[Full Guide to Hiring Workers] A guide to hiring foreign workers, intermediary fees, conditions and precautions in one article

According to the Immigration Department Ordinance, those who hire foreign domestic helpers must be Hong Kong residents. For each foreign domestic helper hired, the applicant's annual salary must be no less than HK$180,000, i.e., no less than HK$15,000 per month on average, or holding assets of similar value.

The following supporting documents must also be provided with the application:

• Hong Kong ID Card
• Proof of Employer's Residence
• Economic proof
• The most recent tax assessment and payment notice issued by the Inland Revenue Department, OR
• Display bank passbooks/monthly statements showing automatic salary payments for the past 3 months, OR
• Payment slips/notifications issued by the company in the past 3 months; OR
• Proof of holding similar assets (approximately HK$360,000 to HK$400,000), such as the most recent property assessment notice, fixed or savings statements for the past 6 months, etc.

If you are self-employed or a company director, the following supporting documents are required:

• The most recent tax assessment and payment notice issued by the Inland Revenue Department, OR
• Corporate profits tax return, and supporting documentation proving your relationship with the company, such as a business registration certificate/share allocation record, OR
• Proof of approved bank credit lines for the company, or proof of holding similar assets (approximately HK$360,000 to HK$400,000), such as the most recent property assessment notice, savings deposit statements, etc.

1. Find a suitable domestic helper

If you want to find a domestic helper on your own, in addition to introductions from relatives and friends, you can also try to select your favorite helper for an interview on online platforms, social media groups, domestic helper website advertisements, or mobile matching apps. However, some apps require a monthly fee or contain hidden costs.

2. Interview and Background Check

Once a suitable domestic helper has been found, an interview and background check are necessary. In addition to verifying identification documents, the background check involves cross-referencing the helper's documents, work records, interview performance, and previous employer evaluations to determine if the helper's experience and resume are genuine and meet the family's needs. For example, if the helper's resume includes experience caring for infants, the interview can focus on procedures such as formula preparation and feeding, and addressing issues like incessant nighttime crying in infants. Inquire in different situations to confirm the worker's skill level. When asking questions, the focus should be on situational questions to prevent domestic helpers from memorizing standard answers through training.

3. Complete the standard employment contract (ID407) and other documents.

After passing the interview, the employer or domestic helper needs to personally collect four copies of Standard Employment Contract (ID407) from the Immigration Department, and fill in ID988A (To be filled out by the domestic helper) and ID988B (To be filled out by the employer). If hiring an Indonesian domestic helper, a medical examination and contract notarization in Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong are required first.

4. Consular notarization and Immigration Department visa application

After completing the contract, you can submit it along with the required supporting documents through the GovHK, or schedule an appointment to visit the Immigration Department in person. Alternatively, you can mail your work visa application to the Immigration Department Headquarters in Tseung Kwan O. The Immigration Department will notify you of the result by mail or email after reviewing your application. If approved, you can download or print the e-visa yourself. After obtaining the entry visa, Filipino domestic helpers need to go to the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong in person to process contract verification and authentication.

5. Purchase foreign domestic helper insurance.

Hong Kong law requires employers to buy insurance for domestic helpers. This covers the employer's basic legal responsibilities, as well as compensation for expenses incurred due to accidental injury or illness of the domestic helper during work. The employer can purchase a Domestic helper insurance after confirming and signing the new contract to avoid violating the law.

1. Avoid making hasty decisions.

Hiring a domestic helper is a major decision, and employers need to conduct thorough background checks and ask as many situational questions as possible during the interview to find a helper who truly meets the family's needs. Employers should also obtain reference letters from the helper's previous employers or contact them directly to understand the helper's work performance and specific reasons for leaving.

2. Pay attention to financial and legal requirements.

Before hiring a domestic helper, you should first ensure that your assets and income meet financial and legal requirements, and that the helper provides at least the minimum wage as required by law, free accommodation and meals or meal allowances with reasonable privacy, and that the employer purchases employee compensation insurance or Domestic helper insurance with more comprehensive coverage as required by law.

3. Daily Management and Communication

To maintain a good long-term relationship with a domestic helper, it is essential to communicate and respect each other. Employers can establish clear house rules from the outset for the helper to refer to and follow, specifying the scope of her work and expectations, while also respecting the helper's religious and cultural differences.

To establish a long-term, stable, and harmonious relationship with the domestic helper, the employer can set a clear and easy-to-follow set of house rules for her from the beginning. These rules can cover requirements related to work, hygiene, and caring for family members, so that the domestic helper understands the employer's needs.

• Establishing bilingual (Chinese and English) family rules makes it easier for domestic workers to follow.
• Detailed work schedule and daily task list for the female worker
• The document specifies the work attitude and hygiene requirements for the female employees, such as not washing clothes with the employer's clothes and not wasting food.
• If you require care for infants, children, or the elderly, please specify the care requirements, such as not allowing children to use mobile phones without permission, and maintaining accurate medication records for the elderly.
• The document outlines privacy, safety, and financial requirements for female workers, such as prohibiting them from reading the employer's private emails, not smoking, and using the employer's address to apply for private loans.
• Write down the restrictions on the female worker's mobile phone use.

In addition to the wages of hiring a domestic helper, the law stipulates that employers must purchase insurance for domestic helpers and provide them with free medical care, including payment for outpatient visits, hospitalization, and dental emergencies. Different insurance companies offer Comprehensive domestic helper insurance with broader coverage that includes dental insurance, service interruption allowance, domestic helper credit protection, and loan protection to ensure that both employers and employees are adequately protected. For instance, there are three different protection plans available on MSIG Domestic Helper Insurance to suit employers with different budgets and family needs.

*The above information is for reference only as of July 14, 2026. All information is subject to the announcements of the relevant insurance companies.