If you’re relocating to Hong Kong, whether it be for business or personal reasons, there are a number of things you may want to make yourself aware of before making the big move. With this guide, we hope to make your move to Hong Kong as easy as possible.
You’ve decided to throw caution to the wind and move to Hong Kong, so what’s next on your to-do list?
Moving country can be a stressful but exciting experience.
But before you move to Hong Kong, you’ll want to know as much about your new home country so that when you arrive, you’re ready to hit the ground running.
In our Ultimate Guide to Moving to Hong Kong, we’ll explain everything you need to know about moving country.
And we’ll show you the best, most cost-efficient ways of getting all of your personal belongings over to Hong Kong quickly and in one piece.
So, whether you’re moving to Hong Kong from Scotland, Mexico, Honduras or somewhere in between, here’s everything you need to know.
Hong Kong, commonly known by nicknames such as ‘Asia’s World City’ and ‘Fragrant Harbour’ and ‘The Vertical City, is located in South China.
Hong Kong’s official name is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
With nearly 7.5 million residents, it is one of the most densely populated places in the world.
Famous for its towering skyscrapers and modern, thriving economy, Hong Kong is a welcoming, culturally diverse city popular for expats.
Language: Chinese and English
Population: 7.5 million
Currency: Hong Kong dollar
Timezone: Hong Kong Standard Time: (GMT+8)
Date Format: yyyy-mm-dd
Dialling Code: +852
As one of the most developed cities globally, Hong Kong enjoys a unique position politically and economically within China.
Initially a colony of the British Empire, the city was transferred to China in 1997, where it ultimately became a ‘special administrative region’ of China.
Ranked fourth in the Global Financial Centres Index, Hong Kong has a thriving economy and is home to the third-highest number of billionaires in any city worldwide.
Hong Kong is packed full of cool things to do, no matter how you like spending your free time and weekends.
Here’s our pick of the bunch.
Enjoy connections of the mind, body and spirit? Visit Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha), a 34-metre statue that is world-famous.
Want to get high on life? Say hello to ‘The Peak’ – offering incredible views of Victoria Harbour.
Fancy setting sail? You’ll love the Star Ferry, where you can hop aboard and enjoy quick journeys across Victoria Harbour between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
Adrenaline junkie? Add Happy Valley to your to-do list, with everything from horseracing to football and hockey catered for.
Want a great Instagram selfie? Then, start planning your visit to Dragon’s Back, one of Hong Kong’s most spectacular hiking trails.
Love Disney? Start making plans now to Visit Disneyland Hong Kong, full of fairy tales and seven incredible lands to explore.
Alongside London, New York, Singapore and Beijing, Hong Kong is one of the key financial centres globally.
And coupled with its status as a financial centre and important city, there are many job opportunities and excellent standard of living.
People considering moving to Hong Kong will enjoy a welcoming, culturally diverse and unique city.
With world-class food and entertainment on your doorstep and spectacular scenery, Hong Kong has something for everyone.
Before you move to a new country, there is, unsurprisingly, many things you need to understand.
And unfortunately, sometimes, the excitement and stress of planning a move can be overwhelming.
But by doing your research before you catch a flight, you can make your big move as stress-free as possible.
Here are the main things you need to know about Hong Kong before travelling there.
Visas aren’t the most exciting topic in the world, but you should prioritise sorting out your immigration as soon as possible.
That’s because, to live and work in Hong Kong permanently, you need to have the correct visa.
The type of visa you’ll need will depend on your home country.
It’ll also depend on whether Hong Kong already has an immigration agreement in place with your country.
Ultimately, the type of visa you will need will depend on the length of time you plan to spend in Hong Kong, your purpose for moving there and where you were born.
The main types of Hong Kong visas are:
For comprehensive Hong Kong visa information, visit the government’s official Hong Kong visa website.
Hong Kong can be an expensive place to live.
For example, renting a one-bedroom flat in the city centre in Hong Kong costs an average price of HK$16,551 per month, which is just HK$1,000 less than the notoriously expensive equivalent in London.
However, unlike London, Hong Kong food is priced at nearly 50% less than other big cities.
And as we mentioned earlier, you can enjoy food in Michelin-starred restaurants for significantly less than in most other cities in the world.
So, while some aspects of life in Hong Kong can be expensive, such as rent, others like food and everyday groceries are priced modestly.
As a global financial hub with a robust economy, Hong Kong offers many job opportunities.
At the end of 2021, the unemployment rate in Hong Kong was hovering around just 3.9%/
High paying jobs are available in various industries, including finance, services, technology and hospitality.
According to the jobs website, Indeed, the top ten highest paid jobs in Hong Kong are:
The Hong Kong education system is modelled on the British educational system, which has a global reputation for high-quality education.
Education in Hong Kong is free and is mandatory in junior secondary school and primary school.
Higher education has been growing in reputation in Hong Kong and has been recognised globally.
For example, the University of Hong Kong has consistently increased yearly from a lowly 39 in the QS rankings in 2004 to 22nd place in 2022.
Hong Kong’s healthcare system consistently ranks in the top ten globally.
Similar to the UK healthcare system, Hong Kong’s system offers virtually free healthcare.
There are over 40 hospitals in Hong Kong and around 15,000 doctors, so you’ll be well catered for should any health issues arise.
Whether you’re planning on living in Hong Kong for a year or a lifetime, you’ll enjoy a wide range of home options.
The biggest dilemma most expats face is renting or buying a home in Hong Kong.
The answer to that depends on how long you’re staying, but in all likelihood – with Hong Kong’s high prices for buying a home – renting might be your best option.
Hong Kong is a cultural hotbed of music, arts, literature and entertainment.
Thanks to its colonial past as a colony of the British empire and its location within China, Hong Kong has a great combination of Western culture alongside southeastern Chinese culture.
As a result of both cultural influences, Hong Kong enjoys a range of spectacular festivals every year.
These include the Dragon Boat Festival, Christmas, the Western New Year, Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Since China and Britain heavily influence Hong Kong, you’ll find a diverse range of food available.
And as we mentioned earlier, food is competitively priced in Hong Kong, and you’ll be able to enjoy food in Michelin-starred restaurants for nearly half the price of most big cities.
The two official languages of Hong Kong are English and Chinese.
Cantonese and Yue Chinese are the main Chinese languages spoken, while Hakka, Teochew and Southern Min are also represented.
However, as a culturally diverse city, you’ll find that most other languages are represented in some capacity.
Moving you and all of your possessions to Hong Kong can be complicated.
Thankfully, however, there are several options to choose from to make the process as stress-free and cheap as possible.
Understanding your options now will save you time and money later.
That’s because some options might be perfectly suited to your needs while others may not.
By land, air and sea, international removal services can transport your possessions to Hong Kong.
However, it’s worth remembering that costs can quickly mount.
It can be an ideal option if you’ve got large, bulky items like beds and tables, or even a car, to move from your home country to Hong Kong.
If affordability is vital to you, container shipping is usually the most affordable option.
But it’s vital to remember; a real disadvantage of container shipping is waiting time.
You could be waiting for up to 8 weeks for all of your possessions to arrive in Hong Kong.
Typically though, sea freight – while slower – is cheaper than air freight.
Before booking either option, check if the company delivers your belongings right to your door.
That’s because some companies require you to set up transportation from ports, which of course can result in your spending more time and money.
Whether Delhi, Moscow, Istanbul or Bangkok, My Baggage offers a convenient and low-cost international moving service.
My Baggage can help you relocate to over 200 countries worldwide, across over one thousand different routes.
You’ll enjoy stress-free door-to-door shipping, total online tracking and excellent customer support.
When it comes to your possessions, we know you can feel a little apprehensive about handing them over to a shipping company.
That’s why at My Baggage, we’re proud of being a company you can trust with your most essential items.
When you move to Hong Kong, you’ll want all of your possessions to arrive when you get there, not two months later.
Our fast, convenient, reliable, and low-cost door-to-door shipping service reunites you faster with your possessions.
Bonus tip: Consider selling your larger, bulkier items and buy replacements in Hong Kong.
When you’re moving to Hong Kong, money is tight.
That’s why at My Baggage, we offer incredibly low rates on our international shipping services.
We’re so confident in our pricing that we also offer a price match tool if you happen to find a better price.
My Baggage isn’t just one of the most affordable options for international shipping.
Our straightforward, convenient service offers excellent value for money.
We offer a massive 30kg/66lb weight allowance per item for as little as, for example, £198 for up to 30kg from mainland UK to Hong Kong.
Furthermore, you have the option to send as many items as you like with us.
My Baggage is ideal for suitcases and boxes of all of your most essential possessions you’d like to have with you in Hong Kong.
You can also send oversized items – such as sports equipment and musical instruments – with My Baggage.
From the moment you wave goodbye to your suitcases and boxes, you’ll be able to follow their journey to Hong Kong.
If you opt-in for text and email notifications, we’ll provide you with regular updates on where your items are right now and when they’ll arrive to meet you.
In addition, we also provide full online tracking for every shipment, which you can access anytime in your My Baggage account.
Our Customer Support is legendary; check out all of our independent 5-star reviews.
And we’re just a phone call, email or live chat away from helping you with any problems.
Nobody likes waiting around for their possessions.
As a result, we prioritise getting your items to your new Asian home as quickly and safely as possible.
My Baggage offers a brand new approach to transporting larger items such as bikes, musical instruments, and sporting equipment to Hong Kong.
Shipping your oversized items to Hong Kong with My Baggage is the most cost-effective, hassle-free way to get your possessions from A – B without breaking the bank.
In addition, My Baggage can often be much more cost-effective than hiring an entire international removals company for just a few items.
Airline baggage is expensive.
Indeed, we’ve all been caught out before with massive charges.
Add in the demoralising journey of dragging around suitcases through airports and train stations on your way to Hong Kong.
But what if you could enjoy a hassle-free, hands-free and stress-free journey to Hong Kong?
Say hello to My Baggage.
We’ll move everything over, so all you have to focus on in the airport is whether you grab a coffee from Costa or Starbucks.
Not excited about that long wait at the carousel for your suitcase?
That’ll be a thing of the past if you choose to ship luggage to Hong Kong with My Baggage.
Are you travelling to Hong Kong to further your education?
If so, you’re in luck!
The My Baggage team comprises former students and recent graduates, so we understand that money is tight for you.
As a result, My Baggage is here to make your big move to The Fragrant Harbour as easy as possible.
Our prices are student-budget friendly, and you can send as many items as you like with us; we offer a massive 30kg/66lbs weight allowance per box or suitcase.
With door-to-door collection and delivery to every campus in Hong Kong, our fast transit times and Express services will reunite you quickly with your belongings.
Find out what other students who use My Baggage think; they’re our greatest fans.
When shipping to Hong Kong, their Customs must clear all goods.
You are legally required to complete and send a customs invoice with your shipment.
If your shipment does not have a customs invoice attached, it will not make it past your local country border, and you may have to pay return charges to get it back.
My Baggage will automatically provide you with the appropriate customs documents for you to print, sign and attach to your shipment when you send luggage to Hong Kong.
Generally, My Baggage shipments clear customs promptly, free from duties and taxes, as most countries offer a generous duty-free allowance for personal effects.
However, customs processes and allowances differ significantly worldwide.
Because My Baggage has no direct association with any customs authority, we advise you to carry out your own research into Hong Kong customs regulations and quarantine before booking your shipment to Hong Kong.
Please make yourself aware of potential customs duties in Hong Kong and follow any advice provided by customs.
When completing your customs documents, it is crucial to do so correctly.
To demonstrate that your shipment consists of personal effects, you will be required to describe each item included in the package accurately.
For example, you would declare: “3 x t-shirts, 2 x pairs of jeans, 6 x dresses”, etc., instead of “11 x clothing”.
If you need to cancel or change your booking for any reason, My Baggage will offer you full credit on your account or a full refund if you select our Super Flexi fare.
For information regarding the current Covid-19 outbreak, please click here.
My Baggage specialises in shipping personal effects all over the world.
However, for security and customs reasons, certain items are considered prohibited.
Therefore, as a general rule, you can be sure that the following items are prohibited:
We also recommend you research what may be prohibited from entry into Hong Kong before booking your shipment, as import allowances differ globally.
Certain items may be specifically restricted from entry into Hong Kong by customs and/or quarantine.
For a comprehensive list of what you can and cannot bring into Hong Kong, click here.
Some items can be carried with My Baggage but may not be covered under our compensation cover.
Proceeding will be at your own risk.
If you decide to send any non-compensation items with My Baggage, please ensure they are packaged appropriately, with internal packaging for fragile items.
Find out more about My Baggage’s prohibited and non-compensation items.
When shipping your belongings to Hong Kong with My Baggage, we recommend using either suitcases or strong cardboard boxes.
Alternatively, you can use a mixture of both.
We advise against using fragile or expensive suitcases, as our compensation cover does not cover them.
We also recommend that you tape over any handles, etc., to protect them.
With boxes, it’s always best to invest in a new, sturdy, double-walled (or even triple-walled) cardboard box as they are most durable and suitable for transit.
Shipping your belongings to Hong Kong with My Baggage is easy.
Our straightforward online booking system is available 24/7 and takes just a few short minutes to complete.
Simply start by obtaining a quote straight from our website.
Once you’ve booked, we’ll send you some shipping labels to print and attach to your items.
After that, you can sit back and relax as we take care of everything else for you.
It really is that easy.
My Baggage offers convenient and affordable shipping services for absolutely everyone, whether you’re a business user, a holidaymaker, an expat or, of course, relocating.
No matter your reason, absolutely anyone can take advantage of our competitive prices and excellent services.
Many savvy business users regularly avail of our low cost and convenient shipping services to relocate their employees worldwide.
So, what are you waiting for?
