Hiring a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong follows the same standard employment contract and Immigration Department process whether you go through an agency or hire directly. We support both employers and helpers — including direct-hire arrangements that skip the agency and its fee.
Employer Requirement
Household income of at least HK$15,000/month, or comparable assets, plus suitable live-in accommodation.
Same Contract, No Agency Needed
Direct hire uses the identical government Standard Employment Contract — you just skip the agency's placement fee.
Contract Length
The standard contract runs 2 years, for both agency and direct-hire arrangements.
Current Minimum Wage
HK$5,100/month plus HK$1,236 food allowance, effective for contracts signed on or after 30 Sept 2025.
Employer Eligibility
- Household income of at least HK$15,000 per month, or assets of comparable value, sufficient to support the helper for the full contract
- A bona fide Hong Kong resident with no adverse immigration or labour-law record
- Suitable accommodation that gives the helper reasonable privacy (helpers must live in)
- Willingness to sign the government-prescribed Standard Employment Contract (Form ID407) — custom contracts are not permitted
Helper Eligibility
- A valid passport with adequate return validity
- A clean criminal record and no security concerns
- Normally at least 2 years' prior domestic-service experience, verified by a testimonial
Mainland, Macao, and Taiwan residents are not eligible for this specific visa category, along with nationals of a short list of restricted countries.
What "Direct Hire" Actually Changes
Immigration Department guidance confirms employers may recruit a domestic helper "through an agency or directly via personal advertisements or referrals." Once a candidate is found, the process is identical either way — same Standard Employment Contract, same visa application, same eligibility checks. What direct hire skips is the agency's matching service and its fee, which is legally capped at 10% of the helper's first month's wages. In exchange, the employer takes on candidate sourcing and vetting themselves rather than relying on an agency's screening.
Documents You'll Typically Need
- Employer: Hong Kong ID/passport, proof of income or assets, proof of residential address, four signed copies of the Standard Employment Contract
- Helper: completed application form with photo, passport copy, experience testimonial
How Long Does It Take?
Per Immigration Department guidance, new visa applications typically take about four to six weeks once complete documents are received; contract renewals are faster, at roughly 10 working days. Actual timing can vary with case complexity and volume.
Getting Your Domestic Helper Arrangement Right
Eligibility & Contract Review
We confirm employer and helper eligibility and prepare the Standard Employment Contract correctly, whether agency-sourced or direct hire.
Documentation Preparation
We help gather income, address, and identity documentation for a complete application.
Submission & Follow-Through
We file the application and manage correspondence with the Immigration Department until a decision is issued.
Worried you don't meet the income or asset threshold?
The HK$15,000 monthly income guideline isn't the only way to demonstrate you can support a helper — comparable assets and other circumstances are also considered. Let's look at your actual situation before you assume it won't work.
Domestic Helper Visa Questions
What does "direct hire" actually mean for a domestic helper?
It simply describes how you found your helper — directly, through personal advertisements or referrals — rather than through an employment agency. The visa application, the government-prescribed Standard Employment Contract, and Immigration Department requirements are exactly the same either way. What direct hire avoids is the agency's placement service and its fee, which is legally capped at 10% of the helper's first month's wages.
Is a domestic helper agency legally required in Hong Kong?
No. Hong Kong law does not require you to use an agency to hire a foreign domestic helper. You can recruit directly, as long as the standard contract and Immigration Department process are still followed correctly.
What is the current minimum wage for a domestic helper?
As of contracts signed on or after 30 September 2025, the Minimum Allowable Wage is HK$5,100 per month, plus a food allowance of HK$1,236 per month (if the employer does not provide food directly). These figures are reviewed periodically by the government — we confirm the current rate whenever we prepare a contract.
How long is a standard domestic helper contract?
Two years, which is the standard, government-prescribed contract length for both agency-sourced and direct-hire arrangements.
Last reviewed August 20, 2026 against current Immigration & Labour Department guidance. Hong Kong policy and wage figures change periodically — this page is for general information only, not a guarantee of eligibility or outcome. Book a consultation and we'll confirm exactly how current rules apply to your situation.
Hiring a domestic helper, agency-free or not?
We handle the contract and visa paperwork correctly either way, so nothing holds up your application.
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