Hong Kong•AsiaVaries
230 HKD
Contract duration
Yes
Required
Allowed
No
Not Required
Addresses acute manpower shortage in the aviation industry at Hong Kong International Airport by importing ground handling and related workers.
The Sector-specific Labour Importation Scheme for the Aviation Industry was formally established in 2023 as a strategic response to the post-pandemic operational crisis facing the Hong Kong International Airport. As global air travel demand surged following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the aviation sector encountered an acute and systemic manpower shortage that threatened the airport’s status as a premier international aviation hub. Created under the authority of the Labour Department and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, this scheme operates as a targeted exception to the general policy of prioritizing local employment. It serves as a vital bridge in the immigration system, filling a critical gap where local recruitment efforts—despite mandated, rigorous local advertising—have failed to meet the operational requirements of ground handling, ramp services, and passenger support. By streamlining the importation of essential personnel, the government aims to ensure the airport’s capacity remains sufficient to support Hong Kong’s economic recovery and its role as a gateway to the Greater Bay Area.
The ideal applicant for this scheme is a skilled or semi-skilled worker possessing relevant experience in ground support operations, such as aircraft maintenance, ramp handling, cabin cleaning, or passenger terminal services. Unlike traditional employment visas that often require high-level academic qualifications or specialized professional designations, this visa is distinctively focused on operational utility and industry-specific competency. It is designed for individuals who can immediately integrate into the high-pressure environment of the airport, provided their prospective employer holds an approved quota under the scheme. A defining feature of this visa is the mandatory adherence to the median monthly wage requirement for the specific role, which serves as a safeguard to prevent the undercutting of local labor standards. While the visa offers a streamlined pathway for foreign workers to contribute to the aviation sector, it is characterized by its employer-tied nature; the visa is strictly linked to the quota-holding company, meaning beneficiaries do not have the flexibility to change employers freely. This limitation ensures that the imported labor remains concentrated in the specific areas of the aviation industry where the shortage is most severe, providing a regulated, temporary solution to the industry's ongoing staffing challenges.
Set by respective bureaux
Applicants must be registered business entities with a direct contract, license, franchise, or passenger handling permit with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK).
Must prove sufficient efforts to recruit local workers for at least 14 consecutive days within the four months preceding the application.
Salary offers for local recruitment must be no less than the latest median wages for the respective job types.
Must cover 10 specific frontline non-supervisory airport job types (e.g., Passenger Services Officer, Ramp Services Agent, Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic).
Must provide free passage to/from the worker's place of origin and Hong Kong at the start and end of the employment term.
Job Offer
Required
Education
none or higher
Completed Declaration and Authorisation Form (Annex B1).
Joint Declaration Form on Importing Labour from the Mainland to Hong Kong (Annex B2).
Signed Standard Employment Contract.
Proof of local recruitment efforts (e.g., advertisement records, job fair participation).
Valid travel document of the worker.
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