Can Filipino domestic helpers relocate with their employer directly to Hong Kong?

When a Filipino domestic helper is moving from one country to another for work, they have to first return to the Philippines so that their status can be properly documented with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

• If the domestic helper is moving to Hong Kong with the same employer, the visa application can begin before the worker returns to the Philippines. Once the visa is approved, the worker processes her OEC through an accredited employment agency in the Philippines. The OEC is the document that allows domestic workers to depart for Hong Kong.
• If the domestic helper is changing employers as part of the move, she must return to the Philippines first.

The timeline to bring your Filipino domestic helper to Hong Kong is about 8 to 10 weeks. Please note that your worker will have to spend a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks in the Philippines for her government clearance processing.

Employers relocating to Hong Kong can start the visa application once they have an activated employment visa and a document proving a permanent Hong Kong address. Read more about the documents needed to hire a domestic helper in Hong Kong here.

For Indonesian domestic helpers relocating with their employers, the Indonesian government requires workers to return to Indonesia to process their documents for Hong Kong.

There are no official published guidelines on how transfer cases should be handled, so the above reflects our recommended approach. Arrangements are also subject to change at the discretion of the Hong Kong and Philippine authorities. We recommend checking with the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong to find out more.

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