Are there any possibilities of switching employers on a GEP visa?

Yes yes, but you have to request a Change of Sponsorship with the Immigration Department before you can begin working at your new job.

What is the time of visa process?

Average professional visas (GEP/TTPS) in general require 4 to 8 weeks, when all the documents are properly filled.

Does professional visa have a minimum salary?

Although there is no precise law, the ImmD as a rule anticipates a package of HK$ 20,000 or above in case of professional positions so that it is in line with market rates.

Hong Kong Work Abroad Process

Do you fantasize about the improvement of your career in the Pearl of the Orient? Work abroad process in Hong Kong may seem to be a maze of acronyms: GEP, TTPS, QMAS, and legal regulations.

Travelling the Visa and Immigration Schemes of Hong Kong

All services of Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) have been completely digitized.1 By 2025, virtually all applications are processed through the e-Visa system, and the process is accelerated, although documentation should be more accurate.

Initial Professional Trajectories

GEP (General Employment Policy): It is the standard procedure in case of professionals having an established job offer.2 Your employer needs to sponsor you, and demonstrate that the position could not be filled locally.
TTPS (Top Talent Pass Scheme): A “fast-track to the high-earners (HK$2.5M+ annually) or graduates of the top 100 universities in the world.4 No initial job offer is required to apply.
QMAS (Quality Migrant Admission Scheme): A points-based system of highly skilled people.6 It is the most competitive yet the most flexible one because it does not mandate an immediate employer.
IANG (Immigration Arrangements and Non-local Graduates): This is exclusively to individuals who have just graduated from a university in Hong Kong and they are given the option to take 1224 months to secure employment.

Labor & Specialized Schemes

Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS): Apprentices general labour positions in which a local shortage has been established.
Special Scheme to Import Care Workers: There is a special quota to deal with the pressing demand in elderly and disability care industries.
TechTAS (Technology Talent Admission Scheme): A specialized talent accelerator in R&D in such areas as AI, biotech and FinTech.

Critical Regulatory and Legal Language

You should be conversant with the following terms to remain in line with the Labour Ordinance :

EAA (Employment Agencies Administration): This is the authority that the agency must address in case of agency unethical practices.
Minimum Allowable Wage (MAW): The MAW in the year-end 2025 is HK$ 5,100 in domestic helpers, and HK$ 42.1 in general workers (Statutory Minimum Wage to be implemented in May 2025).
Standard Employment Contract (ID 407): This is the only legally binding agreement used by the foreign domestic workers.
Placement Fee Cap: In Hong Kong the maximum that an agency is legally allowed to charge is 10 percent of your base salary in the first month.11 Anything over that is unlawful.

Action plan Your Work Abroad Roadmap

Check: Check on EAA Portal to verify whether your selected agency has a valid EA Licence.
Sponsorship: In case of application through GEP, make sure that your employer is a Bona Fide Employer, which has the financial capacity to take care of your visa.
Online Submission: Pack your degrees and references to the online e-Visa service.
Registration of HKID: Within 30 days after arriving in Hong Kong on a visa of over 180 days, you will have to apply to your Hong Kong Identity Card.
Proper Tip: Do not use the agencies that request to keep your passport. According to the Hong Kong law, it is a criminal offense to maintain personal identification documents of an employee.

Is Hong Kong Right For You?

Salary of the average professional: HK25,000-HK60,000 or more.

Work Week: Typically 40–50 hours.
Tax Rate: There is one of the lowest all over the world (progressive to 17%).

FAQs

Are there any possibilities of switching employers on a GEP visa?

Yes yes, but you have to request a Change of Sponsorship with the Immigration Department before you can begin working at your new job.
What is the time of visa process?

Average professional visas (GEP/TTPS) in general require 4 to 8 weeks, when all the documents are properly filled.
Does professional visa have a minimum salary?

Although there is no precise law, the ImmD as a rule anticipates a package of HK$ 20,000 or above in case of professional positions so that it is in line with market rates.

Final Thoughts

Hong Kong continues to be a major attraction to international talent, it has a special combination of the Eastern culture and Western business effectiveness. It is possible to find an easy way into this vibrant city by selecting an authorized agency and getting knowledge about your visa route.

Disclosure

It is an informative and educational article. It is recommended that the readers should check information sources that are trusted e.g. the Hong Kong Immigration Department or the Labour Department before making a decision.