Hong Kong admin steps

Confirm the helper's start, or the nursery place

14 weeks of maternity leave usually starts 2 to 4 weeks before the due date, so in practice you are back at work around 10 to 12 weeks after the birth — earlier than the headline number suggests. Checked against labour.gov.hk on 22 September 2026.

Who it applies to

Everyone having a baby in Hong Kong

On your timeline

Paperbump schedules this between 6 weeks and 3 months after the birth

Official source

labour.gov.hk

Last checked

22 September 2026

What else to know

If a helper is coming, the visa and contract need to be approved and her arrival booked; if it is a nursery, confirm the start date and what the fee includes. Either way, a fortnight of overlap before you go back is worth building in.

Work out your own dates — free, nothing is sent to us

Part of

• Childcare in Hong Kong for expats: helpers and nurseries 3 steps

Around the same time

• Get the baby a passport, then a dependant visa between 7 days and 8 weeks after the birth
• Register the baby at the Maternal and Child Health Centre between 7 days and 4 weeks after the birth
• Register the birth within 42 days, by appointment within 3 weeks of the birth