FDH Live-in Rule in Hong Kong: Legal Requirements & What Employers Should Know

Overview

The live-in requirement is baked into FDH employment in Hong Kong — it's in the visa, the contract, and immigration policy. You can't opt out of it by private agreement, no matter how convenient a live-out arrangement might seem.

The Legal Requirement

• FDHs must reside at the residential address specified in their contract and visa
• Live-out arrangements have been prohibited since 1 April 2003
• A narrow exception exists for employers who had special permission before April 2003 and have maintained continuous FDH employment without a break exceeding 6 months — this affects a very small number of cases

Why Is the Live-In Requirement in Place?

The policy exists to:

1. Guarantee helpers have somewhere to live (Hong Kong accommodation doesn't come cheap)
2. Allow employers to confirm the helper's residence for visa compliance
3. Make the single-employer rule easier to enforce

What the Employer Must Provide

• Free accommodation — the helper must not be charged rent
• Suitable accommodation (not a storeroom, corridor, or temporary sleeping space)
• Reasonable privacy — their own sleeping space, not shared with an adult of the opposite sex

What If the Employer Moves?

If you move to a new residential address:

1. Notify the Immigration Department using Form ID407G
2. Make sure the new address meets suitability standards
3. Get written consent from the housing authority if moving to public housing

Important Notes

• Asking a helper to sleep outside the home — in a storage unit, on a rooftop, or in another flat — is illegal
• Accommodation details are recorded in the "Schedule of Accommodation and Domestic Duties" section of the contract
• Short-term arrangements (e.g., helper staying temporarily at a relative's home while you travel) should be handled carefully and documented

Related Resources

• ImmD — FDH accommodation requirements
• Labour Department — helper rights guide