Last updated: September 2026. The Labour Department’s latest notices prevail.
Step 1: 5-minute eligibility check
- You are a Hong Kong registered employer (business registration)
- The post is technician-level-or-below (ESLS), or your project/industry has a dedicated scheme (construction, transport, care homes)
- Prepared to complete local recruitment first (mandatory for ESLS)
- Staffing ratio met (catering 3:1 from 16 June 2026; others per LD notices)
- Compliant housing arranged (employer-provided; ≥ 3.4 m² net floor area per person)
All five boxes ticked? Move to Step 2. Unsure about any item? A free WhatsApp assessment settles it fastest.
Step 2: prepare documents
- Business Registration Certificate (BR)
- Employment contracts (up to 24 months)
- Local recruitment proof (Interactive Employment Service records and advertising receipts)
- Job vacancy details (duties; wages never below the comparable-post median)
- Housing arrangement proof (address; ≥ 3.4 m² per person)
- Application forms ESLS-1A/1B (Rev. 9/2026) — old versions rejected from 12 October 2026
Step 3: file and follow up
File with the Labour Department’s Supplementary Labour Unit → approval (typically 8–12 weeks) → quota granted → visas per worker (ID 1001A/1B) → mainland medicals and arrival. Typically 4–6 months end to end.
For the whole journey at a glance, the complete hiring guide includes a six-step flowchart from scheme selection to arrival.
Common rejection reasons (read first)
- Insufficient local recruitment records or non-compliant channels
- Wages below the published comparable-post median
- Staffing ratio not met
- Outdated form versions
- Non-compliant housing
FAQ
Q: How long does applying take? A: Typically 4–6 months from filing to arrival, depending on document readiness.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements? A: Registered employer, technician-level-or-below post (or a dedicated scheme), completed local recruitment, staffing ratio met, compliant housing — the five-point checklist above.
Q: What documents are needed? A: BR, employment contracts, local recruitment proof, vacancy details, housing proof, and the latest ESLS-1A/1B forms.
Q: Can we name a candidate? A: Yes; employers may designate candidates, with our talent pool and background checks.
How we get it done
Don’t want to chew through the paperwork yourself? We run it end to end: eligibility assessment → document prep → filing and follow-up → visas and arrival. Approval rate above 95% on handled cases.
WhatsApp for a free eligibility assessment