Hiring a helper in Hong Kong
A short, sourced guide for families. Rules change: check the official pages linked below before you sign anything.
Facts checked on 2026-11-06.
The steps
The steps to hire a foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong: agency, direct hire or an app; the standard contract and visa; the minimum allowable wage; and what to check.
- Decide what you need. Who she will care for (children, elderly, pets), cooking, languages, whether she has her own room, and when she should start.
- Choose how to find her. Through an employment agency, directly, or through an app that lists agencies' helpers (see the comparison below).
- Interview. Meet or video-call shortlisted helpers. Ask about past duties, reasons for leaving and references.
- Sign the standard contract and apply for her visa. Employer and helper sign the Standard Employment Contract (ID 407) and apply to the Immigration Department (forms ID 988A and ID 988B). An agency usually prepares the paperwork.
- Before she arrives. Arrange employees' compensation insurance (required by law), her room and her first day off.
Agency, direct hire or app?
| Employment agency | Direct hire | App listing agencies' helpers (e.g. onehelper) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who finds candidates | The agency | You (referrals, groups) | You browse many agencies' helpers in one place |
| Contract and visa paperwork | The agency | You | The helper's agency |
| Cost to the employer | Agency fee (varies by agency) | No agency fee | Free to browse; the agency fee applies if you hire through it |
| Licence protection | Agencies must hold a Labour Department licence | None | Only licensed agencies can list helpers |
Where onehelper helps
Search helpers from many licensed agencies, with confirmation dates and salaries.
Check the agency's licence and her details before the interview.
Compare the agency's appraisal, languages and skills.
Money: the minimum allowable wage
- Minimum allowable wage: HK$5,220 a month for contracts signed on or after 3 October 2026 (it was HK$5,100 before).
- Food: provide free food, or a food allowance of not less than HK$1,236 a month.
- An employment agency may charge the helper a commission of no more than 10% of her first month's wages.
Official sources
- Labour Department — foreign domestic helpers portal
- Immigration Department — visas for foreign domestic helpers
- Employment Agencies Portal — check an agency's licence
- Report on the 2026 wage change (Lewis Silkin, Oct 2026)
- Employment Agency Regulations (Cap. 57A) — maximum commission
- Employees' Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282) — compulsory insurance