starting a company in hong kong as a foreigner

Foreigners can fully register a local limited company in Hong Kong with no nationality or residency requirement, 100% foreign ownership allowed, and no minimum capital (share-based) . The whole process can be completed remotely within 1–3 business days.

Key Eligibility & Mandatory Setup

– Directors: At least 1 natural person (any nationality); a sole director cannot also be the company secretary .

– Company Secretary: Mandatory; must be a Hong Kong resident individual or a Hong Kong-registered company .

– Registered Address: Must be a physical Hong Kong address (no PO boxes); can use a compliant service provider address.

– Shareholders: At least 1 (can be the same as director/sole director); no residency/nationality limit.

Quick 5-Step Registration

1. Name Check & Reservation

– English name ends with Limited; Chinese name ends with 有限公司  (traditional characters only).

– Conduct a name search via the Companies Registry e-Services Portal to avoid duplicates.

2. Document Preparation

– File forms: NNC1 (share limited) or NNC1G (non-share limited) + IRBR1 (for business registration) .

– Prepare articles of association (template available on the Companies Registry website) .

– Certified true copies of passports/IDs for all directors and shareholders.

3. Submission & Payment

– Online via the Companies Registry e-Filing Portal (24/7) or in person at Queensway Government Offices .

– Pay government fees (latest rates on the Companies Registry website).

4. Obtain Certificates

– Online approval: ~1 hour to receive electronic Certificate of Incorporation (CI) and Business Registration Certificate (BRC) .

– Paper submission: ~4 working days .

5. Post-Registration Compliance

– Appoint a company secretary and secure a Hong Kong registered address.

– Set up accounting records; file annual returns and tax returns as required.

– Maintain a Register of Significant Controllers for beneficial ownership transparency .

Cost & Timeline Overview

– Fees: One-time incorporation fee + business registration fee (1-year or 3-year option); check current rates on the Companies Registry and IRD websites.

– Timeline: Online submission → ~1 hour for approval; paper submission → ~4 working days .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

– Using a PO box as the registered address (invalid).

– Naming conflicts or non-compliant names (rejection risk).

– Forgetting to appoint a qualified company secretary (mandatory).

– Missing annual return filing or tax deadlines (penalties apply).

Next Steps

1. Check name availability and prepare 2–3 name options (English + Chinese).

2. Engage a local compliance service provider for secretary/address support if needed.

3. Complete online submission with all documents and payment.

Contact us. We offer a one-stop service that allows you to quickly complete your Hong Kong company registration without traveling to Hong Kong or renting an office. Post-registration, we also provide subsequent accounting services, audit services, tax filing, and government letter collection services.