Hong Kong plans a pilot for overseas domestic carers with advanced elderly-care training

Government-announced pilot; not open for applications. The 2026 Policy Address says the Government will pilot the admission of foreign domestic carers with more advanced elderly-care training and experience ↗. The stated purpose is to help meet the care needs of older people living at home.

The Policy Address does not yet set out an application process, recognised qualifications, participating countries or a launch date. Employers and agencies should not describe this as a hiring route that is available now.

What has been reported about the proposed pilot

RTHK reported on 4 October 2026 ↗ that the Secretary for Labour and Welfare expected the pilot to begin in the second half of 2027, initially for several hundred workers. He said participants would need at least 150 hours of training and that pay could be 10% to 20% above standard foreign-domestic-helper rates.

Those details are reported ministerial comments, not published operational rules. The Government has not yet published the final eligibility criteria, wage terms or recruitment arrangements.

How this differs from current FDH training

This is separate from the current Social Welfare Department training scheme for employed foreign domestic helpers caring for frail older people ↗. That existing scheme offers 12 hours of core training, optional modules including dementia and stroke care, and is available through participating District Elderly Community Centres across all 18 districts.

The Government has separately announced that it plans to make the current FDH elderly-care and disability-care training schemes permanent from April 2027. Read what that training announcement does and does not change.

What employers should do now

• Describe the actual domestic and care duties before approaching an agency or candidate.
• Ask about completed training factually, including the provider and course content; do not assume that a domestic helper is a nurse or other medical professional.
• Check the Government's current guidance before relying on any future pilot, qualification or pay claim.

Last verified

18 October 2026.