Immigration Cost in Hong Kong (2026)
Quick Answer
Estimated rangeIn Hong Kong, immigration costs usually have two parts: official Immigration Department visa or permit fees, and optional professional fees if you use a law firm or immigration consultant. Official government fees are often in the low hundreds to low thousands of HKD depending on the visa type, while professional help is commonly charged as a fixed package and is usually much higher than the government filing fee.
Overview
For immigration matters in Hong Kong, the cheapest route is usually to prepare and submit the application yourself and pay only the Immigration Department's official fee. The Hong Kong Immigration Department publishes fees for visas, entry permits, extensions of stay and changes of conditions of stay, and these are the most reliable baseline costs. For business-related immigration, common categories include employment visas under the General Employment Policy, investment visas/entrepreneur applications, dependant visas, extensions of stay, and APEC Business Travel Card applications. Where applicants want help with strategy, document preparation, drafting employer support letters, liaison with the Immigration Department or handling complex cases, they often use solicitors, law firms or corporate services providers. In Hong Kong these professional charges are typically quoted as a package rather than a simple hourly rate, especially for standard work visa applications. More complex cases, urgent timelines, appeals, reviews, or cases involving multiple family members normally increase the total cost materially. Hong Kong does not have a single licensed "immigration consultant" regime equivalent to some overseas markets, so many paid providers are law firms, accounting firms or corporate services firms. Because professional pricing is not consistently published, market ranges below are estimated where official figures are not publicly standardised. Government fees should generally be treated as the fixed minimum cost; professional fees are additional.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Visa/entry permit fee issued overseas by a Chinese diplomatic and consular mission(per application) Official fee schedule published by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Estimated range | ~HKD 230 – HKD 230 | Estimated range |
| Visa/entry permit fee issued in Hong Kong(per application) Fee depends on whether the limit of stay is 180 days or below, or more than 180 days. Estimated range | ~HKD 600 – HKD 1,300 | Estimated range |
| Change of conditions of stay or extension of stay(per application) Official published fee for extension of stay or change of conditions of stay. Estimated range | ~HKD 230 – HKD 230 | Estimated range |
| APEC Business Travel Card application(per card) Official fee listed by the Immigration Department. Estimated range | ~HKD 540 – HKD 540 | Estimated range |
| Professional fee for a standard Hong Kong work visa or dependant visa application(per application) Estimated range based on typical market rates charged in Hong Kong by law firms and corporate services providers for straightforward business immigration applications; government filing fees are additional. Estimated range | ~HKD 5,000 – HKD 20,000 | Estimated range |
| Professional hourly rate for solicitor-led immigration advice(per hour) Estimated range based on typical Hong Kong professional advisory rates for legal/business immigration work; many providers prefer fixed-fee quotes for standard visa cases. Estimated range | ~HKD 2,000 – HKD 5,000 | Estimated range |
What’s Typically Included
- Government filing fee if submitting directly
- Document review and application drafting if using a professional adviser
- Employer support letter drafting for employment-related cases
- Liaison with the Immigration Department in more comprehensive service packages
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Hong Kong Immigration Department
Variants & Configurations
Duration
Straightforward application preparation may take days to a few weeks; decision timing depends on the visa category and Immigration Department processing.
How Fees Work
Usually a combination of official Immigration Department fees plus optional professional fees. Professional providers in Hong Kong commonly charge fixed packages for standard visa applications, with hourly billing more common for complex advice, appeals, reviews or employer strategy work.
Factors Affecting Price
- Type of application, such as employment visa, investment/entrepreneur visa, dependant visa or extension of stay
- Whether you only pay the government filing fee or also hire a solicitor or corporate services provider
- Complexity of the case, including prior refusals, incomplete documents, urgent processing or multiple dependants
- Whether the visa is issued overseas or in Hong Kong, which changes the official fee band
Local Context
Hong Kong immigration fees are generally quoted in HKD. Professional service quotes may or may not include disbursements, translation, notarisation or courier charges, so it is worth checking the scope carefully. Tips are not relevant. For business immigration, employer-prepared documentation is often a major part of the workload and can affect legal or advisory fees more than the government charge itself.
These are data-informed estimate ranges, not confirmed prices.
Costs like this vary widely by job, location, timing and provider, so there is no single fixed price. The ranges here are based on typical market rates to give you a realistic ballpark. For an exact figure for your situation, get a quote or check the official source below.
All prices are in Hong Kong dollars (HKD).
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- Hong Kong Immigration Department · government
Official authority for Hong Kong visa and immigration applications.
- The Law Society of Hong Kong · industry
Relevant professional body for solicitors who may provide immigration legal services in Hong Kong.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum cost of immigration in Hong Kong?+
The minimum cost is usually the official Immigration Department fee if you apply yourself. For many visa or permit cases, published fees are in the range of HKD 230 to HKD 1,300 depending on the type and where the visa is issued.
Do I have to pay a lawyer or consultant?+
No. Many applicants submit directly to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Professional help is optional, but it can be useful for employer-sponsored cases, entrepreneur applications, refusals or complicated family situations.
Are professional immigration fees fixed or hourly in Hong Kong?+
For standard work visas and dependant visas, firms often quote a fixed package. Hourly charging is more common for complex advice, urgent work, appeals, compliance questions or unusual cases.
Does the government fee include approval of the visa?+
No. The fee is for the application or issuance step set by the Immigration Department. Paying the fee does not guarantee approval.
Why can total costs vary so much?+
The biggest difference is whether you use a professional adviser. A self-filed application may cost only the official fee, while a professionally prepared business immigration case can run into several thousand to tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.
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