Can I register a company in Hong Kong if I already have a company in another country?

You can register a Hong Kong private limited company even if you already own a company elsewhere. Hong Kong allows 100% foreign ownership with no residency requirement for directors, but you’ll need a Hong Kong–based company secretary and registered office, keep a Significant Controllers Register, and observe annual filing, audit, and tax rules. Set-up is fast (often ~1 hour online once your paperwork is in order), taxes are territorial with low two-tier profits tax rates, and banking is improving with remote onboarding options—though eligibility varies and compliance still matters.

If you already run a company overseas and want a footprint in Asia, Hong Kong remains one of the smoothest places to incorporate. The short answer: yes. Non-residents can incorporate, your foreign company can be the shareholder, and you can run the Hong Kong entity alongside your existing business—subject to Hong Kong’s company, tax, and banking rules.

Below is a no-nonsense, Business-Insider-style guide to the Hong Kong private limited company (the most common structure), written for founders who already own a company elsewhere.

The 30-second answer founders want

• Foreigners can own 100% of a Hong Kong company. There’s no director residency requirement, but every private company must have at least one natural-person director, plus a company secretary in Hong Kong and a registered office in Hong Kong.

• Online set-up is fast: e-Certificates of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificates are typically issued within about an hour for successful online applications, with one-stop issuance of both certificates.

• Taxes: Hong Kong taxes profits sourced in Hong Kong, not worldwide income; two-tier profits tax rates are 8.25% on the first HK$2M of assessable profits and 16.5% thereafter. There’s no VAT/GST, no tax on dividends or capital gains.

• Ongoing duties: file an annual return within 42 days of each incorporation anniversary, keep a Significant Controllers Register (SCR), and prepare audited financial statements for profits tax filing.

• Banking: traditional “in-person” expectations are easing—HKMA encourages remote onboarding for corporate customers, and major banks (e.g., HSBC) now offer remote account opening for eligible companies. Expect eligibility checks.

If you already have a company abroad, what are your Hong Kong options?

You have two mainstream routes:

1. Create a Hong Kong subsidiary (a new HK private limited company)

   • Shareholder can be your existing foreign company (100% OK).

   • Pros: clean local entity, limited liability, simpler commercial contracts with Hong Kong counterparties.

   • Requirements: at least one human director, Hong Kong company secretary, and a Hong Kong registered office. No minimum paid-up capital.

2. Register your foreign company as a “Registered Non-Hong Kong Company” (branch)

   • Required within one month of establishing a place of business in Hong Kong (e.g., office, staff).

   • Pros: continuity of your overseas entity; sometimes simpler group accounting.

   • Trade-off: branch liabilities flow to the head office.

   
   

For most venture-backed startups and SMEs, a local Hong Kong subsidiary is the default because vendors, banks, and customers are used to it.

Who and what you must appoint (and why)

• Directors: At least one natural person; corporate directors are allowed for many private companies, but you must still have a human director. Directors need not be Hong Kong residents.

• Company secretary: Must be a Hong Kong resident (if an individual) or a Hong Kong-based corporate service provider. The sole director cannot also be the company secretary.

• Registered office: Must be situated in Hong Kong (not a P.O. Box). This is where government mail is served and where statutory records may be kept.

• Share capital: No minimum paid-up capital is prescribed; many founders start with minimal capital and top up later.

What you file (and how fast it comes back)

Hong Kong runs a one-stop company & business registration: you submit incorporation (e.g., Form NNC1 for a company limited by shares) and business registration together, either online or in person. If approved online, you receive both the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate electronically—often within about an hour. Hard-copy applications typically take about four working days.

Key docs at incorporation

• Incorporation Form NNC1, Articles of Association (model articles exist), and IRBR1 (notice to the Business Registration Office under the one-stop regime). Fees are published by the Companies Registry and Inland Revenue Department.

Step-by-step: How foreign founders set up a Hong Kong limited (subsidiary)

1. Pick the structure and the name (check CR naming rules, pick “Limited”).

2. Decide the cap table: your foreign company can be the sole shareholder; add individual co-founders if needed. Ensure at least one human director.

3. Line up local supports: a company secretary service and a registered office address in Hong Kong.

4. Prepare filings: NNC1, Articles (model templates available), IRBR1 for business registration. File online via the e-Services portal.

5. Receive e-Certificates: Certificate of Incorporation + Business Registration Certificate—often same-day (≈1 hour) if online and complete.

6. Open a bank/fintech account: several banks now offer remote onboarding for eligible SMEs; policies differ—compare.

7. Set up accounting and compliance: put your SCR in place, calendar your annual return, and arrange audit for tax filing.

   
   

Tax: why Hong Kong is founder-friendly (and where to be careful)

• Territorial system: You’re taxed on profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong (not on worldwide income). Determining “source” is fact-specific.

• Rates: Under the two-tier profits tax regime, the first HK$2 million of assessable profits is taxed at 8.25% for corporations; the remainder at 16.5%. No VAT/GST, no tax on dividends, no capital gains tax.

• Passive income & multinationals: From 2023–2024, Hong Kong refined its Foreign-Sourced Income Exemption (FSIE) rules. Certain foreign-sourced dividends, interest, and disposal gains received in Hong Kong by in-scope MNE entities may be taxable unless economic substance, participation, or nexus conditions are met. If your group earns foreign passive income, get advice early.

Bottom line for founders: Hong Kong remains simple and competitive, but the FSIE rules mean you shouldn’t assume all offshore passive income is tax-exempt by default.

Compliance calendar: what you must do every year

• Annual Return (Form NAR1) for private companies: within 42 days after each anniversary of incorporation. Late filings incur escalating fees. Put this on your calendar.

• Significant Controllers Register (SCR): keep, maintain, and make available to law enforcement upon demand; appoint a designated representative.

• Accounts & audit: prepare annual financial statements and have them audited (exceptions apply for dormants, etc.). Corporations file profits tax returns with financial statements (now increasingly via e-filing/iXBRL).

Costs and timing snapshot

• Government fees: Incorporation and business registration fees are public and periodically updated; one-stop means both company and business registration are handled together. For online filings, the incorporation fee for a company with share capital is HK$1,545 (ex-BR fee/levy—check IRD’s current table).

• Timing: ~1 hour online for e-Certificates if everything checks out; ~4 business days for hard copy filings.

Frequent founder questions (AEO-style)

“Can my overseas company be the sole shareholder of the Hong Kong company?”Yes. Corporate shareholders are permitted. Ensure you still appoint at least one individual director and a Hong Kong company secretary.

“Do I have to fly to Hong Kong to incorporate?” No. Non-residents may incorporate, and Hong Kong supports online filing and e-Certificates. Many founders work with a local corporate services firm for the company secretary and address.

“Do I need a physical office?”You need a registered office in Hong Kong. It can be a service address (not a P.O. Box).

“Bank account: remote or in person?”Both exist. HKMA encourages remote onboarding, and HSBC supports remote opening for eligible companies. Your mileage varies by business model, owners’ nationality, and KYC.

“Is there a minimum capital?”No. There is no minimum paid-up capital requirement under the Companies Ordinance.

“Can I work in Hong Kong just because I own a company there?”No. Ownership doesn’t equal work authorization. If you plan to reside and work in Hong Kong, look at Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs (investment/entrepreneur visa).

“What if we just want to run a branch?”If your foreign company establishes a place of business in Hong Kong, you must register it as a Registered Non-Hong Kong Company within one month.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Forgetting the SCR: It’s not optional; keep it updated and accessible to law enforcement on demand.

• Late annual returns: Miss the 42-day window and your fees jump quickly.

• Assuming all “offshore” income is untaxed: The FSIE regime pulls some foreign passive income into scope unless you meet substance/participation/nexus conditions.

• Banking expectations: Even with remote onboarding, eligibility matters. Line up a plan (and a Plan B).

Founder’s checklist (copy/paste)

• Decide: subsidiary vs branch (subsidiary is most common).

• Confirm people: ≥1 individual director, HK company secretary.

• Secure registered office in Hong Kong.

• Prepare filings: NNC1, Articles (model available), IRBR1. File online.

• Receive COI + BRC (often ~1 hour online).

• Open bank/fintech account (consider remote options).

• Set compliance: SCR, annual return (42 days), audit & tax calendar.

Why Hong Kong works well with an existing foreign company

• Clean separation: a local entity for Asia with limited liability.

• Predictable rules: established Companies Ordinance, clear filings, and one-stop issuance of e-Certificates.

• Efficient tax: low rates, territorial scope, and no VAT/dividends/capital-gains taxes (but watch FSIE if you’re an MNE receiving passive income).

The fine print founders forget

• Your home-country tax still matters: CFC rules (e.g., US/UK/EU) can attribute Hong Kong profits back home—get advice.

• Employment: employing staff in Hong Kong triggers MPF and other obligations outside the scope of this guide.

• Sector licences: regulated activities (e.g., money services, SFC-regulated businesses) require separate licences.

Quick glossary

• NNC1 – Incorporation form for a company limited by shares.

• BRC – Business Registration Certificate (issued with the Certificate of Incorporation under one-stop).

• SCR – Significant Controllers Register (beneficial ownership record kept by the company).