pheliciano

I am a British Citizen trying to move to Hong Kong.

I currently don't have a job lined up or a working visa/permit. I'm trying to find out if it is possible to enter HK and find a job during the 6 months I am allowed to be in HK without a visa, and then obtain a working visa or whether I need to have a job and a working visa in place before entering the country.

Ideally I would like to job-hunt whilst in HK and then convert to a working visa, but I don't know if this is possible. Can someone offer some advice on this?

NC Penguin

Here are my thoughts-

1) look at the Chinese government's website about working in HK

2) search for past threads about how to work in HK in this very forum.

Desert Dweller

It makes no odds whether you are a British citizen anymore. As a tourist you are given a 3 month visa.
The best thing would be to do as much contacting as you can from where you are and set up meetings from a certain date- then you will hit the ground running. 3 months will pass very quickly and expensively.
If you manage to get a job you will have to be in HK while they process your visa, you cannot legally work in this period, and do a quick flick to macau or anywhere else that you get an exit and reentry stamp from.
Follow the penguin's advice and check the government websites.

jaykayhk

As a British citizen you do actually get 6 months as a tourist not 3 as mentioned above. You can find out information on visas and what is required at http://www.immd.gov.hk/index.html

Technically you should not be looking for a job while here on a tourist visa but many people do. You normally should be outside of HK when applying for a work visa although this is not strictly adhered to. A company will need to sponsor your work visa. Once you have successfully got a work visa you will either need to exit and re-enter HK (a trip to Macau or Shenzhen would suffice) or you can ask for your status to be changed at the Immigration department.

Desert Dweller

I stand corrected- with a British wife I should know that!

Andy 24

Hi

I have looked into getting a working Visa for HK but I have found out that because I am an Executive Assistant I can not apply for a Working Visa. I am thinking of applying for a Working Holiday Visa and use that time to try and find a company that will sponsor me.

The main reason why I want to work in HK is I am about to start my Business Degree majoring in International Business Management and I would like to specialise in the Asian Market.

Has anyone heard of this type of idea working? If any of you have any suggestions I would really appreciate it.

Thank you
A

jaykayhk

If you are from UK there is no Working Holiday Visa arrangement with HK. You will need to find a company here in HK that is willing to employ you and sponsor you for a Employment Visa. To do this they have to prove to immigration that you have a talent or specialty that cannot be procured locally.

Andy 24

I hold a British passport and Australian citizenship.

Thank you for your reply
A

jaykayhk

I know that Australia is part of the Working Holiday scheme, where you can stay for 12 months but are only allowed to be employed by any single employer for no more than 3 months.

I believe you would need an Australian passport as well to be eligible for this type of visa.

Andy 24

I hold an Australian Passport as well.

Do you know if ther is much temp Administration work in HK?

jaykayhk

To be honest not much, not unless you can speak Cantonese and read and write traditional Chinese and admin pay here is very low, in fact extremely low.

If you really want to come to HK that much I would suggest that you first take a TEFL and then when your visa is approved you will be able to apply for some English teaching posts with some of the companies here. I think that would be your only option considering your position now.

cbc

Hi I live in Hong Kong things here have really tightened up since the handover, it really depends on what job you are looking for, if its teaching no problem a company will sponser you and take a chance, the problem is they have to explain why they are employing you over a local person and advertise the position, but if you are really needed then you can land here on a tourist visa get a job and if they are up for the risk start right away if not it takes 2 months approx to process.

Hope this helps you out

Julie

Andy 24

Hi Julie

Thank you for that. I am planning on getting my TEFL as well as a certificate to be a Nanny for after school care for children of Expat families. I was thinking tutoring in English and after school care would give me the flexibility to complete my own studies through the day and also provide a source of income.

Thank you for your input

A

cbc

If you get a TEFL you will have no problem getting a job which will sponsor you for your 2 year work visa, as for the Nanny job most Expat families employ a Domestic Helper from the Philippines or Indonesia live in to do everything at a very low cost more like a slave, but there are a few very rich who employ Real Nannies but only a few, I only know of one Western Girl who does it and its for a very rich Thai/German Bankers here and she is on a decent wage, living in, up the Peak.

Good Luck

Julie

Desert Dweller

Steady on Julie, no experience and new to the network.....the OP may well have a lot of problems. There are places which will sponsor you, yes, and I certainly hope you manage to land on your feet and find one, but don't for a second think it will be 'no problem'.