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  • Applicable to Chinese residents of the Mainland of China applying for entry to the HKSAR for employment as imported care workers under the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes (hereafter “Special Scheme”).
  • Employers intending to import care workers under the Special Scheme need to first apply to the Contract Management Section of the Social Welfare Department for quota(s). Upon the grant of quota(s), the employer shall arrange for his/her prospective care worker(s) to be imported to each submit a visa/entry permit application to the Immigration Department (ImmD) within the period specified in the Notice of Quota Approval (SWD-ICW-8).
  • Eligibility criteria
    • the applicant is suitably qualified and experienced for the job of care worker;
    • the terms and conditions of employment are comparable to those in the local market;
    • the applicant will remain under the direct employment of the same employer as a care worker as stipulated in the Standard Employment Contract (SWD-ICW-16) to perform specified duties in the specific residential care homes as stipulated in the Notice of Quota Approval (SWD-ICW-8) (including the Quota Details attached thereto) and the Standard Employment Contract (SWD-ICW-16), and will not be employed by other companies, organisations or sub-contractors;
    • there is no adverse record to the detriment of the applicant and the employer; and
    • the employer is financially capable of employing the applicant, providing him/her with suitable accommodation and guaranteeing his/her maintenance and repatriation upon termination of his/her contract.
Please click on the button under “Quick Links” for documents to be submitted online and to submit an online application.
  • It normally takes six weeks to process an application upon receipt of all the required documents.
  • A notification of the application result will be emailed, faxed or posted (if applicable) to employers or his/her authorised representatives by the ImmD.
Please click here for enquiry of application status.
  • Fee
    • The fee for an entry permit is HKD$230.
    • Successful employers are required to pay a levy that goes to the Employees Retraining Board for funding its provision of retraining courses and services for local workers, so as to encourage a larger latent labour force to receive training and enter into the employment market. The levy payable in a lump sum in respect of each imported care worker is HK$400 multiplied by the number of months covered by the employment contract up to a maximum of 24 months. It will be collected after the approval for importing care workers and before the issue of visa/entry permit as directed by the Director of Immigration. The levy paid is not refundable under any circumstances.
  • Payment methods
    • Upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by the ImmD will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS).
  • After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
  • Successful applicant who is a Chinese resident of the Mainland should apply for an Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and a relevant exit endorsement from the relevant Mainland authorities. The applicant holding an EEP bearing the relevant exit endorsement should also present the “e-Visa” issued to him/her for immigration arrival clearance.
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