What is the General Employment Policy?
The General Employment Policy (GEP, 一般就业政策) is Hong Kong's standard employer-sponsored work visa for non-Chinese mainland nationals. It is the route most multinational hires use when relocating to Hong Kong.
Mainland China residents apply under the parallel ASMTP scheme — the eligibility tests are similar, but the form and supporting documents differ.
Core eligibility
Immigration looks for four things:
- A confirmed job offer in Hong Kong with a registered employer.
- Genuine vacancy that cannot easily be filled locally — usually demonstrated by the candidate's specialised skills, language ability, or international experience.
- Good education and / or relevant work experience — typically a bachelor's degree, or substantial technical experience for specialist roles.
- Remuneration at market level — salary, housing, medical, and leave should be broadly in line with the local market for that role.
There is no formal points test, but Immigration reviews each case on its merits.
Visa duration
The standard initial pattern is 2 + 3 + 3 years, leading to permanent residency after 7 continuous years.
What the employer must submit
- Form ID 990B (sponsor form)
- Business registration and audited financials (especially for SMEs)
- Detailed job description and organisational chart
- Justification of why the role cannot be filled locally
- Employment contract
The applicant submits ID 990A plus personal documents — passport, qualifications, CV, recent address proof and a photo.
Common pitfalls
- Vague job descriptions: titles like "Manager" without specifying scope often trigger a "Reply Slip" request.
- Salary below market: Immigration cross-checks against HK Census data; pay set too low signals the role could be filled locally.
- Thin sponsor financials: very small employers should expect to show recent audited accounts and a hiring plan.
GEP vs TTPS vs QMAS
- Choose GEP when you already have an offer from a Hong Kong employer.
- Choose TTPS if you graduated from a leading university or have a very high income — and prefer to land first, work later.
- Choose QMAS if you do not have a job offer, are not from a top-100 university, but have a strong overall professional profile.