Foreign Domestic Helper Home Leave Explained: A Hong Kong Employer's Guide

What Is Home Leave?

Home leave (also called home vacation leave) is a mandatory requirement under the Standard Employment Contract (ID 407) that entitles every foreign domestic helper (FDH) in Hong Kong to return to their home country — typically the Philippines or Indonesia — for a minimum of 7 days at the end of each 2-year employment contract.

Home leave is a legal protection for helper welfare. It is separate from statutory annual leave and cannot be fulfilled by a short trip to Macau or mainland China.

Who Pays?

The employer is responsible for all travel costs, including the return flight ticket. Whether home leave is paid or unpaid must be mutually agreed and written into the employment contract before departure.

Two Options: Immediate or Deferred

Immediate home leave The helper departs within 7 days of the contract ending and returns to begin the new contract. A full 2-year visa is issued upon return.

Deferred home leave With mutual agreement, home leave can be deferred for up to one year. The helper first receives a 1-year visa. Once home leave is taken (minimum 7 days), the remaining visa time is granted.

Most employers and helpers opt for deferred home leave to avoid a gap in employment.

What If the Contract Ends Before Home Leave Is Taken?

If the contract is terminated before home leave is due, the employer remains responsible for:

• A return flight ticket to the helper's home country
• Any wages owed
• Other applicable contract entitlements

Important Notes

• Home leave cannot be fulfilled by exiting to Macau or mainland China
• The minimum stay in the home country is 7 consecutive days
• Arrangements must be agreed in writing before the contract period ends

Official Source

Home leave requirements are set out in Clause 13 of the Standard Employment Contract, governed by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (IMMD).