Hong Kong (China)Business visa

Entrepreneur investor visa in Hong Kong (China)

The programme opens entry to and stay in Hong Kong for those who set up a new business in the city or join an existing one — under the General Employment Policy. It is intended for entrepreneurs whose business brings the city real benefit: turnover, investment, jobs or new technology.

Source: Hong Kong SAR Immigration Department (immd.gov.hk)

Who can obtain the status / routes of entry

An application is considered favourably if the business benefits Hong Kong: through turnover, investment, jobs or new technology. There are three typical scenarios.

Start a new business

A three-year business plan: the nature of the business, market analysis and positioning, sales targets
A three-year financial forecast: the profit and loss account, cash flow, the balance sheet
Proven sources of funding and the amount of capital invested
An organisational chart showing the local jobs to be created

Join an existing business

Last year's accounts: the company's turnover and profit
Experience of working or investing in this field of activity
The company's audited accounts (if any)
An employment contract or letter of appointment stating the position and salary

A start-up supported by a government programme

Participation in the StartmeupHK Venture Programme, the Cyberport Incubation Programme, Incu-App/Incu-Bio/Incu-Tech, the Enterprise Support Scheme or the Design Incubation Programme
The applicant is a founder, a partner in the start-up or a key researcher on the project
Such applications are considered on a favourable basis even without detailed financial accounts

What it costs

Fee for considering the application (the applicant or each dependant)	600 HKD
Fee for issuing the visa where the period of stay is longer than 180 days	1 300 HKD
Fee for issuing the visa where the period of stay is 180 days or less	600 HKD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	2 500 HKD

Documents to gather

The set of documents depends on whether you are starting a business, joining an existing one or applying for an extension.

A local sponsor in Hong Kong — a company or a person aged at least 18 who is a bona fide resident of Hong Kong and known to the applicant
A valid travel document with the endorsement of the most recent entry to Hong Kong
Education documents and proof of work experience
Proof of financial position — bank statements
A three-year investment plan: the type of activity, the amount of investment, the creation of local jobs, office rental
Business agreements and proof of transactions in progress (if applicable)
The company's audited accounts, profit and loss account or tax return
The lease agreement or documents on fitting out the office
The business registration certificate and Companies Registry documents — the certificate of incorporation, the articles of association
Licences to carry on the particular activity, if the business requires them
A letter of support from a government programme — for start-ups

How the process runs

How the application works.

1
Find a local sponsor
The sponsor is a company or a person aged at least 18 — a bona fide resident of Hong Kong who is known to the applicant.
2
Put together the business plan and the documents
A three-year business plan, a financial forecast, proof of capital, documents on the registration of the business and on hiring staff.
3
Apply online and pay the fee
The application and all the documents are submitted through the GovHK portal together with the fee for considering the application — 600 Hong Kong dollars; it is not refunded, whatever the decision.
4
Wait for the decision
about 4 weeks
The Immigration Department considers the application once the full set of documents has been received and the fee paid.
5
Pay the visa fee and receive the e-Visa
HK$1,300 where the period of stay is longer than 180 days
Once the application is approved, a link arrives for payment of the fee for issuing the visa. After payment the e-Visa can be downloaded or printed by the applicant.

Timelines and rights

Work

You work only in the business that has been approved for you. To start another one, or to join someone else's, you must first obtain the permission of the Director of Immigration.

Who you can bring with you

Who can come with the entrepreneur, and on what conditions.

A spouse or a partner in an officially registered union (including a same-sex one) recognised in the place where it was entered into

The sponsor must show that they provide for a standard of living appreciably above the subsistence level and suitable accommodation in Hong Kong

Unmarried minor children under 18

The dependant's period of stay normally coincides with that of the entrepreneur sponsor

Dependants generally

They may work and study in Hong Kong without separate permission

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The right of abode is granted after 7 years of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong. Ordinary residence means lawful and voluntary stay for a clear purpose; short absences do not interrupt it.

The first permission is granted for up to 36 months on employment conditions. Thereafter it is extended on the 3+2 years pattern: the application for extension is lodged no earlier than three months and no later than six weeks before the status expires, and consideration takes about two to three weeks. After seven years of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong an application may be made for the right of abode.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After at least 7 years of continuous ordinary residence in the Hong Kong SAR one may apply for the right of abode.

Route to citizenship

Hong Kong does not grant citizenship. A permanent resident applies to the immigration service for naturalisation as a Chinese national: 3,460 Hong Kong dollars in two equal payments. Foreign citizenship cannot be retained if the application is approved.

Frequently asked questions about Entrepreneur investor visa

Who can apply for the visa for investment as an entrepreneur?

An applicant with no security objections and no serious convictions, as a rule with a bachelor's degree in the relevant field or proven professional experience, able to make a real contribution to the economy of Hong Kong — through business turnover, investment, jobs or new technology. The programme is not available to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea, nor to residents of mainland China — except for overseas Chinese nationals with permanent residence abroad or who have lived there for at least a year before applying.

Is there a minimum amount of investment?

There is no exact minimum amount. The Immigration Department assesses a combination of factors: the business plan, the turnover of the business, financial resources, the amount of capital invested, the number of local jobs created and the introduction of new technology or skills.

How much does it cost to apply for this visa?

The fee for considering the application is 600 Hong Kong dollars for the applicant and for each dependant, and it is not refunded whatever the decision. If the application is approved, a fee for issuing the visa is paid in addition: 1,300 dollars if the permitted period of stay is longer than 180 days, and 600 dollars if it is 180 days or less.

How long does it take to consider an application?

An initial application is usually considered within four weeks of receipt of the full set of documents and payment of the fee. An application for extension is considered within about two to three weeks; it must be lodged no earlier than three months and no later than six weeks before the period of stay expires.

Can the family be brought along?

Yes. An entrepreneur may act as sponsor for a spouse or a partner in an officially recognised union and for unmarried minor children under 18. The sponsor must show that the dependants are provided with a standard of living appreciably above the subsistence level and with suitable accommodation in Hong Kong. Dependants may work and study without separate permission.

How is the status extended after the first three years?

The first permission is granted for up to 36 months on employment conditions. Thereafter the status is extended on the 3+2 years pattern, provided the business still meets the criteria of the programme. After seven years of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong an application may be made for the right of abode.

Can an application be made if the business is a start-up without detailed financial accounts?

Yes. If the start-up is supported by a government programme such as the StartmeupHK Venture Programme, the Cyberport Incubation Programme or the Enterprise Support Scheme, and the applicant is a founder, a partner in the company or a key researcher on the project, the application is considered on a favourable basis.

Other ways to move to Hong Kong (China)

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Hong Kong (China).

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.