Opening in Hong Kong: GEP for Head Chefs, ESLS for Cooks

Hong Kong is the second largest destination for Japan's agri-food exports after the United States, which makes Japanese ingredients relatively easy to source. On the staffing side, what sets it apart is that the head chef and the cooks under them go through different schemes. The head chef uses the scheme for professionals, the cooks a labour importation scheme, and each needs its own plan.

This article is written for a Japanese restaurant company or owner opening in Hong Kong. Application steps for each scheme are covered in Hiring a Japanese chef in Hong Kong.

1. Hong Kong in numbers

Imports of Japanese food are large relative to the number of Japanese restaurants, so it is a comfortable place to open a restaurant built on Japanese ingredients. But the restaurant count is not large, and you will be competing for a limited pool of experienced Japanese cuisine cooks.

2. Different roles, different routes

3. Head chef: General Employment Policy (GEP)

According to the Immigration Department, the main conditions for the General Employment Policy (professionals) are:

• Special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong
• Normally a first degree in a relevant field, although in special circumstances good technical qualifications or proven professional abilities may be accepted instead
• A genuine vacancy and a confirmed offer of employment, in a job relevant to the person's education or experience that cannot be readily taken up by the local workforce
• Remuneration broadly commensurate with the prevailing market level for professionals in Hong Kong

Processing normally takes four weeks once all required documents and the fee are received. Approved professionals are normally allowed to stay for 36 months (or the length of the contract, if shorter), and can bring a spouse and unmarried children under 18.

For the opening plan, the key point is that a chef without a degree has to document special skills and proven professional ability. Start gathering the evidence (training history, restaurants run, awards, qualifications such as MAFF's Japanese cuisine cooking skill certification) as soon as the hire is agreed.

4. Cooks: Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS)

Posts at technician level and below come under the ESLS. The Labour Department publishes a list of catering-related posts. The main conditions are:

• A local recruitment exercise before the application
• Imported workers paid no less than the median monthly wage of local workers in comparable positions

The median for Cook (Japanese Cuisine) is HK$19,670 a month. If you bring Japanese cooks under the ESLS, treat that as your pay floor. And because local recruitment has to come first, applying just before opening will be too late. The Labour Department revises how the scheme operates and its forms from time to time, so check its current guidance before you apply.

5. Working holidays and Japanese residents

Japan and Hong Kong have a working holiday arrangement with an annual quota of 1,500 (MOFA, as of 1 April 2026). Young cooks and front of house staff can be part of the team for a fixed period. See hiring on working holidays.

23,228 Japanese nationals live in Hong Kong. Whether any of them can work for a restaurant depends on their own immigration status. When hiring someone such as an expatriate's family member, always check that they are permitted to work.

The minimum wage is HK$43.1 an hour from 1 May 2026. Set hourly pay for local hires at or above that level.

6. Building it into the opening schedule

How to work back from the opening date is covered in staffing an overseas opening.

7. Checklist

• Do you have documents showing the head chef's expertise is not readily available in Hong Kong?
• Is the head chef's pay in line with the Hong Kong market?
• If you use the ESLS, is local recruitment planned before the application?
• Is monthly pay for ESLS cooks at or above the median (HK$19,670 for Cook (Japanese Cuisine))?
• Have you checked the work rights of Japanese residents you hire locally?
• Is hourly pay for local staff at or above the minimum wage (HK$43.1)?

General information, not legal or immigration advice. Scheme details were checked as of September 2026. Check the Immigration Department and Labour Department for current requirements.