In a move widely welcomed by multinational employers, the Hong Kong Immigration Department will from 1 March 2026 allow holders of the territory’s main employment-based visas to file their extension-of-stay applications up to three months before the current visa expiry date.
The change applies to assignees and their dependants under the General Employment Policy, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents & Professionals, the Science & Technology Talent Admission Scheme, the Arrangement for Non-local Graduates, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Hong Kong Permanent Residents. (Top-Talent Pass holders have enjoyed the early-filing window since November 2024.) Stand-alone dependent renewals sponsored by permanent residents, and training-visa renewals, are excluded.
To further ease these logistics, VisaHQ’s dedicated Hong Kong team (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers an online dashboard that tracks expiry dates, pre-screens supporting documents and submits bundled renewal packages directly to the Immigration Department, giving employers and assignees extra peace of mind.
![Hong Kong allows foreign employees to renew work visas three months earlier]()
Immigration lawyers note that the previous practice—submitting renewals no earlier than four weeks before expiry—often left little time to gather supporting documents such as updated employment contracts, mandatory provident-fund statements and tax receipts. The earlier window should reduce last-minute pressures, lower the risk of inadvertent overstay and give HR teams a clearer runway to plan business travel for key staff.
For companies running regional headquarters out of Hong Kong, the policy also minimises disruption to Greater Bay Area assignments. Dependants who rely on the principal’s status can now synchronise renewals with school holidays and avoid clashing with peak travel periods. Immigration advisers recommend that employers review their internal calendars and remind foreign staff whose visas expire after 1 June 2026 to start preparing renewed employment contracts and proof of income in April.
The Immigration Department has not changed the documentary requirements or the general two-year extension period, but officials indicated they will monitor volumes and may digitise more of the process later this year as part of the Smart Immigration Roadmap.
The change applies to assignees and their dependants under the General Employment Policy, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents & Professionals, the Science & Technology Talent Admission Scheme, the Arrangement for Non-local Graduates, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Hong Kong Permanent Residents. (Top-Talent Pass holders have enjoyed the early-filing window since November 2024.) Stand-alone dependent renewals sponsored by permanent residents, and training-visa renewals, are excluded.
To further ease these logistics, VisaHQ’s dedicated Hong Kong team (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) offers an online dashboard that tracks expiry dates, pre-screens supporting documents and submits bundled renewal packages directly to the Immigration Department, giving employers and assignees extra peace of mind.
Immigration lawyers note that the previous practice—submitting renewals no earlier than four weeks before expiry—often left little time to gather supporting documents such as updated employment contracts, mandatory provident-fund statements and tax receipts. The earlier window should reduce last-minute pressures, lower the risk of inadvertent overstay and give HR teams a clearer runway to plan business travel for key staff.
For companies running regional headquarters out of Hong Kong, the policy also minimises disruption to Greater Bay Area assignments. Dependants who rely on the principal’s status can now synchronise renewals with school holidays and avoid clashing with peak travel periods. Immigration advisers recommend that employers review their internal calendars and remind foreign staff whose visas expire after 1 June 2026 to start preparing renewed employment contracts and proof of income in April.
The Immigration Department has not changed the documentary requirements or the general two-year extension period, but officials indicated they will monitor volumes and may digitise more of the process later this year as part of the Smart Immigration Roadmap.
