The Standard FDH Employment Contract Hong Kong — Form ID407 Explained

What Is Form ID407?

Form ID407 — officially called the Standard Employment Contract for a Foreign Domestic Helper — is issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD). It is the only legally accepted employment contract format for all foreign domestic helpers working in Hong Kong. No employer is permitted to use a custom, agency-drafted, or informal contract in place of ID407.

Why Is ID407 Mandatory?

The mandatory contract was introduced to protect domestic helpers from exploitative arrangements and to ensure minimum standards are legally enforceable. The ImmD will not approve a visa for a domestic helper without a completed, valid ID407. Similarly, MWO/POLO (for Filipino helpers) will not endorse a contract that does not meet ID407 standards.

Key Clauses in Form ID407 — Explained

1. Wage Clause

Specify at least the MAW in force when signing: HK$5,220 from 3 October 2026. Agree and honour any higher wage. Qualifying HK$5,100 contracts signed by 2 October must reach Immigration by 30 October 2026 under the announced transition.

2. Food Clause

The contract requires the employer to provide either free food throughout the contract period, or a food allowance of HK$1,236/month (the 2026 rate). The choice must be clearly stated in the contract. The food allowance is reviewed by the government annually alongside the MAW.

3. Accommodation Clause

Employers must provide suitable live-in accommodation with reasonable privacy. The contract specifies the address of the accommodation. Living-out arrangements are prohibited under ID407 unless the helper has been continuously exempt since before 1 April 2003.

4. Working Hours

ID407 does not specify maximum daily working hours for domestic helpers — the Employment Ordinance has no general maximum for FDH. However, rest days (at least 1 per 7 days) and all statutory holiday entitlements are explicitly built into ID407 and cannot be waived.

5. Notice Period and Termination

Either party can terminate with 1 calendar month's written notice or 1 month's wages in lieu of notice. The contract also provides for summary termination (without notice) in cases of serious misconduct. At termination, the employer must provide a return air ticket to the helper's home country.

6. Medical Treatment Clause

The employer must bear all medical and hospital charges incurred by the helper during the contract. This includes general illness, injury, hospitalisation, and emergency treatment. Employees' Compensation Insurance (mandatory under Cap. 282) must also be maintained from Day 1.

7. Duties Clause

ID407 describes the helper's duties broadly as 'domestic duties' for the employer's household. There is no exhaustive list of specific tasks in the contract — the specific duties should be agreed and documented separately in a written schedule of duties between employer and helper.

What Employers CAN and CANNOT Change in ID407

How Many Copies Must Be Signed?

Four copies of ID407 must be completed and signed by both the employer and the helper:

• Copy 1: Submitted to the Hong Kong Immigration Department with the visa application
• Copy 2: Submitted to MWO-HK (Migrant Workers Office, for Filipino helpers) or KDEI (for Indonesian helpers) for endorsement
• Copy 3: Retained by the employer
• Copy 4: Retained by the domestic helper

Where to Get Form ID407

ID407 can be downloaded directly from the Hong Kong Immigration Department website (www.immd.gov.hk). It is also available from licensed employment agencies, including SeekHelpers. The form is updated periodically — always ensure you use the current version from the official ImmD website.

Where to Submit Form ID407

• ImmD online: Submit digitally through the GovHK platform for the visa application
• ImmD in person: Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
• MWO-HK (Filipino helpers): 1/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road, Wan Chai — for contract endorsement
• For Indonesian helpers: KDEI (Consulate General of Indonesia labour section)

Frequently Asked Questions: ID407 FDH Contract

Can I add a probation period to Form ID407?

There is no probation period provision in the Standard Employment Contract (ID407). The full contract terms apply from Day 1, including all statutory entitlements. In practice, if either party is dissatisfied early in the contract, they must give 1 month's notice or payment in lieu — there is no abbreviated probation termination right.

What happens if the employer and helper sign a separate private agreement that contradicts ID407?

Any private agreement that reduces or waives the statutory entitlements in ID407 is void under Hong Kong law. The Employment Ordinance explicitly states that any term of an employment contract that is less favourable to the employee than the statutory minimum is void, and the statutory minimum applies instead. You cannot contract out of ID407's protections.

Does ID407 need to be notarised or certified?

No — notarisation is not required in Hong Kong. The contract must be signed by both parties and submitted to ImmD with the visa application and MWO/POLO for endorsement (for Filipino helpers). There is no requirement for a notary public or certification beyond the standard signatures.

Is ID407 the same for Filipino and Indonesian helpers?

Yes — the base Form ID407 issued by ImmD is the same for all nationalities. The difference is in the additional endorsement process: Filipino helpers require MWO-HK (POLO) endorsement, while Indonesian helpers go through the KDEI. The contract terms in ID407 apply equally regardless of nationality.

Can I renew the contract using the same ID407 form?

Renewal requires a new ID407 using the MAW in force on its signing date (HK$5,220 from 3 October 2026), plus free food or at least HK$1,236 cash food. Do not select the wage by arrival date or first payday.