documents and information required in paragraphs 7, 8, 10 or 11 above, you may still be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with your application when necessary.
14. It normally takes 4 to 6 weeks to process an entry visa application. Please refrain from making enquiries about the progress of the application unless it is absolutely necessary, as it may delay the processing of the application.
15. The visa application procedures as stipulated in these notes are not applicable to visa applications from residents in the Mainland and the region of Taiwan.
16. Applications for a visit visa for Hong Kong are required to be submitted to Hong Kong Immigration Department.
17. For inquires, please telephone the Hong Kong Immigration Department on 00852-28246111 or by fax 00852-28777711; you can also visit the web site:
http://www.info.gov.hk/immd(Click Topical Information / HK Visa)

Immigration Department
Hong Kong