Options for Self-Employed Artist to live in HK?

I am an American Illustrator who would like to live in Hong Kong. I can fully support myself by doing artwork for magazines and newspapers and have been doing it for the last three years in Beijing and Tokyo. I lived for 1.5 years in Beijing, China and currently have been living in Tokyo, Japan for 1 year. Why HK? Because for an Western artist it is a super inspirational place for art and for living. I would like to stay for at least 1 year and am wondering what my visa options are. I don't see an artist visa on the immigration website. I score 80 points for the QMS visa. I would try to do freelance jobs as an illustrator there, contributing to the economy that way. I am hoping that my freelance work that i have been living off for the last 4 years will qualify in their eyes as "supporting myself via my own financial resources". I sent basically this same question to the immigration office and they sent me an email back with the copy and pasted Investment (to establish/join in business) visa text, i they are guess suggesting that i try for that visa. Do I have any other options? Thank you for your help


-jason

Unless you qualify for Hong Kong's work holiday visa http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_10.htm, the answer is a resounding NO.


Hong Kong is still not particularly supportive of artists, and also the culture here kind of frowns upon being a freelancer. I've been helping a friend move here who is an entertainer, and the Investment Visa (not to be confused with the Capital investment visa) is indeed the only way to be self-employed here. Be aware that you will have to 1. set up a HK company and bank account 2. write a 3-yr business plan explaining why yours is a "serious" business that would contribute to the HK economy.


If you decide on this route then get in touch with Invest HK, a government agency that provides free service to guide foreigners in applying for this visa.


On the other hand, there are many foreigners who stay and work here illegally, they just leave to like, Macau every 3 months in order not to over-stay the normal tourist visa. I'm not advocating this, but if you can handle the risks...

I hope it's OK if I jump on this thread, as I have a roughly similar situation.


I have a UK registered business (operating as a sole trader) and I'd like to come and live in HK for 1-2 years. I design and print paper goods. My customers all reach me via the internet and are international, usually from the US and Australia.


My questions is, as my company is UK based and customers international, what visa, if any should I apply for?


The only one that vaguley applies from the Gov website is the 'Investment Visa' AIUI - 'to establish/join in business', this is the one that christine318 says is the only visa option for the self employed here. I'm fairly certain that I will fail this as my business has only been running fully for one year, and the profit/loss doesn't look great on paper yet; also I'm unlikely to be able to employ anyone for a while. I do have some capital and experience, but I don't think this will be sufficient.


Is there any other way to do this? The Macau method is a good tip, but if at all possible I'd rather find a more legit way of doing things.


FYI, my partner has been offered a permanent job here, but we're not married.


PS - Jason, I did see a 'Freelancers Visa' on the Govt website, it says you need a local sponsor and is valid for one year.