How to Set Up a Company in Hong Kong as a Foreigner (2026)

Can a foreigner set up a company in Hong Kong?#

Yes — and Hong Kong makes it unusually easy. To register a company in Hong Kong as a foreigner you incorporate a private company limited by shares, and unlike Singapore there is no resident-director requirement: a single foreign founder can be the sole director and shareholder, owning 100% of the business. Setup is fully remote and often completes within one to two business days. The two rules that do bind foreigners are a mandatory local company secretary and an annual audit — plan for both from the start.

What you need before you file#

• At least one director. A natural person aged 18+; a foreigner qualifies, with no residency requirement.
• At least one shareholder. Can be the same person as the director; 100% foreign ownership is allowed.
• A company secretary. Mandatory — and it must be a Hong Kong-resident individual or a licensed TCSP (Trust or Company Service Provider). A sole director cannot also act as the secretary.
• A registered office address in Hong Kong (not a PO box).
• A Business Registration Certificate from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), obtained alongside incorporation.
• KYC documents for every director, shareholder and beneficial owner.

The step-by-step process#

1. Choose your company name. English, Chinese, or both. Check availability on the Companies Registry.
2. Appoint your director(s) and a company secretary. Foreign founders engage a licensed TCSP to act as (or provide) the company secretary and to file on their behalf.
3. File the incorporation. Your TCSP submits Form NNC1 (incorporation) together with the company's Articles of Association to the Companies Registry.
4. Receive your certificates. On approval you receive the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate — your company legally exists.
5. Open a business account. Choose a neobank (fast, remote) or a traditional bank, and begin operating.

What it costs — and the audit you must budget for#

The government fees to incorporate and register a business are modest, but two recurring obligations drive your real budget: a licensed TCSP to provide the company secretary and filings, and — crucially — an annual audit. Except for dormant companies, every Hong Kong company must have its financial statements audited each year by a Hong Kong CPA and filed with its profits tax return. Factor the audit into your first-year plan rather than discovering it at year end.

After incorporation#

• File your Annual Return (Form NAR1) with the Companies Registry within 42 days of the anniversary.
• Renew your Business Registration annually.
• Maintain a Significant Controllers Register.
• File your profits tax return with audited accounts when the IRD issues it.

Hong Kong's simplicity — no resident director, territorial tax, fast remote setup — makes it a natural China-gateway counterpart to a Singapore base. If you're weighing the two, our Singapore vs Hong Kong comparison breaks down the decision factor by factor.

Get matched with vetted Hong Kong providers#

Choosing the right licensed TCSP shapes your entire first-year cost and compliance experience. Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with exactly 3 vetted Hong Kong corporate service providers within 24 hours — independent, free, and with no obligation.