Moving Out of Hong Kong: The Complete Departure Checklist

Planning Your Departure

Leaving Hong Kong involves more than booking a flight and packing your bags. There are administrative, financial, and practical steps that can take weeks or even months to complete. Missing any of them can lead to tax issues, lost money, or ongoing obligations you did not intend to keep. This checklist will walk you through everything you need to handle before you go.

Start this process at least two months before your planned departure date. Some steps, particularly tax clearance, require lead time.

Tax Clearance (Letter of Release)

This is the single most important administrative step. Your employer is legally required to notify the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) at least one month before your departure. The IRD will then issue a tax clearance letter (also called a "letter of release") after assessing your final tax liability.

How it works:

• Your employer files an IR56G form with the IRD, notifying them of your departure.
• Your employer is required to withhold your final month's salary until the IRD issues the clearance letter.
• The IRD will assess your final tax and issue the letter, typically within one to four weeks.
• Once cleared, your employer releases your held salary minus any outstanding tax.

If you are self-employed or do not have an employer handling this, you need to notify the IRD yourself and settle any outstanding tax before leaving. Do not skip this step — the IRD can prevent you from leaving Hong Kong if you have unresolved tax obligations.

MPF (Mandatory Provident Fund)

If you have been working in Hong Kong, you have an MPF account with both your and your employer's contributions. When you leave Hong Kong permanently, you can apply to withdraw your MPF balance in full. This is one of the few situations where early withdrawal is permitted.

To claim your MPF on grounds of permanent departure:

• Complete the MPF withdrawal form (available from your MPF scheme trustee).
• Provide a statutory declaration confirming you have departed or intend to depart Hong Kong permanently with no intention to return for employment or permanent residence.
• Submit your passport showing your departure stamps or flight itinerary.
• Processing takes approximately four to six weeks.

Important: you can only claim MPF on grounds of permanent departure once. If you return to Hong Kong and work again, your new MPF contributions cannot be claimed this way.

Bank Accounts

Decide whether to keep your Hong Kong bank accounts open or close them. Many expats choose to keep at least one account open, especially if they have ongoing financial ties (investments, insurance, tax refunds). Hong Kong bank accounts do not require residency to maintain.

If you are closing your accounts:

• Transfer remaining balances to your home country account.
• Cancel any standing orders and direct debits.
• Visit the branch in person to close the account (most banks do not allow remote closure).
• Collect a closure confirmation letter for your records.
• Cancel linked credit cards.

If you are keeping accounts open, update your contact details to your overseas address and ensure you have internet banking and app access set up before you leave.

Housing

• Notice period: Check your tenancy agreement for the required notice period (typically one to two months). Give written notice to your landlord within the specified timeframe.
• Deposit: Your deposit should be returned after the final inspection, minus any deductions for damage or unpaid bills. Take photos of your unit's condition on the day you leave.
• Utilities: Contact your electricity (CLP or HK Electric), gas (Towngas), and water (Water Supplies Department) providers to arrange final meter readings and account closure. Schedule these for your last day in the apartment.
• Internet and phone: Cancel your broadband contract and mobile phone plan. Check for early termination fees if you are still within a contract period.
• Cleaning: Arrange a deep clean of your apartment before the final inspection. This can help maximise your deposit return.

Insurance

• Health insurance: If you have a personal health insurance policy in Hong Kong, decide whether to cancel it, convert it to a global policy, or let it lapse. If your employer provides insurance, coverage typically ends on your last working day.
• Home contents insurance: Cancel this once you have moved out.
• Life insurance: If you have a Hong Kong-based life insurance policy, contact your insurer about maintaining it from overseas or surrendering the policy.

Official Documents and Registrations

• Hong Kong ID Card: You do not need to return or cancel your HKID when leaving. It remains valid and can be useful if you return to visit.
• Visa: Your visa will lapse once you cease employment or leave Hong Kong permanently. No formal cancellation is needed for most visa types.
• Driver's licence: Your Hong Kong driver's licence remains valid until its expiry date, even if you leave. You may want to keep it as it can be converted to a licence in some other countries.
• Company registration: If you own a Hong Kong company, you need to either deregister it, sell it, or appoint a local director and company secretary to maintain it in your absence.

Mail and Deliveries

• Set up mail forwarding through Hongkong Post if possible, or arrange for a trusted contact to receive your mail.
• Update your address with any institutions that may send you correspondence — banks, insurance companies, the IRD, your MPF trustee.
• Cancel any subscriptions and recurring deliveries.

Shipping and Moving

• Shipping companies: Crown Relocations, Asian Tigers, and Santa Fe are popular international moving companies in Hong Kong. Get quotes at least six weeks before your departure.
• Sea freight vs air freight: Sea freight is significantly cheaper but takes 6-12 weeks. Air freight is faster (1-2 weeks) but costs considerably more. Many people ship heavy or non-urgent items by sea and bring essentials in their luggage or by air freight.
• Selling furniture: If you need to dispose of furniture, try Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, or the Buy Nothing Hong Kong groups. For larger items, consider hiring a disposal service — illegal dumping carries heavy fines.
• Storage: If you are unsure about your plans, short-term storage is available from companies like StorHub, Spacebox, and SC Storage.

Final Week Checklist

• Complete final utility meter readings and account closures.
• Return keys to landlord and complete the final inspection.
• Collect deposit return confirmation (or agree on the timeline for return).
• Withdraw or transfer any remaining Octopus card balance (refundable at MTR customer service centres).
• Say goodbye to your favourite cha chaan teng.
• Back up your phone — you may lose access to Hong Kong-specific apps and services once your SIM is cancelled.
• Exchange or transfer any remaining HKD that you will not need.
• Confirm your tax clearance letter has been issued.

After You Leave

• Follow up on your MPF withdrawal application if you have submitted one.
• Follow up on your deposit return if it has not been received.
• File any remaining tax returns if requested by the IRD.
• Keep records of your Hong Kong employment and tax history — you may need them for tax purposes in your new country of residence.