Guides · Incorporation
How to incorporate a Hong Kong company as a foreign founder
You do not need to live in Hong Kong, fly to Hong Kong, or hold any particular visa to own and run a Hong Kong company. There is no local-shareholder rule and no local-director rule: a founder anywhere in the world can own 100% of a Hong Kong private company and be its sole director. The whole incorporation is filed online, and a straightforward case is typically done within a week, including document preparation.
This guide walks through what the law actually requires, the documents you will be asked for, the government fees (with 2026 figures), and the first-year obligations founders most often miss.
The five things every Hong Kong company must have
| Requirement | The rule |
|---|---|
| Shareholder(s) | 1 to 50 for a private company. Any nationality, individuals or corporate entities, resident anywhere. 100% foreign ownership is permitted. |
| Director(s) | At least one director who is a natural person. No nationality or residency requirement — the shareholder and director can be the same person. |
| Company secretary | Mandatory for every company (s.474, Companies Ordinance). Must be an individual ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, or a Hong Kong body corporate holding a TCSP licence. A sole director cannot also be the company secretary. |
| Registered office | A physical address in Hong Kong (not a P.O. box). This is where the Companies Registry and Inland Revenue Department send official mail. |
| Share capital | No minimum. Many founders start with HK$1–10,000 of issued capital. Nothing needs to be deposited before incorporation. |
Documents you'll be asked for
- Passport copy for each director, shareholder and significant controller
- Proof of residential address for each of the above (utility bill or bank statement, usually no older than 3 months)
- A short description of the intended business
- Your chosen company name — English, Chinese (traditional characters), or both
Incorporating from overseas without meeting your service provider face-to-face is normal and lawful — but it triggers enhanced due diligence under Hong Kong's anti-money-laundering rules. A licensed provider must verify who you are before acting, so expect to certify documents or complete a video verification. A provider that asks no questions is a red flag, not a convenience.
Step by step
- Choose and check the name. Search the Companies Registry's Cyber Search Centre for identical or confusingly similar names, and consider a trademark search at the Intellectual Property Department. A Chinese name must use traditional characters.
- Appoint a company secretary and registered office. For overseas founders these are usually bundled by one licensed provider.
- File the incorporation form (NNC1) and articles of association through the Companies Registry's e-Services. The model articles work for most private companies.
- Receive your certificates. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate are issued together — for electronic filings usually within one to two working days.
- Complete the post-incorporation setup. Statutory registers (members, directors), the Significant Controllers Register with a designated representative, share certificates, and first board resolutions.
- Open a bank account. Traditional banks may want an in-person meeting; licensed digital banks and fintech accounts onboard remotely. Either way, expect know-your-customer checks on the owners and evidence of real business activity.
What it costs (2026 figures)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Companies Registry e-filing fee (NNC1) | HK$1,545 |
| Business Registration Certificate, 1 year (incl. levy, from 1 Apr 2026) | HK$2,350 |
| Government total | HK$3,895 |
| Professional fee (market range) | Varies widely — check what renewal year two actually costs. Our incorporation package is HK$3,300 including the first year of company secretary service, plus a one-time HK$800 compliance onboarding for overseas clients. |
Taxes at a glance
Hong Kong taxes on a territorial basis. Profits tax for companies is two-tiered: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% above that. There is no VAT or GST, no capital gains tax, and no withholding tax on dividends. Your first profits tax return normally arrives about 18 months after incorporation and must be filed with audited financial statements.
Five things that catch foreign founders out
- The Business Registration Certificate renews every year. The demand note goes to your registered office — if nobody is watching that address, you will miss it.
- The annual return (NAR1) is due within 42 days of each incorporation anniversary. Late filing fees escalate from HK$870 to HK$3,480.
- Audited accounts are required every year, by a Hong Kong CPA, regardless of company size — a formal dormancy declaration is the only exemption.
- The company secretary must be Hong Kong-based. You cannot fill this role yourself from abroad, and a sole director cannot hold it at all.
- Remote onboarding means more checks, not fewer. Enhanced due diligence is a legal requirement for non-face-to-face clients.
Official references
- Companies Registry — incorporation procedures and fees: cr.gov.hk
- Inland Revenue Department — business registration fee table: ird.gov.hk
- GovHK — profits tax returns: gov.hk
This guide is general information only, current as at July 2026, and is not legal, tax or professional advice. Government fees and deadlines change — always confirm against the official sources above, or ask us about your specific situation.
Flat annual plans from HK$1,800/year. Renewal price = sign-up price.