Streamlined procedures have been adopted in processing applicants for intra-company transfer of executive and senior managers. The average processing time is 3 weeks.

Forms and documents to be submitted for applications for employment or investment visa:

For applicant for employment or investment visa:

• Completed application form (www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id990a.htm for employment and www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id999a.htm for investment)
• The applicant's recent photograph affixed to the application form
• Photocopy of the applicant's travel document
• Photocopy of proof of academic qualifications and relevant working experience

Additional documents for investment visa application:

• Photocopy of the company's employment contract or letter of employment (if applicable)
• Detailed 2 year investment plan
• Photocopy of Business Registration Certificate and business registration particulars (if applicant has invested in Hong Kong)
• Documents with details of company background (if applicant has invested in Hong Kong)

For employing company (employment visa application only):

• Application form completed by employing company (www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id990b.htm)
• Photocopy of the company's employment contract or letter of employment
• Photocopy of Business Registration Certificate
• Photocopy of proof of financial standing
• Documents with details of company background
• Deatiled business plan (for companies newly set-up within 12 months only)

For local sponsor (investment application only):

• Completed application form (www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id999b.htm)
• Photocopy of Business Registration Certificate (for sponsor being a company)
• Photocopy of the sponsor's Hong Kong identity card (for sponsor being an individual)
• Photocopy of the sponsor's travel document (for non-permanent resident of Hong Kong only)

More information on applications for entry for employment as professionals and for investment in Hong Kong can be found at www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id991.htm and www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id1000.htm respectively.

Applications for employment or investment visas (other than from Chinese residents of the Mainland of China) should be submitted by post directly or through the local sponsor in Hong Kong to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Applicants residing in overseas countries or territories may submit their applications to the nearest Chinese diplomatic and consular mission in their place of domicile. Holders of foreign passports who are living in the Mainland of China may submit their applications to the Immigration Division of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in Beijing (the Beijing Office).

For Chinese residents of the Mainland of China, employment entry permit applications should be submitted by the employing company either in person or by post to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

It will normally take 4 weeks to process a visa/entry permit application for employment or investment upon receipt of all the required documents.

An employment or investment visa is normally valid for 3 months and good for an initial stay of 12 months, or the duration of the employment contract, whichever is the shorter.

The visa fee, which depends on where the application was submitted, is as follows:

• Applications submitted to Chinese diplomatic and consular mission - About US$30 plus administrative costs to be determined by the relevant mission
• Hong Kong Immigration Department - HK$160
• Immigration Division of the Beijing Office - RMB 170

If the application is submitted to the Hong Kong Immigration Department direct, payment of fees should be made upon collection of the visa/entry permit either in cash, by a crossed cheque made payable to The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or by EPS.

If the application is submitted to an overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office, the visa fee should be paid direct to the Chinese diplomatic and consular mission or the Immigration Division of the Beijing Office as appropriate.

Admitted professionals may apply for extension of stay to continue to work in Hong Kong within 4 weeks before their limit of stay expires. Such application will be considered if the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria. Extension of stay, if approved, will normally follow the 2-2-3 years pattern or be in accordance with the duration of the employment contract, whichever is the shorter. It will normally take 2-3 weeks to process an extension of stay application upon receipt of all the required documents and, if approved, a fee of HK$160 will be charged. More information can be found at www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/faq_es_vnpr.htm#c.

To enhance travel convenience, Chinese residents of Chinese Taipei working in Hong Kong may apply for a Multiple Entry Permit. The Permit allows the holder to re-enter Hong Kong at any tiime within the period of their permitted stay and for other immigration endorsements such as extension of stay.

Admitted professionals may apply to bring in their spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to Hong Kong. The length of stay of the dependants will be linked to that of their sponsors. Dependants are required to leave Hong Kong when their sponsor leaves Hong Kong. Dependants are not prohibited from taking up employment in Hong Kong.

More information can be found at www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/id998.htm.

Applicants who have been refused a visa/entry permit may lodge objection to the decision with the Chief Secretary for Administration, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.