Guide To Moving Abroad With Your Family To Hong Kong

Moving is no easy task, especially with the added stress of relocating with a family. Along with organising the logistics of your move, you have the extra job of preparing your children for this big change. Setting time aside to plan your international relocation to Hong Kong can help your family feel excited about the move, and give you peace of mind during a busy time.

Known for our experience in international moving, the team at Allied has helped hundreds of families relocate to Hong Kong successfully. To help you have a seamless move, we've put together our top tips for relocating to Hong Kong with your family.

• Preparing Your Family For The Move
• Talking To Your Children About The Move
• Managing Moving Anxiety As A Family
• Choosing A School
• Coordinate Your Relocation Documentation
• Settling Into Life In Hong Kong
• Finding The Right Neighbourhood
• Settle Into Your New Home
• Things To Do In Hong Kong As A Family
• Talk It Through With Your Moving Consultant

How and when you tell your children matters. Moving home shouldn't come as a surprise, so it's best to raise the subject as early as possible and be honest about what's changing and why. Children of different ages will respond differently: younger children generally take their cues from how calm and reassuring you are, while older children and teenagers are more likely to worry about leaving friends, changing schools or losing hard-won opportunities like a sports team or a friendship group. Whatever their age, expect a mix of emotions, including excitement, sadness, anger and relief, sometimes all in the same conversation, and try to give them space to express all of it rather than just the positive parts.

Some families find it helpful to hold regular family meetings in the lead-up to the move, where everyone can ask questions and raise concerns as they come up. Getting your children involved in small decisions, like choosing what to pack in their own moving day bag or picking out a few new things for their room in Hong Kong, can also help them feel like active participants in the move rather than something that's just happening to them.

It's normal for the whole family, not just the kids, to feel some anxiety about an international move. Keeping as much routine as possible in the lead-up to moving day, such as familiar mealtimes, bedtimes and weekend activities, gives everyone something steady to hold onto while everything else is in flux. Familiar comfort items also go a long way for younger children specifically, so keep a few favourite toys, a security blanket or familiar bedding easily accessible rather than packed away in the moving container.

If you can, take your children to visit Hong Kong, or at least their new neighbourhood and school, before the move itself. Seeing the new home and city in person, even briefly, can turn an abstract idea into something real and far less daunting. If a preview trip isn't possible, looking at photos and videos of your new neighbourhood together, or connecting with other expat families who've made a similar move, can help build familiarity ahead of time.

Hong Kong has a well-established international school sector, including the English Schools Foundation (ESF) network as well as British, American, Canadian and IB curriculum schools, so most families will have a genuine choice of curriculum.

The trade-off is that competition for places at well-regarded schools is real, and waitlists at popular schools can run well ahead of the school year, so it pays to start researching and applying as early as possible, ideally before you've finalised where you'll live.

Where possible, try to align your neighbourhood choice with your shortlisted schools, since a shorter, more predictable commute makes a real difference to how quickly children settle into a new routine.

When moving to Hong Kong, most people will need a work visa, generally through the General Employment Policy, unless you're arriving as the dependant of someone already holding a visa, moving under a talent scheme, or not planning to work.

Spouses and unmarried children under 18 can typically apply for a dependant visa once the main applicant's visa is approved, which allows them to live, work and study in Hong Kong on the strength of that visa. Apply for these visas through the Hong Kong Immigration Department, and start the process a few months before your move to allow for any delays.

Moving as part of a corporate relocation? Be sure to discuss any required documentation with your moving service and employer well ahead of time. If you're planning to bring a car or pet to Hong Kong from overseas, you'll need to plan further ahead too.

Pets require a Special Permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) arranged in advance of arrival, alongside proof of vaccinations and other documentation, so this is worth starting early. Vehicles will need purchase records and to meet Hong Kong's import and registration requirements.

Choosing the right place to live in Hong Kong will have a big impact on how well your family takes to the move. To get your children involved, try asking them to imagine the new friends they'll make in your new neighbourhood, or the things they're most excited to see in the new city.

Kowloon Tong, Mid-Levels and Jardine's Lookout are all popular Hong Kong neighbourhoods for expats and families, and each sits close to a good range of international schools. Beyond schooling, where you choose to live will also depend on affordability, transport access, amenities and where you'll be working.

When moving to Hong Kong, it's perfectly normal for your family to experience a sense of culture shock. Your daily routines will change in plenty of small ways, from the route to work or school to where you do your weekly grocery shop. Finding your feet is a task in itself, from understanding the layout of your new home to settling into your new neighbourhood.

Helping your family settle in as soon as possible and building a consistent routine will make this transition easier. We recommend looking into a professional unpacking service to help set up your new home quickly. Taking this task off your list will leave you more time to explore your new home and get to know the local culture and language, helping you and your family feel settled sooner.

To help your children adapt, look into finding local clubs, sports teams or activity groups they can join.

Exploring the city together is one of the best ways to help your family feel at home. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park are the two big favourites for families with younger children, with theme park rides, character experiences, and a genuine aquarium and zoo. For older kids and teens, the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak is a classic first outing, with sweeping skyline views at the top and a few walking trails nearby for anyone keen to stretch their legs further.

Out on Lantau Island, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car and the Big Buddha make for an easy full day out, and the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour is a cheap, easy way to see the city from the water. If your family enjoys the outdoors, Hong Kong has more hiking trails and beaches than most people expect from such a dense city, from family-friendly coastal walks to the more challenging Dragon's Back trail for older children. In the evenings, the Symphony of Lights show over Victoria Harbour is a free, low-effort way to end a day out together.

When taking the leap and moving internationally to Hong Kong, take your time and don't rush the process. Whether you're considering a move to the New Territories, Kowloon or any other part of Hong Kong, you can have peace of mind with the guidance of a professional moving consultant at Allied Moving Services.

A dedicated moving consultant will be by your side to guide you through your move, step by step. If you're feeling overwhelmed, get in touch and we'll do our best to answer all your questions.