I am considering starting my own business here in HK and am looking into getting an investment visa. is it possible to get one as an individual british citizen? How much can it cost? and approximately how long can it take?
Investment visaa are hard come by and can take upto a year (during which you are technically not supposed to work). Easier to set up a limited company with a trusted friend who is Perm Res, hold less than 30% of the company yourself and apply for an employment visa.
I suggest you contact someone like Emigra (Asia) who are in the business of giving advice on and helping people get visas. Their address is 7/F, 80 Gloucester Rd, Wanchai (directly opposite Immigration Tower) and their phone number is 2783-7183. You can also visit their website (incidentally, there's a free-to-download visa handbook available) at... http://www.emigra.com.hk
Victoria, we met with HKInvest for advice, we then set up a ltd company and with a solid business plan and great assistance and free advice from HKInvest the process took approx 4 months.
The total cost about $20,000HKD and a few grey hairs.
There is alot of paperwork involved but it can be done if you have a solid viable business concept.