Moving to Hong Kong for Work 2027: Your First 30 Days Checklist

After you land in Hong Kong on an employment visa, the first jobs are: keep your landing slip, get an Octopus card and a SIM, apply for your Hong Kong ID card within 30 days (it's free for new arrivals), open a bank account so payroll can pay you, and sign and stamp a lease within 30 days of signing. Your employer must enrol you in MPF within your first 60 days, and you pay no employee contribution for the first 30 days. Your employer also tells the Inland Revenue Department you've started within 3 months. Book your ID appointment before you fly, because slots fill up.

This is the practical checklist we wish we'd had: what to do before you fly, in week one, in weeks two to four, and by day 90, with the official source for every rule and fee. If you're still at the offer stage, start with our guide to Hong Kong work visas.

What Should You Do Before You Fly to Hong Kong?

Most of the stress in the first month comes from things you could have started at home. Before you board:

1. Download and print your e-Visa. Immigration accepts it on your phone or printed on plain white A4 paper, and officers scan its QR code at the counter. If you lose it, you can download it again free (Immigration Department e-Visa FAQ).
2. Book your HKID appointment. You can book online at gov.hk/icbooking, through the Immigration app, or on 2598 0888, up to 96 working days ahead (HKID FAQ).
3. Apply for dependant visas for your spouse and children if they are coming. Immigration quotes about 6 weeks once it has all the documents (dependant visa page). Our dependant visa guide covers the paperwork.
4. Start the pet permit if you're bringing a dog or cat. The AFCD special permit costs HK$432 for the first animal and HK$102 for each extra one (AFCD fee schedule).
5. Check your MPF status with HR. If you're on a contract of 13 months or less, or you're a member of an overseas pension scheme, you may be exempt (MPFA coverage rules).
6. Pack your driving licence, plus proof of how long you've held it, if you plan to drive.
7. Book temporary accommodation for at least 2 to 4 weeks. Viewing flats from a hotel or serviced apartment is far easier than signing something from abroad.

If you haven't landed the job yet, start with English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong on ExpatJobBoard. We list thousands of roles that don't require Cantonese or Mandarin.

Your Hong Kong Arrival Checklist at a Glance

Sources: Immigration Department HKID FAQ; Octopus; HKMA account opening leaflet; IRD stamp duty on leases; MPFA; IRD employer's return.

What Happens at Immigration When You Arrive?

You'll be handed a landing slip rather than getting a passport stamp. Non-permanent residents only get one on their first entry under a new visa, and it records your name, travel document number, arrival date and your conditions and limit of stay (Immigration Department).

Keep it. HR, banks and estate agents often ask for it in the first few weeks, before you have an ID card. If you lose it, Immigration Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O replaces it free.

How Do You Get a Hong Kong ID Card as a New Arrival?

Anyone aged 11 or over who is allowed to stay in Hong Kong for more than 180 days must register for a Hong Kong Identity Card, and the Immigration Department says new arrivals must apply within 30 days of arriving. There's no fee for a first card (HKID FAQ).

What to bring to your appointment:

• Your passport with the visa or entry permit.
• Your landing slip.
• Originals, not copies. Immigration wants originals of every document.

Registration offices are in Wan Chai, Cheung Sha Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Fo Tan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, and they are closed on Sundays and public holidays (office list). You'll get an acknowledgement slip with a collection date; someone aged 18 or over can collect the card for you with form ID678.

Our full guide to the Hong Kong ID card for foreigners covers what the card does and doesn't give you.

How Do You Open a Bank Account in Hong Kong as a New Arrival?

Open one in week one, because your employer can't pay you without it. Bring your passport, visa, landing slip, employment contract or offer letter, and whatever proof of address you have.

Proof of address is where newcomers get stuck, since you're probably in a hotel. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has told banks to take a risk-based approach: its customer due diligence FAQ says banks should give customers options rather than apply narrow requirements, and should not reject someone just because they are non-resident. Its consumer leaflet adds that banks shouldn't demand a large initial deposit or make you buy insurance or investments to open a basic account, and that simple cases can be done within several days.

Practical tips from people who've done it:

• Ask HR for a bank letter. Many employers have a relationship with one or two banks and can speed things up.
• Watch for minimum balance fees. Some accounts charge a monthly fee if your balance drops below a set level. The government's HK Talent Engage relocation guide mentions fees of around HK$50 to HK$150 a month below about HK$10,000.
• Consider a digital bank as a backup. The HKMA licenses several digital banks that open accounts in an app, usually once you have your HKID.
• Set up FPS. The Faster Payment System is how Hong Kong splits bills and pays rent. Deposits are protected up to HK$800,000 per bank (HK Talent Engage).

If a branch refuses you on address grounds, the HKMA takes complaints at accountopening@hkma.gov.hk.

How Do You Get a SIM Card in Hong Kong?

Every SIM in Hong Kong has to be registered to a real name. Since 1 March 2022, people have had to register their name, date of birth, ID number and a copy of their ID, with a limit of 10 prepaid cards per person per operator (Government press release).

The easy route is a prepaid SIM registered on your passport at the airport or a convenience store, then a monthly plan once your HKID arrives. From October 2024, HKID holders registering online verify through iAM Smart by default, which is instant (Government press release).

Octopus Card and iAM Smart

Octopus is the stored-value card you'll use for the MTR, buses, ferries, 7-Eleven and most coffee shops. An adult on-loan card costs HK$50 as a refundable deposit plus HK$150 of stored value, from MTR customer service centres (Octopus). If you have an iPhone, you can add an Octopus to Apple Wallet instead.

iAM Smart is the government's digital ID app. Once you have your HKID, register in the app (it reads the chip in your card), at a kiosk or at a counter. It's free and it makes everything from tax filing to booking clinic appointments much faster (iAM Smart registration).

How Does Renting a Flat Work for a New Arrival?

Most new arrivals rent through an estate agent, sign a 2-year lease with a 12-month break clause, and pay a deposit plus the first month's rent up front. Market practice is a deposit of 2 months' rent and an agent's commission of around half a month's rent, but commission is set by agreement; the Estate Agents Authority doesn't fix a rate (EAA renting guide).

Three rules that matter:

1. Sign Form 6 with the agent first. Agents must sign an estate agency agreement (Form 6) with you before viewings or before the lease is signed, whichever is first. Nothing is payable if the deal falls through and it isn't your fault (EAA).
2. Stamp the lease within 30 days. An unstamped lease can't be used as evidence in civil proceedings, which matters if you ever need your deposit back (IRD stamp duty FAQ).
3. Check the break clause. The EAA says a break clause typically kicks in after 12 to 14 months with 1 to 2 months' notice (EAA signing guide).

How Much Is Stamp Duty on a Lease in Hong Kong?

Source: IRD stamp duty on leases.

On a standard 2-year lease at HK$35,000 a month, that's 0.5% of HK$420,000, or HK$2,100, usually split between landlord and tenant. You can stamp it online through IRD e-Stamping and get the certificate instantly.

For areas and rents, see our guide to Hong Kong rent and the best neighbourhoods for expats. If your employer is paying your rent, read our expat package guide before you sign, because how the lease is set up changes your tax bill.

When Does MPF Start for a New Employee?

Your employer must enrol you in a Mandatory Provident Fund scheme within your first 60 days. Both you and your employer contribute 5% of your relevant income, capped at HK$1,500 a month each because relevant income is capped at HK$30,000. You don't pay the employee contribution for your first 30 days, but your employer contributes from day one (MPFA).

You may be exempt if you came to Hong Kong for a job lasting 13 months or less, or you're a member of an overseas retirement scheme (MPFA coverage rules). If your stay goes past 13 months, your employer has to enrol you within 60 days of the exemption ending. See our MPF guide for how to choose funds and what happens when you leave.

How Does Tax Work in Your First Year?

Hong Kong doesn't take tax out of your pay each month. Instead:

• Your employer files form IR56E within 3 months of your start date to tell the IRD you've joined (IRD).
• You get a tax return (BIR60) for the year of assessment, which runs from 1 April to 31 March. You have one month to file it, with an automatic extra month if you file through eTAX (IRD).
• If you don't receive a return, you must tell the IRD you're chargeable within 4 months of the end of the basis period (IRD).

The rates are low by international standards: progressive bands of 2%, 6%, 10%, 14% and 17%, capped by a 15% standard rate on the first HK$5 million (IRD tax rates). The catch for new arrivals is that the first bill can cover more than a year of income plus provisional tax for the next year, so put money aside from your first payslip. Our salaries tax guide walks through the maths.

Healthcare: What Do You Need to Set Up?

Once you have an HKID, you're an eligible person for public healthcare at local rates. Register for eHealth, the government's health record system, through the HA Go app with iAM Smart; it's free (eHealth).

Most professionals also have private cover through work. Check what your employer's plan covers (outpatient, dental, maternity, dependants) in your first month, while you can still add family members without a waiting period. Our health insurance guide explains VHIS and how to top up a company plan.

Can You Drive in Hong Kong With an Overseas Licence?

Visitors can drive on a valid overseas licence or International Driving Permit for up to 12 months, but someone moving to Hong Kong on a 2-year employment visa doesn't count as a visitor (Transport Department).

As a new resident you have two options:

• A temporary licence (form TD181), valid until your overseas licence expires or 12 months after arrival, whichever comes first.
• A full Hong Kong licence by direct issue (form TD63A), if your licence comes from a recognised place and you passed a test there, plus you lived there 6 months when it was issued, held it for 5 years or more, or hold that country's passport.

The Transport Department fee schedule lists HK$288 for a temporary licence and HK$900 for a full licence. Applications are by appointment only since 16 March 2026.

Your Day 1 to Day 90 Timeline

Common Mistakes in the First Month

1. Leaving the HKID booking until you land. Popular offices book out weeks ahead, and the 30-day clock is already running.
2. Signing a lease without Form 6. If there's a dispute about commission, you'll want the agreement.
3. Not stamping the lease. Small cost, big problem if you fall out with the landlord.
4. Spending the first payslips. Your first tax bill arrives later and can be bigger than you expect.
5. Assuming your overseas licence is fine for 12 months. It isn't if you're a resident.
6. Ignoring the work culture. It's worth reading up on Hong Kong work culture before day one.

FAQs: Moving to Hong Kong for Work

How long do I have to get a Hong Kong ID card after arriving?

New arrivals who will stay more than 180 days must apply within 30 days of arriving. The first card is free. Book your appointment online before you fly, because slots can be weeks out.

Can I open a bank account in Hong Kong without an HKID?

Yes. Banks can open accounts with a passport and visa, and the HKMA has told them not to apply narrow address requirements or reject applicants just for being non-resident. Many digital banks, however, need an HKID.

Can I rent a flat in Hong Kong with just a passport?

Usually yes. Landlords and agents typically want your passport, visa, employment contract or letter, and the deposit. Some ask for an HKID copy, which you can provide once it's issued.

Do I need to pay MPF in my first month?

Your employer contributes from your first day, but you don't pay the employee 5% for the first 30 days. Your employer must enrol you within 60 days unless you're exempt.

Who is exempt from MPF in Hong Kong?

People who come to Hong Kong to work for 13 months or less, and members of an overseas retirement scheme, can be exempt. Check with HR before you start, because it changes your take-home pay.

When do I pay tax as a new arrival in Hong Kong?

Not monthly. Your employer notifies the IRD within 3 months, then you receive a tax return and pay the following year, often with provisional tax for the next year added. Set money aside from day one.

Can I use my foreign driving licence in Hong Kong?

Only as a visitor, for up to 12 months. If you're living in Hong Kong on an employment visa, apply for a temporary licence or a full Hong Kong licence by direct issue through the Transport Department.

What do I need for a SIM card in Hong Kong?

Every SIM must be registered to a real name. Before you have an HKID, register a prepaid SIM on your passport; once your card arrives, move to a monthly plan and register online with iAM Smart.

How much is the deposit to rent a flat in Hong Kong?

Market practice is 2 months' rent as a deposit plus the first month in advance, and around half a month's rent as agent commission. Commission is agreed with the agent, not fixed by law.

Can my spouse work in Hong Kong on a dependant visa?

Yes. Dependants of employment-visa holders can work without a separate work visa. Apply early, because processing takes around 6 weeks once Immigration has all documents.

Key Takeaways

• New arrivals staying more than 180 days must apply for an HKID within 30 days, and the first card is free.
• An adult Octopus costs HK$50 deposit plus HK$150 stored value from MTR customer service centres.
• The HKMA tells banks not to apply narrow proof-of-address rules or reject you for being non-resident.
• Leases must be stamped within 30 days; a 1 to 3 year lease costs 0.5% of the annual rent.
• MPF enrolment happens within 60 days, with no employee contribution for the first 30 days.
• Your employer files IR56E within 3 months, and your first tax bill comes the following year.

Find Your Hong Kong Job First

The checklist only starts once you have an offer. Browse English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong on ExpatJobBoard, many with visa support, and see our guide on how to find a job in Hong Kong as a foreigner.