Hk Permanent Id card Tourist visa

I Need to know.: If someone came to HK in 2000 stayed here on a tourist visa working for a company in Europe and paying tax there, then in 2002 gets a working visa in HK and a non permanent HK id card, that expired a year later when the company closed, after that back to work for European company and paying tax in Europe. now 2008 would it be possible to apply for and get a permanent Id card in HK ? Or does it require that i paid tax in HK ? of course i paid tax for the year i worked here, one poine is that in the past 7-8 years i was never out of HK for more than maximun 2 months, Does anyone have experience with this.. I want to know more before i risk the big step going to immigration .. Thanks

Your situation definitely needs to be addressed with immigration if you're serious about getting the permanent id. If you're staying here legally anyway what's the harm of asking them?

You need to have paid tax (assuming you don't live in Hong Kong as a dependant and on that kind of visa). Sorry, but they are particular about that, I know people that have lived in Hong Kong on work visa's for eleven years that were denied PR because tax records were not complete and I don't really blame them, if you want the unequivocal right to live and work in Hong Kong, then you should have paid the tax here.


I appreciate your company may have paid you in a way so your tax liability is in Europe rather than Hong Kong, but that is not going to go down well with the SAR government when you try and explain to them why you were living and working in Hong Kong, using services provided by the Hong Kong Government, yet paying tax to a European government instead.


The other thing is I would not tell them under any circumstance that you were working in Hong Kong under a tourist visa. If you are here and working legally now, then you should begin your start date from the time you have a job where local taxes are paid and have a valid work visa. Do not use tourist visa stays as the basis of an application for permanent residency.

The immigration rules are quite clear. You need to be on a visa or permit that gives you residency here in HK for a continuous period of 7 years. A visitors visa does not count and the year you have already worked would not count either.

You are not allowed to work/study/volunteer on a tourist visa. You better don't talk to the Immigration at all about your situation as you have been basically living here illegaly. The seven years required to become a permanent resident mean you have to have been here legally - employment/dependent/investment/student visa. Definetely not on a tourist visa.

Thanks all.. Especially lace, and Digital blonde for your long reply .... It seems my situation is not what i wanted for Christmas. . Sad to live here, spend every dime i make here and still be an outcast, I wonder if its better or worse for Mexicans in the US ? Well after 8 years enough is enough.. Ill pack my bags and look for a more friendly place to live.....


Or, last question, would it work if i marry a chiese ? how long would it take for me to get a permanent id. ? Would it be ok to marry another permanent id card holder thats not chinese but expat?

Thanks cara, Mmm id expect that my own income from Europe will count too. But at least as you say id be able to work here in any job, that would make a big difference. As i thought it's not that simple, living here for 8 or as i heard some did for 20 years don't automatically give a permanent id card. I see now how hard it is and i guess ther would be a line from wan chai to Yuen long of people wanting a permanent id card if it was as eas as i hoped. thanks again all for your replies... I didn't know this forum worked so well... thanks and Merry Christmas...