Planning to work in Hong Kong? Be prepared to pay up to eight times more. As of late February, the Immigration Department rolled out a new two-tier fee system: long stays (over 180 days) now cost HK$1,900 (around $242), compared to just HK$230 before.
Even short-term visas doubled in cost to HK$1,200. The change is part of efforts to offset Hong Kong’s HK$80.3 billion budget deficit, caused mainly by a sluggish real estate market.
Meanwhile, there’s good news too—Hong Kong passport holders now enjoy visa-free travel to Qatar for up to 30 days. That’s one way the city is trying to boost trade and tourism ties while tightening spending at home.
