Register a Company in Hong Kong 2027: Steps, Fees & Visa Rules
Kenji Farre, Director · Oct 31, 2026 · 7 min read
To register a company in Hong Kong you file Form NNC1, articles of association and Form IRBR1 online through the Companies Registry's e-Services Portal, and a private limited company is normally incorporated within about one hour. The official cost is HK$1,545 for electronic incorporation plus HK$2,350 for a one-year Business Registration Certificate (HK$2,200 fee and HK$150 levy for certificates starting 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027), so HK$3,895 in total. You need at least one individual director (any nationality), one shareholder, a Hong Kong registered office and a company secretary who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong or is a Hong Kong company. Owning the company does not give you the right to work in it: you still need a visa that allows it.
This guide covers structure, requirements, online filing, every official fee for 2026/27, realistic first-year costs, the visa reality and how to close a company.
Can a Foreigner Register a Company in Hong Kong?
Yes. According to the Companies Registry, there is no requirement for a director to be a Hong Kong resident, there is no minimum paid-up share capital, and one shareholder is enough. You can file the whole thing online without visiting the Registry.
The catch is immigration law: getting permission to work for your company is the hard part. If you'd rather keep a salary while the business grows (plenty of founders here do), check out ExpatJobBoard.com. We list thousands of English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong that don't require Cantonese or Mandarin.
Sole Proprietorship vs Limited Company vs Branch: Which Should You Choose?
For most foreign founders the private company limited by shares is the right answer: it limits your liability, it's what banks and clients expect, and it gets the 8.25% lower profits tax rate. A sole proprietorship is simpler but exposes your personal assets. A branch suits an overseas company, not an individual.
| Sole proprietorship | Private limited company | Branch (registered non-Hong Kong company) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate legal entity | No, you are the business | Yes | No, part of the overseas parent |
| Personal liability | Unlimited | Limited to share capital | Parent company is liable |
| Where you register | IRD Business Registration Office only | Companies Registry plus IRD (one-stop) | Companies Registry plus IRD |
| Government filing fee | None at the Registry | HK$1,545 online, HK$1,720 paper | HK$1,545 online, HK$1,720 paper |
| Business registration (1 year, 2026/27) | HK$2,350 (small business exemption possible) | HK$2,350 (no exemption) | HK$2,350 unless it already holds a certificate |
| Annual return to Companies Registry | Not required | HK$105 if on time | HK$180 if on time |
| Profits tax (first HK$2 million / rest) | 7.5% / 15% | 8.25% / 16.5% | 8.25% / 16.5% |
| Typical user | Freelancer who already has the right to work | Founder, consultant, startup | Overseas company opening a Hong Kong office |
Source: Companies Registry fee schedule, IRD Business Registration Fee and Levy Table, IRD two-tiered profits tax FAQ
According to the IRD, a sole proprietor's business registration fee and levy can be waived if average monthly receipts stay within HK$10,000 for service businesses (HK$30,000 for others), but incorporated companies can never claim this. If you plan to freelance as an individual, see our guide to freelancing in Hong Kong.
What Do You Need to Register a Company in Hong Kong?
You need six things before you file. None require you to live in Hong Kong, but two need someone who does.
- A company name: Run a free Company Name Search on the e-Services Portal first, as an identical existing name will block your application.
- At least one director: At least one must be an individual, of any nationality, with no residency requirement.
- At least one shareholder: One founder member is enough, and there's no minimum capital.
- A company secretary: According to the Companies Registry, an individual secretary must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong, and a corporate secretary must have its registered or principal office in Hong Kong. A sole director cannot also be the company secretary, so solo founders hire a corporate secretary.
- A registered office in Hong Kong: A Hong Kong address where official letters go. Most new companies use their secretary's address at first.
- Articles of association: The online form can fill in the mandatory provisions for you, or you upload your own.
Significant Controllers Register and Designated Representative
Every local company must keep a Significant Controllers Register (SCR) from day one. According to the Companies Registry, a significant controller is anyone holding more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or who can appoint or remove a majority of the board, or who otherwise exercises significant control. If you own 100%, that's you.
The SCR is not filed with the Registry. It's kept at the registered office or another Hong Kong address (if it isn't at the registered office, you notify the Registry on Form NR2 within 15 days). You must also appoint at least one designated representative to deal with law enforcement queries about the register. That person must be a Hong Kong-resident shareholder, director or employee, or an accounting professional, legal professional or licensed trust or company service provider. Your company secretary usually takes this role.
How to Register a Company in Hong Kong Online: Step by Step
The old e-Registry and Cyber Search Centre were brought together in the Companies Registry's e-Services Portal on 27 December 2023, so ignore guides that still send you to e-Registry.
- Create an account: Register a user account on the Companies Registry e-Services Portal and subscribe to e-Filing Services, which is free.
- Start the incorporation form: Go to Incorporation, then Local Company, then company limited by shares. Enter the name, registered office, share capital, shareholders, directors and company secretary.
- Add articles of association: Accept the auto-filled model articles or upload your own as a PDF of 5MB or less.
- Complete Form IRBR1: According to the Companies Registry, an application without this Notice to Business Registration Office and the fee and levy is rejected.
- Sign and pay: Directors who are also founder members sign the consent statement in the form (other first directors can file Form NNC3 within 15 days). Pay by credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PPS or FPS.
- Receive your certificates: For a company limited by shares, the electronic Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate are normally issued within one hour by email.
Paper filing costs HK$1,720, takes about four working days and certificates must be collected in person. Don't bother.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Company in Hong Kong? Official Fees 2026/27
| Official fee | Amount (HK$) |
|---|---|
| Incorporation, electronic filing | 1,545 |
| Incorporation, paper filing | 1,720 |
| Business Registration, 1-year certificate (HK$2,200 fee + HK$150 levy) | 2,350 |
| Business Registration, 3-year certificate (HK$5,720 fee + HK$450 levy) | 6,170 |
| Annual return, within 42 days of anniversary | 105 |
| Annual return, 42 days to 3 months late | 870 |
| Annual return, 3 to 6 months late | 1,740 |
| Annual return, 6 to 9 months late | 2,610 |
| Annual return, more than 9 months late | 3,480 |
| Change of company name | 295 |
| Company particulars search | 22 |
| Deregistration application | 420 |
Source: Companies Registry Major Fees under the Companies Ordinance, IRD Business Registration Fee and Levy Table
What Is the Business Registration Fee in Hong Kong for 2026/27?
For a certificate starting between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027, the one-year Business Registration fee is HK$2,350, according to the IRD's fee and levy table. That's the HK$2,200 fee plus a HK$150 levy that was charged at HK$0 in 2024/25 and 2025/26 and is back this year.
The three-year certificate costs HK$6,170, which saves HK$880 compared with three one-year certificates at today's rates. The amount is fixed by the certificate's start date, so check the official IRD Business Registration Fee and Levy Table before you pay, as the levy has changed several times.
The Annual Return Fee and Late Penalties
Every private company files an annual return (Form NAR1) within 42 days after its incorporation anniversary. On time it costs HK$105; late, it jumps to HK$870 and up to HK$3,480 (see the Companies Registry fee schedule). Diarise it the day you incorporate.
What Is the Realistic First-Year Cost?
Expect about HK$11,700 to HK$26,900 in year one for a one-person company using a service provider, against HK$3,895 in government fees. The gap is the secretary, registered address and accounting plus audit.
| Item | Official fee (HK$) | Typical service-provider fee |
|---|---|---|
| Incorporation (online) | 1,545 | Sleek: local packages from HK$4,973 |
| Business Registration, 1 year | 2,350 | Usually passed through at cost |
| Company secretary (1 shareholder) | None | Sleek: HK$1,300 a year (Standard); Sleek estimates HK$2,000 to HK$5,000 at typical providers |
| Registered office address | None | Sleek estimates HK$1,500 to HK$3,000 a year |
| Accounting, audit and tax filing | None | Sleek estimates HK$5,000 to HK$15,000 a year; Air Corporate audit and tax from HK$4,500 |
| Annual return (from year two) | 105 | Usually bundled into renewal |
| Realistic year-one total | 3,895 | About HK$11,700 to HK$26,900 including official fees |
Source: Companies Registry, IRD, Sleek company registration and company secretary cost guides (2026), Air Corporate company registration guide (2026)
Air Corporate quotes its All-Inclusive package at US$1,070 (incorporation, government fees, 12 months of secretary and address), renewing at US$955. Compare what's included, not the headline price.
Business Registration Certificate and Company Chop: Do You Need Them?
The Business Registration Certificate (BRC) is mandatory and arrives with your Certificate of Incorporation. For companies incorporated on or after 27 December 2023, the eight-digit business registration number is printed as the "No." on the incorporation certificate. Renew it every one or three years. For how this number relates to tax IDs, see our guide to the Hong Kong tax identification number.
The company chop is not legally required. According to the Companies Registry, a common seal is optional and directors can sign instead. Many banks and landlords still ask for a chop, so most founders order one anyway.
Can You Open a Business Bank Account Easily?
Not always. Incorporation takes an hour; a traditional bank account can take weeks, and banks scrutinise foreign-owned companies with no local staff or clients. Many founders start with a digital bank meanwhile. Our guide to opening a bank account in Hong Kong as a foreigner covers what each type of bank asks for.
Does Owning a Hong Kong Company Give You the Right to Work?
No, and corporate service providers rarely say so. According to the Immigration Department, a person generally needs a visa or entry permit to work in Hong Kong, and that includes working for a company you own 100%. Your realistic routes:
- Investment as entrepreneur (GEP): The Immigration Department's guidebook asks for a three-year business plan with forecasts, proof of capital invested in Hong Kong, local jobs created and a substantial contribution to the economy. Processing normally takes four weeks once all documents are in, approval is discretionary, and you get up to 36 months.
- Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS): TTPS holders can extend by proving they have established or joined a business, and the Immigration Department counts profits from self-owned companies towards the Category A income threshold.
- Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS): According to the Immigration Department, QMAS holders are free to take up and change employment without prior approval, and establishing a business counts as settling in Hong Kong at extension time.
- IANG: Non-local graduates can extend on the basis of having established or joined a business.
- Dependant visa: Dependants of employment-visa, TTPS, QMAS and investment-visa holders are not prohibited from taking up employment, according to the Immigration Department. Confirm self-employment with the department for your case.
An employer-sponsored GEP visa covers that job, not a side company. Our GEP visa guide explains the employer-sponsored route, which is how many founders first get to Hong Kong.
What Are Your Ongoing Tax and Accounting Obligations?
Every limited company needs audited accounts. According to the Companies Registry, audit of financial statements is required for all companies, including small private companies that use the simplified reporting exemption. Only dormant companies are excluded.
Your audited accounts and tax computation go to the IRD with your profits tax return. The IRD has confirmed that small corporations with gross income of HK$2 million or less can no longer file profits tax returns without supporting documents. Under the Companies Ordinance, companies also hold an annual general meeting for each financial year.
Profits tax for a corporation is 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% above that, according to the IRD. If you own more than one company, only one connected entity can use the lower rate each year. Our guide to profits tax for freelancers and small businesses explains filing, deductions and provisional tax. For how dividends you pay yourself and gains on selling the company are treated, see our guide to capital gains and dividend tax in Hong Kong.
Deregistration of a Company in Hong Kong vs Winding Up
If your company is solvent and has stopped trading, deregistration is the cheap exit. According to the Companies Registry, all members must agree, the company must not have operated in the last three months, and it must have no liabilities, legal proceedings or Hong Kong property, with annual returns up to date.
First get a Notice of No Objection from the IRD on Form IR1263. Then file Form NDR1 with the HK$420 fee within three months of the notice's issue date. The Registry publishes a Gazette notice, and if nobody objects within three months, the company is dissolved; the whole process takes about five months. Keep filing annual returns until it's done.
Winding up (liquidation) is the formal route when a company has assets to distribute or debts to settle. It involves a liquidator and costs far more.
FAQs: Registering a Company in Hong Kong
How long does it take to register a company in Hong Kong?
Online, a private company limited by shares is normally incorporated within about one hour, with the Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate issued together. Paper filing takes about four working days. Bank account opening is usually the slowest part.
How much does it cost to register a company in Hong Kong in 2026?
The official cost is HK$3,895: HK$1,545 for electronic incorporation and HK$2,350 for a one-year Business Registration Certificate starting from 1 April 2026. A realistic first year with a company secretary, registered address and audit costs roughly HK$11,700 to HK$26,900.
Can a foreigner be the sole director and shareholder?
Yes. There's no residency or nationality requirement for directors or shareholders. However, a sole director cannot also act as company secretary, and the secretary must ordinarily reside in Hong Kong or be a Hong Kong company.
What is the minimum share capital for a Hong Kong company?
There is no minimum paid-up capital under the Companies Ordinance. Banks and visa officers will still expect real funding behind the business.
Who can be a company secretary in Hong Kong?
An individual who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong, or a company with its registered or principal office in Hong Kong. Most foreign founders use a licensed corporate secretary, which costs from about HK$1,300 a year.
Is a company chop required in Hong Kong?
No. Using a common seal is optional under the Companies Ordinance, and documents can be signed by directors instead. Many banks and businesses still ask for a chop in practice.
Does a small Hong Kong company need an audit?
Yes. Every limited company must have its financial statements audited each year, even small private companies using the simplified reporting exemption. Only genuinely dormant companies are excluded.
Can I work for my own Hong Kong company on a visitor visa?
No. Visitors cannot work in Hong Kong, including for a company they own. You need permanent residency or a visa that allows it, such as investment as an entrepreneur under GEP, TTPS, QMAS, IANG or a qualifying dependant visa.
How do I deregister a Hong Kong company?
Get a Notice of No Objection from the IRD, then file Form NDR1 with the HK$420 fee within three months. The company must be solvent, inactive for three months and free of liabilities. The process takes about five months.
Key Takeaways
- Registering online through the e-Services Portal costs HK$1,545 and usually takes about one hour for a private company limited by shares.
- The one-year Business Registration Certificate costs HK$2,350 for 2026/27 (HK$2,200 fee plus HK$150 levy), so official set-up costs total HK$3,895.
- You need one individual director of any nationality, one shareholder, a Hong Kong registered office and a Hong Kong-resident company secretary.
- Every company keeps a Significant Controllers Register and appoints a designated representative; anyone with more than 25% control is a significant controller.
- Annual returns cost HK$105 if filed within 42 days of the anniversary and up to HK$3,480 if late, and every non-dormant company needs an annual audit.
- A realistic first year with service providers costs about HK$11,700 to HK$26,900.
- Owning a company does not give you the right to work: you need a visa such as investment as an entrepreneur, TTPS, QMAS, IANG or a qualifying dependant visa.
Find a Job in Hong Kong While Your Business Grows
Many founders keep a salaried role, or need a sponsoring employer to get to Hong Kong in the first place. Browse English-speaking roles on ExpatJobBoard.com.
