A Complete 2026 Guide to Registering a Company in Hong Kong
Hong Kong remains one of the world’s leading economic centres, providing a highly favourable environment for company formation. Its strategic location in Asia, proximity to Mainland China, and open-market policies make it a preferred destination for foreign investors and entrepreneurs looking to establish a regional presence.
There are four types of business entities available in Hong Kong: limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and foreign companies’ offices.
Among the four business entities, the private limited liability company is the most common type registered in Hong Kong. Many foreign investors prefer limited liability companies as offshore entities in Hong Kong because they are separate legal entities with limited liability for their owners.
This article provides comprehensive information on registering a company in Hong Kong, covering the basic company incorporation requirements, the Hong Kong limited company registration procedure, timeline, and compliance requirements.
Who Are the Authorities / Registry in Company Incorporation?
1. Companies Registry
- It administers and enforces the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622, Laws of Hong Kong).
- It is responsible for the incorporating of local limited companies (Company setup in Hong Kong) and the HK business registration of non-Hong Kong companies (companies that were not incorporated in Hong Kong and have a place of business in Hong Kong).
2. Business Registration Hong Kong Office
- Under the Inland Revenue Department
- It administers the Business Registration Ordinance (Chapter 310, Laws of Hong Kong).
- It is responsible for registering businesses carried on by an individual, a partnership, a local private limited company, or a non-Hong Kong company.
3. Trade Marks Registry
- Under the Intellectual Property Department
- It is responsible for providing trademark registration services to members of the public under:
- The Trade Marks Ordinance (Chapter 559, Laws of Hong Kong), and
- The Trade Marks Rules (Chapter 559A, Laws of Hong Kong).
What Are the Basic Requirements for Company Registration in Hong Kong?
1. Company name
Having a Hong Kong limited company name is part of the requirements for registering a Hong Kong company and for company formation in Hong Kong.
a. Company name guidelines
- You cannot use a Hong Kong limited company’s company name (for company setup in Hong Kong) that is currently in use or is in the process of being registered.
- Any name that could give the impression or idea that the company is linked to the Hong Kong government or any government department is strictly not allowed for company registration.
- The company name can be in English, Chinese, or both. However, the combination of Chinese and English characters is not allowed for Company Registration.
- The English company name must have the word “Limited”.
- The Registrar may refuse to register a company name if it is offensive or constitutes a criminal offence.
- Reference: Guidelines on Registration of Company Names for Hong Kong Companies
b. Company Name Check
To avoid using the same company name for Hong Kong company formation services, it is advisable to run a company name search via the following channels:
- The Company Registry’s Cyber Search Centre
- The Company Search Mobile Service
- The Public Search Centre at the Companies Registry
- The Intellectual Property Department (“IPD”) Online Search System
2. Directors of a Limited Company
- At least one director must be a natural person at least 18 years old to register a company in HK.
- They can be a foreigner and a Hong Kong non-resident.
3. Shareholders of a Limited Company
- When registering a company in Hong Kong, the minimum number of shareholders required is one.
- 100% foreign or local shareholding is allowed for company registration in Hong Kong. There are no foreign shareholding restrictions.
4. Significant Controllers Register and Designated Representative
- The company must appoint at least one person as its Designated Representative before registering the company in HK.
5. Company Secretary
- A mandatory requirement is to appoint a company secretary when registering a Hong Kong company.
- If the secretary is an individual, they must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong.
- If the company secretary is a body corporate, its business place or registered office address must be in Hong Kong.
- If the company has only a sole director, he cannot himself act also as the company secretary.
- The appointment of a nominee company secretary is permitted.
6. Share Capital
- There is no minimum share capital requirement for registering a company in Hong Kong.
- Share capital is not limited to the Hong Kong Dollar and can be expressed in any primary currency.
- Shares can be transferred freely (subject to stamp duty).
- The usual practice for companies registered in Hong Kong is to have at least one shareholder holding at least one ordinary share.
- Issued Share Capital (commonly known as paid-up capital) is the portion of share capital that is issued and subscribed by the shareholders.
7. Registered Address
- A local Hong Kong address is required as the company’s registered address.
- A P.O. Box cannot be treated as the registered company address.
- Only a valid physical address is accepted as the company’s registered address.
8. Public Information
- If you want to maintain more confidentiality when registering a company in Hong Kong, you can opt to appoint a nominee corporate shareholder and a nominee director.
9. Taxation
- Under the two-tiered profits tax rate regime, the corporate profits tax rate for the first $2 million of assessable profits is 8.25%. Assessable profits above $2 million are subject to a tax rate of 16.5%.
- The Hong Kong tax system is a territorial system.
- Only profits generated from Hong Kong are subject to Hong Kong’s income tax.
- No capital gains tax, dividend withholding tax, or GST/VAT.
10. Annual compliance requirement
- An annual audit of accounts by HK Certified Public Accountants is mandatory. A Private Limited Company must file its audited accounts and income tax return annually with the IRD, Inland Revenue Department.
- All companies must file annual returns with CR the Companies Registry (CR) and pay the annual business registration fee (BR Fee).
- The Hong Kong Business Registration Certificate must be renewed annually or once every three years, a month before expiry.
- The Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) must be held every financial year. The company must hold its AGM within 9 months of its financial year-end. For the company must hold its AGM within 9 months after the first anniversary of incorporation or within 3 months after the end of that financial period, whichever is later.
- A company can dispense with the holding of AGMs by passing a written resolution or a resolution at a general meeting, provided it is passed by all members. Also, a single-member company is not required to hold an AGM.
11. Government Fees (on or after 1 April 2019)
- Company registration (government fee): HKD1,720.
- The HK Business Registration Certificate (government fee)(BR Fee): Refer to Business Registration Fee.
- Levy to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund.
- Company registration in Hong Kong: one-year certificate, three-year certificate
Did You Know
The company and every responsible person in breach of the Amendment Ordinance could be liable for a fine levied at HK$25,000 (US$3,100) and, where applicable, a further daily fine.
What Documents Do You Need for Hong Kong Company Registration?
To register a Hong Kong company, you need to submit the following documents:
- Company’s Articles of Association.
- A Notice to Business Registration Office (IRBR1).
- A completed company incorporation form with the following information:
- Company name.
- Registered company Hong Kong address.
- Proposed business activities description.
- Details of director(s), shareholder(s) and company secretary.
- Member’s liability.
- Share capital register on company incorporation.
- Number of shares subscribed by the subscribers.
- Information required for non-resident director(s) and shareholder(s):
- Passport copy.
- Proof of overseas residential address.
- Information required for resident director(s) and shareholder(s):
- Hong Kong identity card copy.
- Proof of residential address copy.
- Information required for corporate director(s) and shareholder(s):
- Parent company registration documents copy (i.e. Company Incorporation Certificate and Articles of Association).
What is the Company Incorporation Process?
The company incorporation process at the Hong Kong Companies Registry (“CR”) is fast and easy. There are three ways of application available to submit your application:
- Via the online application via the 24-hour portal e-Registry,
- Via the “CR eFiling” mobile application, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play (free of charge), or
- By submitting the documents in hard copy to the CR
It takes only when 1 hour to process a company incorporation and business registration application submitted online. Hard-copy applications will usually be processed within a four-day window.
Engaging a Professional Accounting Firm for Company Registration Services
The accounting firm usually handles all the required steps with its end-to-end company incorporation services. We, 3E Accounting Limited, offer Hong Kong company registration services that cover:
