Kiwi keen on HK

Closed Thread
  1. #1

    Kiwi keen on HK

    Hi all. First post here, sorry if I am asking questions asked before!
    The wife and I are Kiwi's, currently living in Aussie. We went to HK for 2 weeks last year, and loved it. We are wanting to go back later this year for a stint of working (3-6 months). I know there is a reciprocal agreement between HK and NZ for the working holiday visa, but I am wondering if this is the visa we should be after? We are not after professional work (however both of us are degree qualified), just temp work, in order to pay our way around HK.
    So, questions:
    1) What visa should we be after? The working holiday visa?
    2) Do you have to have a pre-arranged job before applying for the visa? I have read a couple of atricles suggesting this is the case.
    3) Does the job that you get have to be in your field of expertise under the working holiday visa? Or could we get any job?
    4) If you dont need a pre arranged job, how difficult is it to get a job for an English only speaker once in HK? (I do have a contact of decent standing in the MTR who may be of assistance for work however)
    5) What sort of a budget (weekly) do you need to live comfortably? I have heard rent is extremely pricey.

    Thanks in advance.

    -Will


  2. #2

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong, from UK
    Posts
    3,823
    Guidance Notes on Working Holiday Scheme

    Do you qualify for a working holiday visa? Age, financial status, etc...

  3. #3

    Yeah, sorry, we tick all those boxes no worries


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    23,181

    1) Yes - working holiday visa
    2) No =- the primary purpose is that you are coming on holiday
    3) You can take any job; no more than 3 months per employer.
    4) Dunno - I guess bar jobs shouldn't be too hard. Or English teaching.
    5) As the page linked by vmlinuz shoes, the only financial requirement is that you must be able to show (as a Kiwi) HK$14,000 of available cash. But that won't let you live for long. Even flat sharing you should expect to pay at least HK$5,000 per month in rent.


  5. #5

    Thank mate, that makes things a bit clearer.
    Cheers


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    301

    I did notice many people on this website always discourage others from coming here, and tell them you will never find a job. Well, I think I can encourage you. I know many friends from France who came here and found jobs. Some worked in bars of restaurants (especially French of course, and others joined French companies that import or export products. You can also attend for free many Chamber of Commerce events to meet people and find opportunity. Not just Chamber from your own country, but also French, Canadian, American, German and so on. Also, the "Kiwi" person from New Zealand has a good reputation in HK as a hard worker who will quickly adapt and do a good job here (but perhaps not as confident as Australians who are louder when they talk with you).