It can be intimidating and exhilarating to live in Hong Kong. It is a significant hub for commerce as well as a vital worldwide economic center. This nation was a British territory with a Western-style way of life until 1997. It has expanded internationally since joining China and is a well-liked vacation spot for tourists all over the world. There are numerous big banks, foreign firms, commercial facilities, sizable recreational venues, and a vast infrastructure for tourism here.
Here is a detailed guide and the formal requirements for moving there.
Apply for Visa
When relocating, ensure the appropriate paperwork is in order. Most folks are permitted to arrive and remain here as visa-free tourists for seven to 180 days, but it varies on the visa you carry.
Dependent permits are required for your spouse and minor children for them to be able to stay here permanently unless they already have valid visas in their own right. Your partner can work without being restricted to one sponsoring business if they have a dependent visa.
You will require a permit to operate in Hong Kong if you don’t already hold a “Right of Abode” or “Right to Land”. The most effective procedure is to have your employer sponsor and grant your permit (and any dependent visas for your family) before you come. Without a visa, you are not allowed to work, but you can arrive and then start the visa application process. It can take six to eight weeks to get a visa.
Find accommodation
For expatriates, finding decent housing at a reasonable price can be difficult. Most individuals moving to Hong Kong should prepare to spend a significant portion of their money on rent and other daily expenses.
Rates can vary massively by location. For instance, it’s not uncommon to pay more than HKD 100,000 a month for a three-bedroom condo in the upscale Summit region. Go to Kowloon or Surrounding Lands for a monthly rent that is less expensive—around HKD 30,000.
Due to their proximity to foreign institutions and densely populated migrant neighborhoods, famous foreign locations like Discovery Bay and Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island are in especially great demand among foreign households with small children. For a three-bedroom property in these neighborhoods, you should prepare to pay between $40,000 and HKD 50,000 each month.
The majority of rental housing, except for apartment complexes, is unfurnished but frequently has utilities. Additionally, there may be regulatory costs associated with establishing tenancy papers, as well as an agency initial fee typically equal to half of one rent payment. It’s a good idea to account for a two- to three-month rent advance as well.
Obtain an ID
Before visiting the passport office, it is advised that you make a reservation for your Identification card digitally because matters can get busy and you can’t always count on getting an arrangement just by turning up. The site of the Immigration Department has information about the procedure. For your interview, don’t forget to bring your passport, a valid visa, and the filled application.
You should always have your Hong Kong ID with you after acquiring it because the authorities there have the right to halt anyone at any moment and request an id confirmation. Cards can also be utilized as library cards because they are smart chip-equipped.
Establish a bank account
You must open a bank account as soon as feasible after entering the country. There is no shortage of banks here, yet this may make picking the best bank more difficult. Cheques can be utilized to pay for electricity and resolve accounts with smaller businesses or consumers, although they are not frequently accepted at grocery stores. There are also an increasing number of financial technologies that provide faster transactions, higher interest returns on your money, and a variety of other benefits. To open an account, you typically require identification, documentation of your place of residence, and a current visa.
Octopus Card
This indispensable item is a debit-style card that is frequently used for car parks, coffee machines, and transit systems, but it may also be used to pay bills and buy foodstuffs and drinks.
Learn the language
Although Cantonese is the recognized native tongue, English is the legally recognized second language and is frequently used in the workplace by the staff of foreign firms. A lot of employers will like your native tongue to be English. That is not to argue that if you are relocating to Hong Kong you do not have to master Cantonese.
However, to interact with individuals outside of the workplace, you will certainly need to understand a bit of the language.
