Are you planning to immigrate to Hong Kong? Well, it is an excellent choice as it has already proven itself as one of the top destinations for business visitors and tourists likewise. In 2018 alone, the total passenger arrivals and departures added up to a value of around 315 million. As of 2016, about 45,000 people residing in Hong Kong were Indians. About 50% of these were Indian citizens.

To follow the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, one should be aware of the way Romans behave. In this case, you should be mindful of every little detail about Hong Kong before you immigrate there.

Benefits of Migrating to Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a fast-developing city that is moving in pace with the current market trends. It is an excellent place for immigration. There are several benefits for you should you choose to move there. All the benefits have been listed and explained in detail below.

Hong Kong Residency

Once you have started living in Hong Kong, you need to wait only a few years before you can apply for a permanent residency program in Hong Kong.

Free Economy

The primary reason for relocating to a new place is usually related to career and money. Here, in Hong Kong, the government has a free economy system that has little tax rates to ensure that you get to keep your hard-earned money without a crippling tax return.

Job Opportunities

Most of the multinational corporations and global companies operate in Hong Kong to some degree, creating multiple job opportunities that are too good to pass up.

Cost-Effective Living

Everything is priced at reasonable rates, whether it is food, transport or commodities. This is another reason why it is a popular destination among immigrants.

Free Education

The government provides free education for the children of the migrants for up to nine years once they have immigrated to Hong Kong.

Honest Government

The government of Hong Kong believes in a transparent government where everything favours the promotion of the general population. The democratic government upholds all the rights of the people and respects their opinions.

Hong Kong Visa for Indians

Once you have finalized your Hong Kong immigration plans, you need to figure out which type of visa you can apply for. There are primarily four categories of visa. Each one has been listed below with its specifications.

Visit Visa

This is the most common visa that is issued to people of most countries. This visa permits you to stay in Hong Kong for a duration ranging anywhere from seven days to 180 days.

To apply for tourism or visiting purposes, you need to approach the Chinese consulate or embassy in your vicinity. You can then fill in the required paperwork which will be processed in about four weeks. Make sure that there is sufficient time between the processing of the visa and your trip. Please note that you cannot change the type of visa once you enter the country. You would have to exit and re-enter with the new permit.

Work Visa

The employer makes the application for this type of visa since they need to submit various proofs that entail that you have the necessary skills for the job and that the vacancy could not be filled in by a local. This visa usually lasts for two years and has to be renewed until you resign from the company.

Your employer will fulfil all the requirements of the work visa application process. The process usually takes about four to six weeks. Once it is processed, the employer will forward the visa to you. You can now apply for a residency visa for your spouse and dependent children under 18 years of age.

Student Visa

A student visa is similar to a work visa and is handled in a likewise manner. In this case also, the educational institute you will be studying in has to put forth your visa application request. The educational institute supplies any proofs that may be required in the application.

Permanent Residency Visa

You can apply for permanent residency once you have stayed in Hong Kong for seven years. Once the permit is processed, you can stay in Hong Kong and work anywhere without the need for a work visa. However, if you leave Hong Kong for more than three years, your permanent residency status is revoked.

Hong Kong Immigration Eligibility from India

In cases of Hong Kong immigration from India, it is a good idea to go through the eligibility criteria to ensure that you don’t face any issue in the visa application process. The eligibility criteria are listed below:

1. Age of 18 years or older
2. A valid passport with six months (at least) before the expiration date
3. Sufficient funds to support your family and yourself during your stay
4. Adequate funds to travel to next destination once the visa expires or a flight ticket to indicate travel out of the country
5. Essential and excellent education, preferably a degree from a recognized institution
6. Ability to communicate in English and written and spoken proficiency in English or Chinese
7. No history of criminal record

Documents Required when Applying for a Hong Kong Visa

The documents required for Hong Kong immigration from India are listed below. Go through this list and feel free to use it as a preliminary checklist.

1. Passport
2. Duly filled application form with two photographs
3. Letter of acceptance, either from the company or the educational institute
4. Proof of sufficient funds
5. Proof of education
6. Evidence of experience
7. A detailed description of job position and contract, if applying for a work visa
8. Contact details of sponsors, if travelling for tourism
9. Proof of no criminal record
10. Any other documents requested by the immigration authorities

Conclusion

Immigrating to Hong Kong is an excellent choice, whether it is for work or education. Hong Kong is one of the fastest developing cities with a lot of fruitful opportunities for both skilled workers and students. Apart from that, it is also a culturally diverse city that offers an insight into the food, cultures and living styles of different nationalities. In the long run, this increases your experience and exposure in the world.