Asia · Private Limited Company
Register a company in Hong Kong
Non-residents wanting a sole-director-friendly, zero-VAT gateway to China/Asia with potential offshore-profit exemption — if they can handle mandatory audits.
- Government fee
- $500
- HK$3,895 first year (CR + Business Registration)
- Corporate tax
- 8.25–16.5%
- headline
- Min. capital
- ≈ none
- effectively none
- Setup time
- 1–7 days
Deep dives
Everything on Hong Kong, in depth
At a glance
How Hong Kong scores for a non-resident
Relative edge
Sole non-resident director allowed, territorial tax, zero VAT — a lean China/Asia gateway.
Relative watch-out
A mandatory annual audit and notoriously hard banking raise the ongoing burden.
Scores are Lanzamo's editorial judgement (0–100, higher = better for a non-resident founder), built on the verified data on this page — guidance, not advice.
The essentials
For non-resident founders
Can you run it from abroad?
The headline fee rarely decides it — these are the things that actually trip up a founder forming Hong Kong from another country.
100% foreign ownership
100% foreign ownership; no residency requirement for directors or shareholders, and a single non-resident can be sole director and shareholder — structurally friendlier than Singapore on the director point.
Fully remote setup
Incorporation can be done online via the Companies Registry e-Registry, often with same-day-to-a-few-days approval; non-residents typically use a TCSP-licensed agent. No physical presence required to incorporate.
Resident director required
No resident director required, but every company must appoint a company secretary who ordinarily resides in HK (or a TCSP-licensed firm) and maintain a HK registered office. A sole director cannot also be the secretary — so a local agent is effectively unavoidable.
Banking for non-residents: Hard
Opening a traditional HK corporate account (HSBC, Hang Seng, BOCHK) as a non-resident is notoriously hard — usually an in-person visit, heavy KYC and source-of-funds evidence, with frequent rejections. Virtual banks (ZA Bank, Airstar) and fintechs (Statrys, Airwallex) are the practical route.
Accounting burden: High
An annual statutory audit by a HK CPA is required for essentially all limited companies (no small-company exemption), plus an annual return, BR renewal, and a Profits Tax Return to the IRD. Offshore-profit claims add documentation.
Why founders pick Hong Kong
- No resident-director requirement — a single non-resident can be sole director and shareholder
- Territorial taxation: offshore-sourced profits can be exempt, and the first HK$2M is taxed at just 8.25%
- No VAT/GST, no capital gains tax, and no minimum capital
- Fast, fully-online incorporation and a premier gateway for trade with mainland China
Watch out for
- Mandatory annual audit by a HK CPA for all limited companies — no small-company exemption
- A HK-resident (or licensed) company secretary and local registered office are compulsory
- Corporate banking for non-residents is hard and often needs an in-person visit
- Offshore-profit claims and the FSIE regime mean 'exemption' must be substantiated, not assumed
Is Hong Kong the right base for you?
Put Hong Kong side by side with a U.S. LLC and 11 other jurisdictions — government fee, tax, capital and the resident-director catch — and decide with the full picture.
Official sources
Go straight to the authorities — these are the free, definitive sources for Hong Kong.
Data reviewed June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident register a company in Hong Kong?
100% foreign ownership; no residency requirement for directors or shareholders, and a single non-resident can be sole director and shareholder — structurally friendlier than Singapore on the director point.
How much does it cost to register a Limited in Hong Kong?
The government fee is about $500 (HK$3,895 first year (CR + Business Registration)). Two government charges at formation: the Companies Registry incorporation fee (HK$1,545 electronic / HK$1,720 paper) plus the Business Registration fee paid to the Inland Revenue Department (HK$2,200 in 2025/26, rising to HK$2,350 from 1 Apr 2026 as the levy waiver ends). All-in ~HK$3,745–3,895 (~US$480–500). Budget roughly $295/yr in mandatory government filings. Annual Business Registration renewal (HK$2,200, then HK$2,350 from Apr 2026) plus the Companies Registry annual return fee of HK$105 if filed on time (late filing escalates sharply). A company secretary, registered office, and usually an annual audit are extra.
Do I need a resident director to form a company in Hong Kong?
No resident director is required. No resident director required, but every company must appoint a company secretary who ordinarily resides in HK (or a TCSP-licensed firm) and maintain a HK registered office. A sole director cannot also be the secretary — so a local agent is effectively unavoidable.
What is the corporate tax rate in Hong Kong?
Territorial system. Two-tiered profits tax: 8.25% on the first HK$2,000,000 and 16.5% above (the 16.5% is the headline rate). Only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxable; genuinely offshore-sourced profits can be exempt via an offshore claim. The FSIE regime (from 2023) affects MNE-group passive income, not standalone active companies, but offshore claims now face more scrutiny.
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