Work Permit Application

[vitang]

My husband and I are from Sweden and we are going to set up branches for our restaurants in HK. We need advice whether we should individually apply for a work permit, or if it will be more efficient and easier that my husband apply for it and I be one of the dependants.

We wonder if we could send in the application for Captial Investment Entrants Scheme at the same time.

Thanks!

[PDLM]

You can only apply for an Employment Visa if you have a company in HK to sponsor you. Just setting up an off the shelf company to do this is very unlikely to work. If you wish to start a new company here then what you really need is an Investment Visa for one of you (and then the other can be the Dependant).

Investment Visas or CIES can both take several months to process. The advantage of the CIES once granted is that the visa holder is not restricted in employment whereas with an Investment Visa you can only work for the company being formed. (The Dependant is without restriction in both cases.)

[vitang]

Thank you for your reply.
I sent you a private message. Please check.

[vitang]

Sorry I forgot to mention that we have a company in HK.

[Football16]

Sorry I forgot to mention that we have a company in HK.

Vitang...if you have a company here in HK already, I'd say you are half way to the goal line or could be.

PDLM, are you saying that if they go via CIES that this will grant them visas to live here and then they can do whatever what they want work wise and set up their restaurants here?

The approvability test for investment work visas are not complex but must be met:

Will the economy of Hong Kong as a whole benefit?

Does the applicant possess special skills knowledge and experience in relation to the employment function? The latter is the kicker here. Why should you be the CEO for example and not a local. Nothing stops you from owning the business, just the lack of a work visa stops you from running it day to day and working here.

Job creation locally is the simplest way to meet the first test as well as use of local suppliers, etc. The benefits are looked at to HK as a whole meaning that the entire industry should be better off by your presence.

1. Local Jobs Creation - show this and the staffing plan.

2. Suitable business premises - not the dining room table so much.

3. Funds and other business support. No minimum capital levels.

Not sure how you do it for a restaurant other than to note that it strikes me there are lots of bars, restaurants, in HK that are maybe locally owned and operated but are part of chains from elsewhere. The main difference might be that the corporate owners of Burger King aren't asking for work visas to live here.

If you can qualify as a capital entrant and it gives you the ability to do what you want work wise, that could be a good route to go. The caveat for me would be to read the guidelines about length the CIES gives you and any renewal processes, etc and then compare to the other work investment visa approach.

[PDLM]

PDLM, are you saying that if they go via CIES that this will grant them visas to live here and then they can do whatever what they want work wise and set up their restaurants here?

That is my understanding, yes.