Are you planning to hire international talent or expand your business into Asia’s financial heart this year? The landscape of Hong Kong visa sponsorship has shifted dramatically. In 2026, the Immigration Department (ImmD) has moved beyond simple document checks to a rigorous, data-driven audit of a sponsor’s financial health.
Navigating the “Specified Schemes” fee structure and the new 468 Rule for continuous contracts is no longer optional—it is a survival requirement for HR teams and business owners. Whether you are a multinational corporation or a growing startup, understanding your financial liabilities is the difference between a seamless onboarding and a costly visa rejection.
The 2026 Regulatory Landscape: New Schemes & Fees
Hong Kong has made its visa rules better to match other countries in the world. The biggest change in 2026 is a new way to pay fees for some visa types. These are called “Specified Schemes.” The main ones are General Employment Policy (GEP) and Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP).
- Specified Schemes Fee Structure Now sponsors pay fees in two steps. First step: You pay HK$600 when you send the application. This money is not given back even if the visa is refused. Second step: If the visa is approved, you pay more. It is HK$600 if the person can stay 180 days or less. It is HK$1,300 if the stay is longer than 180 days. These fees are for the main worker and also for family members who come with them.
- Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) People in this scheme can come to Hong Kong first without a job. When they find work, the company still has some duties. They must tell the ImmD about the job. For TTPS, the ImmD does not check as much if a local person could do the same job. This is easier than for GEP visas.
- Top-Tier Employment Stream If the worker earns HK$2 million or more in one year, the process is faster and simpler. When the company asks to extend the visa later, there are fewer papers to send. This is because the worker helps Hong Kong’s economy a lot.
These new rules mean companies must plan their money carefully before they hire someone from outside.
Core Financial Obligations of the Sponsor
Being a sponsor in 2026 is a big responsibility. It is not only about paying the visa fee. You promise that the worker will be safe with money and your company is strong enough.
Market Rate Compensation
The ImmD wants to make sure local people in Hong Kong are not losing jobs. So the salary and other benefits must be similar to what other people get for the same work in Hong Kong. In 2026, if the monthly salary is below HK$20,000 to HK$25,000 for new or entry-level jobs, the ImmD looks very closely. The job offer must have:
- A good basic salary that matches the person’s education and skills.
- Extra things like help with house rent, health insurance, and tickets to travel home. All these things must be written clearly in the work contract.
If the basic salary is not very high, giving extra money for housing can make the visa application look better to the ImmD.
Proof of Financial Standing
If your company is new (less than 2 years old) or does not make much money yet, you must show strong proof that you can keep going. The ImmD may ask you to send:
- Recent financial reports that are checked by an auditor (like profit and loss papers).
- Your business registration certificate and papers for your office rent to show your business is real.
- Bank papers that show you have enough money in the bank for 6 to 12 months of business costs.
This proof tells the ImmD that your company can pay the worker every month.
Maintenance and Repatriation Guarantee
When you sign the sponsor form (ID 990B), you make a promise in law. You say you will take care of the worker. If the job stops, you must pay for the worker’s plane ticket to go back to their home country. You cannot say no to this promise.
These money duties are very serious for every sponsor.
Compliance & Statutory Risks in 2026
In 2026, different government offices like the tax office (IRD) and labour office share information more. It is now easy for them to see if a company is not following the rules.
- The “468 Rule” for Continuous Contracts From January 18, 2026, a new rule started. It is called the 468 Rule. If a worker does 68 hours or more of work in any 4-week period, they get “continuous contract” status. This means they get extra benefits like: Paid days off on public holidays. Paid sick days and paid holiday leave that adds up over time. Insurance protection under the Employees’ Compensation rules. Companies must watch work hours carefully so they give the right benefits.
- Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Duties You must put the visa worker in an MPF retirement plan in the first 60 days of work. Some workers from other countries may not need it if they have their own retirement plan outside Hong Kong. Both the company and the worker pay 5% of the salary to MPF every month. The highest amount the company pays is HK$1,500 per month for each worker. This rule stays the same in 2026.
- Salaries Tax Reporting (IR56 Series) The company must tell the tax office (IRD) about the worker. Send form IR56E in the first 3 months after hiring the person. Send form IR56F or IR56G one month before the worker leaves the job or leaves Hong Kong. When the worker is leaving, you must keep their last month’s salary until they get a special letter from the tax office called “Letter of Release.”
If you forget to send these forms or do not follow the rules, you can get a fine up to HK$10,000. There can also be bigger legal problems.
Pro-Tip: Leveraging “Employer of Record” (EOR)
If your company does not have an office in Hong Kong yet, but you want to hire an important person, you can use an Employer of Record (EOR) service. The EOR company becomes the legal sponsor. They take care of all the money things like MPF payments, tax forms, and visa rules. This helps you follow all 2026 rules without opening your own Hong Kong office. Many companies use this to save time and money.
Master Your Hong Kong Hiring Strategy
Hiring workers from other countries in 2026 needs good planning. Learn about the fees, salary rules, tax reports, and other duties. When you follow everything correctly, you can get good talent easily and avoid big costs or delays.
Would you like a simple checklist for 2026? It can show all the papers like tax forms and bank statements that a new company needs to send to the ImmD.
Disclaimer: This article is only to give information and help you learn. Please always check the official Hong Kong Immigration Department website or ask a lawyer before you make any important decisions about business or money.