Employment Visa Renewal Application
Work visa holders with a valid Hong Kong work visa can apply for an extension or renewal of their work visa if they wish to continue their professional career in Hong Kong and remain employed. Typically, the initially issued work visa has a validity period of 24 months (2 years), and it is advisable for applicants to apply for visa renewal in Hong Kong within 4 weeks prior to the expiration of the current visa expiry date.
Please note that Hong Kong work visas automatically expire based on the passport’s validity period (i.e., the approved visa date will not exceed the passport’s expiration date). Therefore, it is essential to check the validity of your passport before applying for visa renewal in Hong Kong. If your passport is about to expire, you can apply for a passport replacement at the relevant Hong Kong embassy.
Employment Visa Extension (Renewal)
If an applicant is working for the same employer who is sponsoring the employment visa, the extension of stay application is quite a straightforward process. Usually an extension of 24 months to 36 months will be granted with the first extension. The normal extension pattern is 2-3-3.
If the sponsoring company is newly established in Hong Kong, applying for an extension of stay is more complicated, extra documentation will be required by Immigration Department. The application can be approved subject to a business review, with business development and turnover as primary area of concern. A one-year visa is granted on approval of application.