How long does it take to incorporate a company in Hong Kong?
A straightforward company filed online can normally be incorporated within about one hour if the name needs no extra approval. A paper application usually takes about four working days. Opening a bank account is typically the slower step.
Official processing times
- Online (e-Services Portal): for a private company limited by shares, normally within one hour if the proposed name does not need further consideration and the form passes the system's validation. The service runs 24 hours, including public holidays.
- Hard copy: certificates are normally issued within about four working days.
- Companies limited by guarantee and public companies receive staff processing, so allow longer.
What can slow it down
- A name that is identical to an existing one, or contains a restricted word such as "trust", which needs the Registrar's approval.
- Errors in the form, which can lead to rejection (and the lodgement fee is not refunded).
- Setting up your e-Services user account if you do not already have one.
After incorporation The Business Registration Certificate is issued together with the Certificate of Incorporation through the one-stop service.
Allow additional time for practical steps outside the Registry's control: bank account opening, office space, licences for regulated trades, and visas for non-resident staff or founders.
Legal basis
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), Part 3
Sources
Applies to 2026 · Last reviewed 29 October 2026
General information for business owners, not legal, tax or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources or ask a licensed professional before you act.
Related questions
- How do I register an overseas company in Hong Kong (Part 16, registered non-Hong Kong company)?An overseas company that establishes a place of business in Hong Kong must register with the Companies Registry within one month on Form NN1. You file certified copies of its constitution, incorporation certificate and latest accounts, plus the business registration notice. The fee is HK$1,545 online or HK$1,720 on paper.
- Which business structure should I choose in Hong Kong: sole proprietorship, partnership or limited company?Hong Kong offers sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited companies and, for overseas firms, branch or representative offices. The main trade-off is liability: a sole proprietor or general partner is personally liable without limit, while a limited company's members are liable only up to unpaid share capital.
- How do I set up a sole proprietorship in Hong Kong and what is my liability?Register the business with the Inland Revenue Department's Business Registration Office within one month of starting trading. There is no separate legal entity, so you are personally liable without limit for the business's debts.
- How does a partnership work in Hong Kong, and what is a limited partnership?A partnership is two or more people carrying on business together for profit. In a general partnership each partner can bind the others and all are jointly liable for debts. A limited partnership has at least one general partner with full liability and limited partners liable only up to their contribution.
- What is a private company limited by shares in Hong Kong and why do most businesses choose it?It is a separate legal entity whose shareholders are liable only for any unpaid amount on their shares. It is the most common vehicle in Hong Kong because it protects personal assets and makes ownership easy to transfer, in exchange for statutory filing and record-keeping duties.