I've found my own helper. How much does the paperwork cost?
Many employers now find a helper themselves, through friends, Facebook groups or apps, and only need the visa and contract handled. Here are the three ways to do it in 2026, what each costs, and where the figures come from.
Short answer
Through Directhire.hk, the paperwork for a helper you found yourself costs HK$1,988 for a Filipino helper finishing a contract in Hong Kong, or HK$2,898 for an Indonesian helper. That includes the consulate step, the Immigration Department application with one visa and one Hong Kong medical check, with a full refund if the application is unsuccessful. Doing everything yourself costs only the government and consulate fees, about HK$700 to HK$1,300 according to MoneyHero; a full-service agency package costs about HK$7,000 to HK$13,000.
Three ways to process a helper you found yourself
Do it yourself
- What you pay
- About HK$700–1,300 in government and consulate fees (MoneyHero, April 2026)
- Who does the work
- You: forms, consulate, Immigration application, follow-up
Directhire.hk paperwork service
- What you pay
- HK$1,988 Filipino, HK$2,898 Indonesian
- Who does the work
- We prepare and submit everything; the consulate step, one visa and one Hong Kong medical check are included
Full-service agency package
- What you pay
- About HK$7,000–13,000 (MoneyHero, April 2026)
- Who does the work
- The agency also finds and shortlists the helper
All three are for a helper finishing a contract in Hong Kong. Third-party figures are estimates from the source named; check the current price with any agency before you sign.
Directhire.hk paperwork fees for every case
The fee depends on the helper's nationality and where she is now. Tap a fee to see exactly what is and isn't included.
| Filipino | Indonesian | |
|---|---|---|
| Finished contract in Hong Kong | HK$1,988 | HK$2,898 |
| Terminated contract in Hong Kong | HK$4,920 | HK$5,988 |
| Coming from overseas | HK$4,920 | HK$5,988 |
* Break contract case now cannot stay in Hong Kong to wait for visa *
If the application is unsuccessful, the helper doesn't arrive in HK, or the medical exam fails, we refund every dollar.
What does the fee include?
For a helper finishing a contract in Hong Kong:
Filipino
- •Labor law consultation
- •Consulate Notarization
- •Immigration processing and one time visa
- •OWWA
- •One time Hong Kong medical
- •No 10% charges of the first month’s salary of helpers in HK
Indonesian
- •Labor law consultation
- •Consulate Notarization
- •Immigration processing and one time visa
- •One time Hong Kong medical
- •No 10% charges of the first month’s salary of helpers in HK
Should I do it myself or use an agency?
Doing it yourself is cheapest, and the Immigration Department's guide is written for employers who apply directly.
A paperwork service is worth paying for when you would rather not deal with the consulate and the forms, when the helper is coming from overseas, or when you want someone who answers for mistakes and follow-up.
What do I need to do it myself?
The helper completes form ID 988A, you complete ID 988B, and you both sign the Standard Employment Contract ID 407. The application goes to the Immigration Department by post, at a counter or online. The helper's consulate has its own contract verification step: the Migrant Workers Office (formerly POLO) for Filipino helpers, the Indonesian Consulate for Indonesian helpers. The visa fee in the Immigration Department's fee table is HK$330.