What documents do I need to hire a domestic helper in Hong Kong?

These are the main documents that both you and the domestic helper you’d like to hire need to sign for submission to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

• Standard Employment Contract
• Domestic Helper’s Visa/Extension of Stay Application Form ID988A
• Employer’s Application for Employment of Domestic Helper from Abroad Form ID988B

*Note that there may be other documents that are required by the Consulate of the domestic helper’s country of origin.

Documents required from the employer

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 including your signature as well as your most recent activated Hong Kong visa. While you may begin the process for hiring a domestic helper on an activated working visa, you will need to provide your HKID to Immigration later in the process in order for the helper’s visa to be approved.
• Proof of residential address. This address needs to be the same as the one stated on the employment contract with the domestic helper. Proof can include utility bills such as water, electricity, gas, residential phone, or cable TV. These bills must have been issued within the past three months in order to be admissible.
  • 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: 
    • A 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 the tenancy agreement with the Housing Department/HK Housing Society showing your address and your family members’ personal particulars or the latest demand for rates proving that the contractual address is a self-owned property.
• Proof of financial position. This can include any of the following:
  • 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 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 the current domestic helper being replaced (if applicable)
• Explanation letter describing your need for an additional domestic helper (if applicable)

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

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

If you are applying for a domestic helper to perform driving duties, you will also need to submit:

• 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.
• Supporting letter to justify your need to hire a helper to perform driving duties. 

Documents required from the domestic helper

Domestic helpers need to submit photocopies of the following documents:

• Hong Kong ID.
• Front page of passport. We recommend that the passport has 2 years validity left when making the application as 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.
• Most recent Hong Kong employment visa.
• Most recent employment contract (all pages).
• Letter of release/ID407E form from their previous employer.

*If the 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.