I just got laid off on a GEP work visa—how long can I stay in Hong Kong, and can I job-hunt on visitor status?

You can stay until your current limit of stay, and you don't need to leave and re-enter as a visitor to look for work. A sudden layoff is hard. ImmD says your current limit of stay is shown on your travel document or your latest e-Visa, so use the most recent of those.1

For a GEP professional on employment condition, the layoff ends your right to work, not your permission to stay. You may only take employment the Director of Immigration has approved, and changing employer needs prior approval,2 so you can't start a new job or take part-time work until it's granted, and a breach is prosecutable.3 If you're on the top-tier stream (time limitation only), you only need to notify ImmD of a change.4 The Technical Professionals stream is different: if no other employer in the same trade takes you on, you must leave within two months of the termination date or by your limit of stay, whichever is earlier.5 You or your former employer should notify ImmD online as soon as possible.6 Looking for work is fine. The visa doesn't stop you applying or interviewing, whether you're employed or not; what it restricts is starting work.

You don't need visitor status to job-hunt during your remaining stay. Visitors can't work, paid or unpaid, can change immigration status after arrival only in the most unusual circumstances,7 and shouldn't assume automatic entry.8 You can travel and come back while your GEP visa is still valid. If it expires while you're away, you return as a visitor. Visitors are technically not meant to job-hunt, and the break can count against the continuous residence needed for permanent residency.

Once you have an offer, you apply online for a change of employment with the new employer's supporting documents,9 and ImmD's published processing time is four weeks from receipt of all documents and the fee.10 That is typical, but it depends on the employer, your profile and the documents, and some cases take longer. Filing does not buy you time: if your limit of stay expires while the application is pending, you must leave before it does unless the Director approves otherwise in exceptional circumstances.11

Your limit of stay is the date to work to: a layoff doesn't bring it forward. How much room that leaves depends on the date and on how soon an offer comes. Find your limit of stay today. If it's close or unclear, email enquiry@immd.gov.hk,12 and don't wait for a reply to notify ImmD, file, or leave if the date comes first.