olicy that allows skilled technical professionals to have the rights to land and stay, as well as legally work in Hong Kong for the duration of the GEP-TP Visa, which is granted by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
Under the current immigration policy, a total quota of 10,000 Technical Professionals are admitted by the Immigration Department of HKSAR under this new scheme, targeting eight specific skilled trades critical to Hong Kong’s economic development, as long as the working visa applicants meet all the requirements listed below.
Eligibility for A Technical Professionals Stream Visa in Hong Kong
To be eligible for a work permit application for Hong Kong, all such employment visa applications must meet the below requirements:
For the Applicant:
The GEP-TP visa applicant must be aged between 18-40 years at the time of application.
The work visa applicant should not have any past records of serious offences/crimes or security objections.
The GEP-TP applicant must have demonstrated professional qualifications and technical skills specific to one of the eight designated skilled trades on the Technical Professional List.
The employment visa applicant must also have a valid employment agreement/contract of minimum 36 months clearly stating information about job title, job description, remuneration and contract period.
The applicant must receive market-rate compensation appropriate to their skill level and trade.
For the Employing Company:
The employing company (who wishes to hire a technical professional) must prove their eligibility to sponsor foreign workers.
The employing company must have the financial ability to hire a foreign technical professional.
The employing company also has to prove that the position/role they are hiring cannot be filled by local candidates.
The company must commit to providing mandatory on-the-job training and part-time courses through recognized local organizations.
Important Notes:
- The eligibility criteria for a GEP-TP visa application in Hong Kong may be subjected to change from time-to-time.
- Additional criteria may be required by the Immigration Department of Hong Kong, on a case-by-case basis.
- Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis with individual trade quotas of up to 3,000 professionals each.
Who Can Apply for a Technical Professionals Stream Visa for Hong Kong?
Technical professionals aged 18-40 with demonstrated skills in the following eight designated trades:
Long Term Technical Employments:
- New industrialization technicians in Smart/Automated Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Microelectronics Engineering
- Registered nurses for healthcare facilities and residential care homes
- Aircraft maintenance technicians for aviation services and airport operations
- Marine services technicians for local vessel operations and port services
- Information technology technicians specializing in Program Development, Network Support, or Cyber Security
Short Term Technical Employments:
- Lift/escalator technicians for building maintenance and safety systems
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) coordinators for construction and infrastructure projects
- Electrical technicians for power systems and infrastructure development
Contact us to find out if you (as a potential GEP-TP visa applicant) or your potential employees are eligible to apply under the Technical Professionals Stream.
Who Cannot Apply for a GEP-TP Visa for Hong Kong?
- Applicants over 40 years of age at the time of application
- Professionals whose skills do not match the eight designated trades on the Technical Professional List
- Applicants without demonstrated technical qualifications or relevant work experience
- Those seeking employment contracts shorter than 36 months
- Applicants with serious criminal records or security concerns
An Approved Hong Kong Employment Visa
Successful applicants receive an initial visa validity of 24 or 36 months, depending on their qualifications and trade specialization. Those with existing local professional registrations or licenses receive the longer 36-month initial stay period.
Our Employment Visa Application Services
Our experienced immigration consultants provide comprehensive GEP-TP visa application services, including:
- Eligibility assessment for both applicants and sponsoring employers
- Complete application preparation and online submission
- Document compilation and verification for technical qualifications
- Employment contract review to ensure compliance with GEP-TP requirements
- Liaison with the Immigration Department throughout the application process
- Dependent visa applications for spouses and unmarried children under 18
We offer our expertise and consultation services for all new Working Visa applications for Hong Kong, as well as for Working Visa renewals for Hong Kong, extensions and change of sponsor.
After we receive a case, a dedicated consultant will be appointed to look over the whole employment visa application process. Our consultants are committed to handling and coordinating all logistics for our clients’ cases for a complete peace of mind. It is most important that our consultants deal with every single case in a timely and efficient manner to avoid any delays in the application process.
Our dedicated consultants are in charge of directly contacting the sponsoring employers and working visa applicants involved, to ensure all required information and documentations are gathered by certain due dates. In special cases, it is also our duty to directly contact Officers from the Immigration Department in order to make sure all working visa applications are processed as smoothly as possible.
Services on applications for visa renewal for Hong Kong, as well as employment visa renewal for Hong Kong (extensions) are also available.
Immediate family members of the Working Visa holders can relocate to Hong Kong with a valid Hong Kong Dependent Visa.
* Disclaimer: We are a private Employment Visa Agency in Hong Kong that provides individuals and businesses with support with their Hong Kong relocation and immigration. Our immigration consultancy firm wishes to make it clear that this website is not a government website and we are not linked or affiliated with the Immigration Department of HKSAR. If you do not wish to obtain any immigration advice or representation from us, you can submit your working visa application for Hong Kong directly to the relevant government authority without paying any additional fees.
How To Apply – GEP-TP Visa Application (Processes & Procedure)
There are different forms and documents required to be submitted to the Immigration Department of HKSAR when applying for a work permit in Hong Kong:
- Both the Employing Company (Sponsor) and the Working Visa Applicant each have their own list of items to be submitted.
- Once all documentation has been submitted to the Immigration Department of HKSAR (the “Department”), within a few working days, the Department will issue a reference number for your Employment Visa application.
- After the assigned Immigration Officer has reviewed all submitted information, he/she may ask for further information to support the Employment Visa application. An official letter will be faxed/emailed/posted by mail, to the application’s corresponding person. Such letters will have the due date/deadline printed when the additional information is to be handed in.
- After the additional requested information is submitted, the Immigration Officer may generate more questions/queries, and may ask for even more information related to either the Sponsor and/or the Working Visa Applicant, until the Immigration Officer is satisfied with what he/she has received and reviewed.
- For Working Visas in Hong Kong, the standard processing time by an Immigration Officer usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, however in some cases it can take up to 6 months.
- An official letter will be faxed/emailed/posted by mail, to the application’s correspondence person when the Immigration Department of HKSAR has made a decision on your Working Visa application for Hong Kong.
An Approved Hong Kong GEP-TP Visa
Successful applicants receive an initial visa validity of 24 or 36 months, depending on their qualifications and trade specialization. Those with existing local professional registrations or licenses receive the longer 36-month initial stay period.
About Getting A Hong Kong GEP-TP Visa – FAQs:
Yes, the GEP-TP visa specifically does not require university degrees. Your extensive IT experience and technical skills in Program Development, Network Support, or Cyber Security may qualify you, provided you can demonstrate professional competency and have a qualifying employment offer from a Hong Kong employer.
Unfortunately, according to the prerequisite for the GEP-TP Visa, the applicant must already have an executed employment contract of minimum 36 months with a Hong Kong employer in one of the designated trades.
However, there are other options such as the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) or the regular General Employment Policy for degree-holding professionals. For more information about alternative schemes, please visit the dedicated pages on our website.
GEP-TP Visa holders cannot take up jobs outside of their designated technical trade without prior approval. However, they may ask the Immigration Department of HKSAR to grant them permission to do so by applying for a Change of Employment Condition. You can contact our GEP-TP Visa Agency for more information about employment condition modifications.
The GEP-TP Visa for Hong Kong has a validity of 24 to 36 months depending on your qualifications and trade category. If the GEP-TP visa holder continues working in the same trade, both the employing company and employee must apply for a GEP-TP visa renewal 4 weeks prior to the expiry date. For more information regarding GEP-TP Visa Renewals, please contact our experienced consultants.
If your employment contract is terminated, you must leave Hong Kong within two months from the date of termination or before your visa expires, whichever is earlier. Both you and your employer must notify the Immigration Department within 7 days of termination through the online system.
The GEP-TP was specifically designed to address skilled labor shortages in eight critical trades. If your business operates in any of these sectors and you can demonstrate that local candidates cannot fill the technical positions, the GEP-TP provides access to a global talent pool of experienced professionals aged 18-40.
Yes, GEP-TP visa holders must complete mandatory on-the-job training and part-time courses through recognized local organizations such as the Vocational Training Council (VTC). These programs help professionals adapt to Hong Kong’s regulatory requirements and enhance their technical skills.
The GEP-TP operates under an overall quota of 10,000 professionals with individual trade limits of 3,000 per specialized field. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so early application is recommended. Contact our GEP-TP visa application services to check current quota availability for your specific trade.