A taste of Hong Kong and China by joining the working holiday scheme in Hong Kong!

To foster cultural and educational exchange and to reinforce the bilateral relationships between Hong Kong and the participating countries, the HKSAR government has established the Working Holiday Scheme. Through the scheme, overseas young people aged 18 to 30 can gain valuable experience while living and working in HK. During their stay abroad, they can gain a better understanding of the cultural and social developments of HK. The new experience that they gain would help enhance their self-confidence, adaptability and interpersonal skills.

Eligibility and entitlement
National passport holders of the participating countries between 18 and 30 years old who are ordinarily residing in their home country and whose main intention to Hong Kong is for holiday are welcomed to join the Scheme. Successful applicants will be allowed to stay up to 12 months in Hong Kong and take up temporary employment for not more than three months with the same employer. Depends on countries, participants can enroll into short educational course(s), including CLC Chinese language courses, to equip themselves for their short-term employment and giving more fun to their holiday in HK.

Application for Working Holiday Visa
Completed application form together with the required documents may be sent either (1) to the HK Immigration Department by post directly or (2) by post or in person to any of the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions in the participating country.

Inbound working holiday in HK for eligible residents of the participating countries: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_10.htm
Outbound working holiday for eligible HK residents to the participating countries: http://whs.esdlife.com/

Countries that have bilateral Working Holiday Scheme agreement with the HKSAR (as at July 2010)
(Information on in-bound working holiday in HK only)

Countries
(in alphabetical order)
Annual quota Number of study or training courses allowed CLC course suggestions
Australia 5000 any number (course duration of not more than 3 months) - 1 weekday evening course
- 1 regular school term
- Foundation Certificate Programme in Putonghua for Non-native Chinese Speakers普通話(非華語人士)基礎證書課程 (July daytime only)
- Foundation Certificate Programme in Cantonese for Non-native Chinese Speakers粵語(非華語人士)基礎證書課程 (July daytime only)
- Other Summer daytime short course(s)
Canada 200 any number (cumulative duration of courses not more than 6 months) - Certificate Programme in Putonghua as a Foreign/ Second Language普通話(對外漢語)證書課程
- Certificate Programme in Cantonese as a Foreign/ Second Language粵語(對外漢語)證書課程
- Foundation Certificate Programme in Putonghua for Non-native Chinese Speakers普通話(非華語人士)基礎證書課程
- Foundation Certificate Programme in Cantonese for Non-native Chinese Speakers粵語(非華語人士)基礎證書課程
- 2 regular school terms
- 3 school terms of week-day evening courses
- 1 school term of week-end course
- Summer daytime short course(s)
Germany 150 one only (course duration of not more than 6 months) - Certificate Programme in Putonghua as a Foreign/ Second Language
普通話(對外漢語)證書課程
- Certificate Programme in Cantonese as a Foreign/ Second Language
粵語(對外漢語)證書課程
- Foundation Certificate Programme in Putonghua for Non-native Chinese Speakers
普通話(非華語人士)基礎證書課程
- Foundation Certificate Programme in Cantonese for Non-native Chinese Speakers
粵語(非華語人士)基礎證書課程
- 1 school term of week-end course
- 1 Summer daytime short course
Ireland 100 not allowed - Not applicable
Japan 250 one only (course duration of not more than 6 months) - Same as Germany
New Zealand 400 one only (course duration of not more than 3 months) - Same as Australia

Note: Bilateral agreement with Korea is under construction.

 


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