Updated 05 February 2026
At HelperChoice, we believe that a successful employment journey begins and ends with a smooth transition. One of the most common questions we receive from employers is regarding the domestic helper air ticket. Whether it is the initial deployment, a mid-contract home leave, or the completion of a contract, understanding your obligations as an employer is key to maintaining domestic worker welfare.
Following Standard Regulations
Foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong have to travel back to their home countries between their employment contracts for at least a 7-day period. If a domestic helper is terminated (i.e. being fired) or has broken her employment contract (i.e. quitting), she can remain in Hong Kong for up to two weeks after the termination or resignation, regardless of the date on her visa.
After that, according to the employment law, the domestic helper has to return to his/her home country before the Hong Kong Immigration Department issue a new work visa for his/her to work with a new employer.
Employers’ obligations for a return ticket
Even if employers have submitted a new work visa application to the Immigration Department, every foreign domestic worker has to return to his/her home country for a number of days before starting a new contract unless special permission has been granted. When the new employer and the domestic helper have submitted a new work visa application, it is the current employer’s responsibility to cover the cost of the domestic helper’s travel back to his/her home country. If the employer does not renew the contract or terminates the domestic helper, or even if the domestic helper has broken the contract (resigned), the employer is still responsible for the domestic helper’s flight ticket going back to his/her origin. This practice is instituted by the Labour Department to protect the domestic helpers from lack the means of travel and will overstay their visas for months.
Furthermore, the employer must provide a food and traveling allowance of at least HK$100 for each day that the domestic helper travels to return home. You will have to book the ticket in coordination with your domestic helper. It is better if you do it a month in advance, but you can not force his/her to leave Hong Kong before the end of her visa, or within 14 days of termination of the domestic helper is pre-terminated. You will need to provide your domestic helper with a means to return to his/her home country.
Payment instead of booking a flight ticket
In only one instance a domestic helper does not have to return home immediately and your domestic helper can start his/her employment with his/her new employer if your domestic helper has received his/her new visa before the expiry of the old one. This is the case of Filipino domestic helpers in a finished contract and whose employment visa applications included a request to immediately start their job. The visa is usually that of extension of stay. In this case, the domestic helper has to return home within a period of 365 days from the new contract start date. The Labour Department still expects the previous employer to pay for the flight ticket, which can be provided by booking an open-date ticket or through payment instead of a flight ticket. Many employers are unaware that they must give their domestic helper a flight ticket even if he/she has found a new employer and this can be considered a breach of the labour law by the Hong Kong government.
However, if you suspect that the domestic helper you terminate is part of the employment agency’s scam to profit more from agency fees, then opt for an open-date air ticket instead of payment to stop this loophole that enables employment agencies to send their domestic helpers to Macau instead of their home countries.
How to get cheap air tickets for your domestic helper
The first instinct of many employers would be to search for cheap air tickets online on fare comparison sites. The price might be cheap, but you might not know that you can book discounted domestic worker’s tickets for your domestic helper. Indeed, several airlines offer discounts specifically for domestic workers for flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines or Indonesia. These discounts may not be listed on the airlines’ websites, so you need to call them (or a travel agent) to ask for special prices.
Check other obligations for an employer of domestic helper such as regarding rest day and leaving your children in the care of your domestic helper.
Important 2026 Legal Reminders
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No Cash in Lieu: In many jurisdictions, you cannot simply give the helper cash and ask them to book their own flight. The employer must ensure the ticket is physically provided to the helper to guarantee their safe return or arrival.
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Food and Travel Allowance: In addition to the domestic helper air ticket, employers in Hong Kong are required to provide a daily food and travel allowance (usually around HK$100 per day) for the duration of the journey.
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Proof of Booking: Always keep a digital and physical copy of the flight itinerary and the payment receipt. This serves as vital documentation for immigration and labor departments.
How HelperChoice Supports You
At HelperChoice, we advocate for a “fair play” approach. We encourage employers to use reputable airlines that offer flexible rebooking options. Travel plans can change due to visa delays or personal emergencies, and having a flexible ticket can save you significant costs in the long run.
By handling the flight booking process with care, you are not just fulfilling a legal requirement—you are showing your helper that their well-being is a priority from the very first day.