What Should You Do Before Applying for a Business Licence in Hong Kong?
To legally operate a business in Hong Kong, you must first confirm whether your activity needs a business licence or permit at all. Not every company’s licensing depends entirely on the nature of your business, and the relevant Hong Kong government department or agency issues each licence based on its own regulatory scope.
Before applying for any licence, you must already hold a valid Business Registration Certificate (BRC) from the Inland Revenue Department. As of 1 April 2026, the BR fee is HK$2,350 for a one-year certificate (HK$2,200 fee plus the reinstated HK$150 Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund levy), or HK$6,170 for a three-year certificate. Most trade and industry licences then take between two and eight weeks to approve, though this varies significantly by category; restaurant licences, for example, typically take seven to nine weeks due to multi-department inspections.
The fastest way to confirm exactly which licences apply to you is the government’s own Business Licence Information Service (BLIS), covered in detail below.
Which Types of Businesses Need a Licence or Permit in Hong Kong?
You will be required to obtain a business license or permit in Hong Kong if you intend to operate a business in any of the following categories:
1. A Travel Agency
Any business intending to sell tour packages and travel offers, including transportation services, is classified as a Travel Agency in Hong Kong. Basically, you will need to acquire the Travel Agent’s License from the relevant authority, which is the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.
2. An Employment Agency
Any business that intends to provide recruitment or placement services to other employers in Hong Kong is classified as an Employment Agency. Thus, you must acquire a License to Operate an Employment Agency from the relevant authority, which in this instance is the Labour Department of Hong Kong.
3. An Education Business
If you intend to set up an educational institution in Hong Kong, then you will need to obtain the necessary business license from the Education Bureau of Hong Kong. In addition, this business license is the Certificate of Registration of a School.
4. A Financial Services Company
The business licenses and permits in Hong Kong which are relevant to a financial services company will depend upon the type of business the company is involved in. Moreover, examples of the types of business licenses and permits which are required include:
- Money Lenders License (from Companies Registry for money lending businesses).
- Registration of an Insurance Agent (from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for insurance agents).
- Representative License, Authorized Institution Registration or a Corporate License (from the Securities and Futures Commission for investment advisory related services).
- Pawnbrokers License (from the Hong Kong Police Force for pawnshops).
- Authorization to carry on an Insurance Business (from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for those intending to act as insurers).
- Authorization of Insurance Brokers (from the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for those intending to act as insurance brokers).
- Registration of Remittance Agents and Money Changers (from the Hong Kong Police Force for money and foreign currency exchange dealers).
- Registration of Deposit-Taking Company (DTC) to Carry on Business of Taking Deposits (from the Monetary Authority Hong Kong for a business that takes deposits from their customers).
These licences are issued respectively by the Securities and Futures Commission, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance under the Insurance Authority, and the Hong Kong Police Force. Always confirm the current requirement with the relevant regulator before applying, as financial licensing conditions are reviewed frequently.
5. Event Management Company
Any business that conducts events, including community, sporting, outdoor, exhibitions, concerts, meetings, conventions and conferences, is classified as an event management company. Of course, there are several business licenses and permits categories involved with this one too. However, this again depends on the nature of your business:
- Amusements with Prizes License (Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority).
- Lottery License (Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority).
- Certificate for Advertising Materials (Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority).
- Certificate of Approval (Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority).
- Food Factory License (Food and Environmental Hygiene Department).
- Liquor License (Liquor Licensing Board).
- Food Factory License (Food and Environmental Hygiene Department).
6. A Restaurant Business
A restaurant is an establishment which serves food and drinks. Therefore, restaurants must have the diligence to obtain the necessary business licenses and permits in Hong Kong before commencing operations. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is responsible for issuing the General Restaurant License. However, you must finalise your business premises before you can apply for the said business license. If you intend to serve alcohol in your establishment, then you will need the Liquor License approval from the Liquor Licensing Board Hong Kong. Further, additional business licenses and permits in Hong Kong for a restaurant business include:
- Food Factory License (if your business involves food preparation and manufacturing, or processing packaged foods for human consumption).
- Import License (if your business imports frozen food items such as poultry and meat).
- Restricted Food Permit (for the sale of restricted food items, including cut fruit, oysters, raw meat and sushi or sashimi).
- Permit to Sell Food via Vending Machine
- Bakery License
- License for Storage or Manufacture of Dangerous Goods
- Outside Seating Accommodation Permit
- Karaoke Establishment Permit
Restaurant licensing now runs primarily through FEHD’s Online Licence Services portal using an “iAM Smart” login. After acceptance, FEHD typically holds an application review meeting within about 20 working days, followed by a final inspection roughly 7-8 working days after you confirm all conditions are met, so budget 7 to 9 weeks in total from submission to licence issuance.
7. A Trading Company
To operate such a business, the business licenses and permits in Hong Kong that you would require would depend on the goods that you are dealing with in a Trading Company. Depending on the licenses and permits needed, the relevant governing agency in Hong Kong will be responsible for issuing it to your business.
8. A Retail Business
The business licenses and permits in Hong Kong are necessary for the retail industry. Moreover, it will depend on the type of goods and services you provide in the establishment. Further, these licenses could include any of the following:
- Animal Boarding Establishment License (Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department).
- Listing Certificate of Class II/III Medical Devices and Certificate of Registration of Premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (Department of Health).
- Retailer License in Chinese Herbal Medicines (Department of Health).
Most standard retail shops selling ordinary consumer goods need only a Business Registration Certificate and no separate trade licence. Extra licensing applies specifically when you stock regulated goods such as medicines, poisons, herbal products, or live animals, and the licence is issued by the Department of Health or the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department rather than a general retail authority.
What Is the Business Licence Information Service (BLIS) and How Do You Use It?
The Business Licence Information Service (BLIS), run by the Trade and Industry Department, is Hong Kong’s official self-assessment tool for licensing. You answer a short set of questions about your business activity, and BLIS returns a tailored list of every licence, permit, certificate, and approval your business is likely to need, along with the issuing department for each.
BLIS is a starting point, not a final answer; some activities require judgment calls that the tool cannot make (for example, whether your specific premises trigger a Restricted Food Permit or an Outside Seating Accommodation approval). For that reason, most companies use BLIS to shortlist requirements, then confirm and file the applications through a licensed corporate services provider.
Do Import-Export, Money Service, or Environmental Permit Businesses Need Extra Licences?
Three categories are frequently overlooked in Hong Kong licensing checklists:
- Import and export businesses need an import/export licence, while Hong Kong operates a free port with minimal general licensing; specific controlled goods (such as pharmaceuticals, strategic commodities, endangered species products, and certain foodstuffs) require an import/export licence from the Trade and Industry Department or, for dutiable commodities like alcohol and tobacco, from the Customs and Excise Department.
- Money service operators (currency exchange and remittance businesses) must register through the Money Service Operators Licensing System (MSOS), administered by Customs and Excise.
- Businesses affecting the environment, including those handling chemical waste, air pollutant emissions, or water discharge, must apply for the relevant permit through the Environmental Protection Department before commencing operations.
How Much Does a Business Licence Cost and How Long Does Approval Take in Hong Kong?
Licence fees and timelines vary widely by category, so always confirm the current fee schedule with the issuing department before budgeting. As a general guide:
- Business Registration Certificate: HK$2,350 (1-year) or HK$6,170 (3-year) from 1 April 2026, payable to the Inland Revenue Department.
- Restaurant licences: Approval typically takes 7-9 weeks, depending on inspection scheduling and premises compliance.
- Most other trade licences (travel agency, employment agency, money lenders, etc.): Approval generally takes 2-8 weeks once a complete application is submitted.
- Renewals: For many food business licences, restricted food permits, and other trade licences can now be completed fully online via FEHD’s e-services, which is faster than in-person renewal.
How Do You Apply for a Business Licence in Hong Kong?
Although requirements differ by industry, applying for a business licence in Hong Kong generally follows the same five steps:
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Confirm your requirements
Use BLIS to identify every licence your business activity triggers.
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Secure your Business Registration Certificate first
No trade licence application can proceed without a valid BRC from the IRD.
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Prepare premises and supporting documents.
This includes floor plans, tenancy proof, fire safety certification, and identity/incorporation documents, depending on the licence.
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Submit through the correct channel
Many licences can now be applied for or renewed via the Online Licence Services portal using iAM Smart; others still require in-person submission to the issuing department.
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Complete inspection and approval
Expect site inspections for food, retail, and premises-based licences before the final licence is issued.
The process is considerably more manageable with an experienced corporate services partner managing documentation, department liaison, and inspection scheduling on your behalf, minimising the errors that most commonly delay approval.
Why Work With 3E Accounting on Your Hong Kong Business Licences?
Identifying and securing the right business licences in Hong Kong involves multiple government departments, varying documentation standards, and inspection timelines that can shift a launch date by weeks if handled incorrectly. We work alongside your Business Registration Certificate and company incorporation process to map out every licence your specific business activity requires, so nothing is missed, and nothing is over-applied for.
As a Hong Kong-based, TCSP-licensed corporate service provider, 3E Accounting manages the full licensing journey from BLIS assessment through document preparation, department liaison, and final approval, so you can focus on opening your business rather than navigating regulatory paperwork.