Question 1

How does SeekHelpers work with domestic helpers in Hong Kong?

Accepted Answer

SeekHelpers connects Hong Kong employers with helper profiles. Browsing and job posting are free. You can shortlist candidates, interview and choose a paid processing support plan for your hiring route. The 5,000+ figure refers to verified profiles, not placements or current availability.

Question 2

How long does it take to hire a helper through SeekHelpers?

Accepted Answer

Matching, interviews and hiring time vary by family and helper availability. Government and consular processing begins after the required documents are submitted. Confirm a case-specific timeline; an app shortlist is not a visa approval or arrival guarantee.

Question 3

What is the cost of hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong in 2026?

Accepted Answer

Profile browsing and job posting are free. Self Hire for an overseas Philippines helper is HK$6,999. Full Service base plans range from HK$13,999–16,999 depending on the route and package. Compare the published price and written inclusions for the helper's nationality, location and hiring route, including whether government, medical and travel charges are included.

Question 4

What documents do I need to hire a foreign domestic helper?

Accepted Answer

Common requirements include employer identity, income and address evidence, the Standard Employment Contract, and the helper's passport and status documents. Government and nationality-specific procedures determine the final checklist. SeekHelpers provides document collection and processing support for the selected service plan.

Question 5

What is the minimum wage for domestic helpers in Hong Kong?

Accepted Answer

Contracts signed from 3 October 2026 require at least HK$5,220/month MAW; existing contracts retain their signing-date rules and agreed wage. Provide free food or at least HK$1,236/month allowance separately, suitable accommodation with reasonable privacy, medical care and contractual return passage.

Question 6

Can I interview a helper by video before hiring?

Accepted Answer

Video profiles and interviews help you assess a candidate before hiring. Check each profile for available video and interview options, discuss your household requirements, and verify references and documents before making a decision.

Question 7

How is AI matching different from a traditional agency?

Accepted Answer

AI-assisted matching uses the household preferences and experience recorded in profiles to help you shortlist candidates. It does not replace interviews, reference checks or document verification, and no unique-platform, fixed-signal-count or improved-retention guarantee is claimed.

Question 8

Is SeekHelpers a licensed employment agency?

Accepted Answer

SeekHelpers is a fully licensed employment agency in Hong Kong, holding an Employment Agency (EA) Licence issued by the Commissioner for Labour under the Employment Ordinance. We are also accredited by the Philippines Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), which regulates the recruitment and deployment of Filipino domestic workers overseas. This dual licensing means every Filipino helper placed through our platform has gone through a legally compliant process in both countries. We are not a grey-market platform or an unregulated marketplace — we operate under the same regulatory framework as traditional agencies, but with a modern, app-based experience and transparent pricing.

Question 9

Do I need to pay the helper a placement fee?

Accepted Answer

Under Hong Kong law and the standard Employment Contract (Form ID407), employers are strictly prohibited from deducting any placement fee or agency commission from the helper's wages. Any deduction from salary for placement-related costs is illegal. SeekHelpers charges employers — not helpers — for our visa and placement services. The platform itself is free for job posting and browsing. Paid services (visa processing, premium background checks) are employer-only charges. If any platform or individual asks your helper to pay for their own placement, that is a violation of both HK labour law and Philippine POEA regulations, and should be reported to the Labour Department.

Question 10

How does visa processing work through the app?

Accepted Answer

Once you've confirmed your hire in the SeekHelpers app, our visa processing flow begins automatically. You and your helper each receive a checklist of required documents to upload directly in the app. Our team then reviews, prepares, and submits all required forms to the Hong Kong Immigration Department and Labour Department on your behalf. For Philippines-origin helpers, we also handle POEA clearance and OEC processing. You receive a real-time status tracker in the app showing exactly which stage your application is at. Visa approval typically takes 4–6 weeks, and the full tracked journey to arrival usually takes 6–8 weeks. Full Service plans range from HK$13,999 to HK$16,999.

Question 11

What does Self Hire mean on SeekHelpers, and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

Self Hire means the employer stays in control of choosing the helper. It suits Hong Kong families who want to browse profiles, message candidates and interview directly instead of asking a traditional agency to choose for them. After you select a helper, SeekHelpers can coordinate verification, documents, domestic helper visa processing and the applicable arrival steps.

Question 12

Can I browse helpers, post a job and use AI matching for free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can browse helper profiles, post a job and use AI matching for free. You can also review available profile details before deciding whether to proceed. A charge only applies when you choose a paid service, such as a Self Hire processing plan or another clearly priced package; browsing, messaging or receiving AI matches alone does not create a fee.

Question 13

What is different when hiring a transfer helper or an overseas helper?

Accepted Answer

A local or transfer helper is already in Hong Kong, so the case focuses on contract status, change-of-employer eligibility and local Immigration requirements. An overseas helper also needs the relevant origin-country, consular, medical, departure, travel and arrival steps. The documents, timing and price depend on the helper’s nationality, location and contract history.

Question 14

What do I pay for Self Hire, and are government costs included?

Accepted Answer

The current overseas Philippines Self Hire plan is HK$6,999, while local Philippines Self Hire is HK$5,999. The selected plan shows its service scope and included consulate, Immigration, medical, courier or travel items before checkout. Optional add-ons and any case-specific cost not included in the plan should be confirmed in writing before payment.

Question 15

What am I responsible for, and what can SeekHelpers coordinate?

Accepted Answer

You decide whom to hire, interview the candidate, agree duties and living arrangements, provide accurate employer documents, sign the standard contract and meet your legal obligations. Under the selected plan, SeekHelpers can coordinate helper-data checks, document preparation, applicable consulate and Immigration steps, medical arrangements, visa progress and relevant travel or arrival support.

Question 16

How do profiles, videos, messaging and interviews work before I hire?

Accepted Answer

Profiles show available experience and verification information, and video introductions help you assess communication style before arranging a conversation. You can message suitable candidates and conduct an interview before deciding. A profile, match score or video is a screening aid—not a hiring decision—so employers should ask role-specific questions and confirm expectations directly.

Question 17

How long do matching, hiring and visa processing usually take?

Accepted Answer

Matching and interviews can take a few days, but the hiring decision depends on your requirements and candidate availability. After complete documents are submitted, Hong Kong visa approval typically takes 4–6 weeks. For an overseas helper, the full tracked journey from confirmed hire to arrival is usually 6–8 weeks, subject to Immigration, consular, medical and travel steps.

Question 18

Which documents are needed, and can SeekHelpers support the visa?

Accepted Answer

Employers typically need an HKID, residential-address proof, financial evidence and the signed Standard Employment Contract (ID 407). The helper usually provides a passport and the identity, employment, medical and origin-country documents required for the case. SeekHelpers offers paid document and visa support options and provides a case-specific checklist after the hiring route is confirmed.

Question 19

What legal responsibilities remain with the employer?

Accepted Answer

Self Hire does not change legal duties. Contracts signed from 3 October 2026 require at least HK$5,220/month MAW; existing contracts retain their signing-date rules and agreed wage. Provide free food or at least HK$1,236 allowance separately, suitable furnished accommodation with reasonable privacy, employees’ compensation insurance, free medical treatment and all other contract obligations.

Question 20

How do verification, licensing and support reduce hiring risk?

Accepted Answer

SeekHelpers operates as a Hong Kong licensed employment agency (EA 82832) and uses structured profile and document checks to make important information easier to review. Direct messaging and interviews let both sides discuss expectations before signing, while a documented processing workflow helps reduce missed steps. Verification reduces uncertainty but cannot guarantee future performance or personal compatibility.

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