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What documents do I need to hire a domestic helper?

# hiring  

Here are the main documents that both you and the domestic helper you’d like to hire need to sign for Hong Kong Immigration. There may be other documents required by the Consulate of the domestic helper’s country of origin.

Employer’s documents

As the employer, you will also need photocopies of the following supporting documents:

  • Hong Kong ID –  If you are not a permanent resident of Hong Kong you’ll need a copy of your passport front page with signature and your most recent activated Hong Kong visa (You may begin the process for hiring a domestic helper on an activated working visa but you will need to provide HKID to Immigration later)
  • Proof of your residential address, which is the one that should be on the employment contract with the domestic helper. Proof can be: bills utilities such as: water/ electricity/gas/ residential phone/ cable TV. These must have been issued within the past three months. 
    • If the contractual address is purchased or rented under the name of a company, you will need to provide:
      • A certificate from the company to the effect that the contractual address is provided for the residence of the employer and the domestic helper; and 
      • Residential utility bill in the name of the company issued within the past three months.
    • If the contractual address is managed by the Housing Department/ HK Housing Society, please provide 
      • letter from the Housing Department/HK Housing Society giving the consent for your prospective domestic helper to reside in your flat; and
      • a full copy (Page 1 to 4) of tenancy agreement with the Housing Department/HK Housing Society
      • showing your address and your family members’ personal particulars or
      • latest demand for rates proving that the contractual address is a self-owned property.
  • Any of the following proof of your financial position:
    • Latest notice of assessment and demand for tax issued by Inland Revenue Department (at least HKD$180,000 per annum per helper)
    • Bank statements showing auto-deposit of your monthly salary for the past consecutive 3 months (at least HKD$15,000 per month, or equivalent, per helper)
    • Salary statements/slips issued by the employing company for the past 3 months; or
    • Evidence showing that you are in control of substantial assets such as recent properties tax assessment, fixed deposits / bank saving statements for the past 6 months (aggregate of not less than HKD$350,000, or equivalent, per helper)
    • If you are a self-employed or a company director
      • the latest notice of assessment and demand for tax issued by the Inland Revenue Department ; or
      • company profit tax assessment return together with evidence to show your connection with the
        company such as return of share allotment (Form 1(b)); or
      • bank reference letter showing banking facilities granted to your company or evidences showing
        that you are in control of substantial assets such as recent properties tax assessment, fixed deposits/
        bank saving statements for the past 6 months (with an aggregated amount of not less than
        HK350,000) etc.
  • Letter of release/ID407E form for your current worker to be replaced (if applicable)
  • A letter to explain your need for an additional worker (again, only if applicable)
  • Undertaking of employer

If any of the above documents are under the name of another person, please prepare any ONE of the following to show your relationship to the person named:

  • Marriage Certificate; or
  • Birth Certificate; or
  • Tenancy Agreement if the utility bills are under landlord’s name 

 

For visa application for the helper to perform driving duties:

  • Vehicle registration document (If the vehicle is registered under the name of a company, a certificate / letter from the company showing that the vehicle is provided for personal and family use of the employer)
  • Valid motor vehicle license (the one stuck on windshields)
  • Supporting letter to justify need to hire a helper to perform driving duties 

 

Domestic helper’s documents

Domestic helpers need to submit photocopies of the following documents:

  • Hong Kong ID
  • Front page of their passport, we recommend that the passport has 2 years validity left when making the application.
  • Usually, Immigration will issue a visa with an expiry date of one month before the passport expiry date if the domestic helper’s passport validity is less than 2 years at time of application.
  • See: How to renew a Philippine passport in Hong Kong. 
  • Most recent Hong Kong employment visa
  • All pages of their most recent employment contract
  • Letter of release/ID407E form from their previous employer

TOP TIP: If your domestic worker has not worked in Hong Kong before, you will need to use an agency to process her visa and there may be other documents needed. Your employment agency will advise on this.

Remember, there may be other documents that are required by the Consulate of the domestic helper’s country of origin. Be sure to check this with your agency or with the Consulate if you are processing without an agency.

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Last updated on February 13th, 2023
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