- Remote setup
- Possible
- Visit, notary or lawyer
- Not required
- Local director
- No
- Registered address
- HK address
- Minimum capital
- No minimum
- Yearly upkeep
- BR fee HK$2,200
- EU member
- No
- IWG business address
- 27 centresfrom $77/mo
What the registry requires
| Company type | Private company limited by shares |
|---|---|
| Registry | Companies Registry |
| Government filing fee | HK$1,545 — HK$1,545 electronic filing (HK$1,720 on paper), plus the Business Registration fee paid together. |
| Registration time | Electronic applications normally get a certificate within 1 hour; paper filing takes about 4 working days. |
| Resident director | Directors may live anywhere; at least one must be a natural person. The company secretary must be resident in Hong Kong (or a Hong Kong-based company). |
| Visit, notary or lawyer | Online via e-Registry; no notary step. |
| Registered address | The registered office must be in Hong Kong. The official FAQ does not address virtual offices. |
| Minimum capital | No minimum |
| Corporate tax | Two-tier profits tax: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, 16.5% above. Only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxed. |
| Every year | Business Registration fee HK$2,200 a year, annual return, and a significant controllers register kept in Hong Kong. |
What it costs
- Government filing fee
- HK$1,545
- ≈ $197 at ECB rates
HK$1,545 electronic filing (HK$1,720 on paper), plus the Business Registration fee paid together.
- Every year
- BR fee HK$2,200
Business Registration fee HK$2,200 a year, annual return, and a significant controllers register kept in Hong Kong.
- Not included
- Provider fees
Registered agent or address, notary fees, accounting and bank onboarding vary by provider — ask for a quote in the request form.
How to register a company in Hong Kong, step by step
- Check the name and prepare the articles of association.
- Appoint a Hong Kong-resident company secretary (person or firm).
- Arrange a registered office in Hong Kong.
- File the incorporation form and business registration together online.
- Keep a significant controllers register in Hong Kong.
- Renew business registration and file the annual return every year.
Corporate tax in Hong Kong
8.25% / 16.5%. Two-tier profits tax: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, 16.5% above. Only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxed.
Rates are the headline figures published by the tax authority; your effective rate depends on residence, activity and treaties. This is not tax advice.
Common mistakes
- Assuming offshore profits are automatically tax-free — the territorial source rules look at where profits are actually generated.
- Forgetting the significant controllers register — it must be kept in Hong Kong.
- Choosing a secretary outside Hong Kong: an individual secretary must ordinarily reside there.
Guides for your situation
Compare Hong Kong with alternatives
| Yearly upkeep | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 ThailandCo., Ltd. | THB 5,500≈ $165 | Same day possible | 20% CIT | No | ID check or proxy | Thai office | AGM + audited FS |
 Hong KongLimited company | HK$1,545≈ $197 | About 1 hour online | 8.25% / 16.5% | No | Not required | HK address | BR fee HK$2,200 |
 MalaysiaSdn Bhd | MYR 1,000≈ $245 | Not stated | 24% (SME 15–17%) | Resident director | Not required | Registered office | Annual return + FS |
 SingaporePte Ltd | SGD 315≈ $247 | Usually same day | 17% | Yes | Not required | Public SG address | Annual return S$60 |
4 of 4 · official sources, checked September 27, 2026. Government fees only; agent and address costs are extra.≈ USD at ECB reference rates of September 25, 2026.
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Sources
- Incorporation fees — cr.gov.hk, checked September 27, 2026 (search extract)
- Incorporation FAQ: timelines, capital, registered office — cr.gov.hk, checked September 27, 2026
- Directors and secretary rules — cr.gov.hk, checked September 27, 2026 (search extract)
- Profits tax two-tier rates — ird.gov.hk, checked September 27, 2026
- Business registration fee HK$2,200 from 1 April 2024 — ird.gov.hk, checked September 27, 2026 (search extract)