How to form a company in Hong Kong from India
By Dr. Anil Gupta, Global Expansion Advisor · Updated October 2026 · About 14 minutes to read
Most Indian founders form a private company limited by shares. You need one shareholder, one individual director who can live anywhere, a qualified Hong Kong company secretary and a Hong Kong registered office. File Form NNC1, the articles and Form IRBR1 with the Companies Registry, and an electronic filing normally returns both certificates in about an hour. In India, complete Form FC with your bank before funding the company.
Four stops from plan to certificate
This route is for a new private company limited by shares. The Registry filing is quick; the people, the address and the Indian funding route take the planning.
Structure and name
- Choose a new company or a branch registration
- Search the Companies Register
- Hold two or three backup names
People and address
- Name the shareholders and share split
- Appoint at least one individual director
- Engage a qualified company secretary
- Secure a Hong Kong registered office
Three documents
- Form NNC1 and the articles of association
- Form IRBR1 for business registration
- File on the e Services Portal and pay the fees
Switch on the company
- Check both certificates
- Set up registers, including significant controllers
- Open the bank account
- File Form FC in India, then remit
For the Registry, not the whole launch
A straightforward electronic filing normally returns the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate within about an hour. Plan two to four weeks overall for the secretary's checks, Indian documents and ODI, and longer for the bank account.
Hong Kong business forms compared
The bar under each form shows how well it suits an investor based in India.
Private company limited by shares
A separate legal person owned through shares, with limited liability for the shareholders. It can have one to fifty members, cannot offer shares to the public, and is the standard vehicle for trading, services and regional holding businesses.
Non Hong Kong company
Your Indian company registers its Hong Kong place of business with Form NN1 within one month. The parent remains liable.
Public company
Can offer shares to the public, with heavier governance and disclosure. Rarely the first step.
Company limited by guarantee
Members guarantee a fixed amount instead of buying shares. Used for clubs and charities.
Sole proprietorship or partnership
A business registration with no separate entity and unlimited personal liability for the owners.
Three forms, one clean file
The filing itself is three documents. The secretary and the bank will ask for proof behind them, so prepare both at once.
Incorporation form
Company name, registered office, share capital, founder members, directors and the company secretary.
Articles of association
The company's internal rules. Many founders adopt the model articles with small changes.
Business registration notice
Registers the business with the Inland Revenue Department in the same filing.
Each shareholder and director
- Passport copy and residential address proof
- Signed consent to act as director
- Share numbers and amount paid
- Source of funds and business plan for the bank
If an Indian company is the shareholder
- Certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents
- Board resolution and authorised signatory
- Ownership chart to the individual controllers
- Form FC acknowledgement and UIN from your bank
Living in Hong Kong, or owning it from India
Residence is not a condition for owning shares or being a director. It changes who can act as secretary and how much paperwork happens remotely.
Founder living in Hong Kong
Fewer moving parts
- Can be shareholder and director
- Still needs a separate secretary if acting as sole director
- Can attend bank meetings in person
- Must hold a visa that allows running the business
Founder living in India
Fully possible, with local support
- Can be shareholder and sole director
- Appoints a qualified Hong Kong secretary and registered office
- Completes identity checks remotely
- Allows extra time for bank due diligence
- Files Form FC before remitting funds
Same for both: audited accounts, the annual return, the profits tax return and the Significant Controllers Register apply to every company, wherever its owners live.
New company, branch or sole trade
Hong Kong has one registry and no federal or state choice, so the route question is about the legal form.
| Question | New private company | Non Hong Kong company | Sole proprietorship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal person | Separate Hong Kong company | Part of the Indian parent | The owner personally |
| Filing | NNC1, articles and IRBR1 | NN1 within one month of setting up | Business registration only |
| Liability | Limited to shares | Parent fully liable | Unlimited personal |
| Local people | Secretary and registered office | Authorised representative in Hong Kong | Owner usually lives in Hong Kong |
| Suits | Most Indian founders and subsidiaries | Parent led projects and sales offices | Small local businesses |
Common snags and how to clear them
Most delays come from the identity file, the secretary or the bank, not the Registry.
The name is rejected
A similar existing name or restricted word blocks it.
Fix: search early and keep two or three compliant alternatives.
Director wants to be secretary too
A sole individual director cannot also be the secretary.
Fix: appoint a licensed corporate secretary in Hong Kong.
Bank account takes months
Certificates do not explain who the customers are or where money comes from.
Fix: prepare contracts, invoices and source of funds. Our banking team can help.
Offshore income assumed tax free
Founders assume every non Hong Kong profit is exempt.
Fix: map where profits are made and check the foreign sourced income rules.
Audit left until the tax return
The first return arrives about 18 months after incorporation and needs audited accounts.
Fix: keep books monthly and appoint an auditor in year one.
Money sent before ODI
Remitting before the overseas investment filing breaks FEMA rules in India.
Fix: file Form FC, receive the UIN, then remit.
The bill, the clock and the calendar
Government fees are low. The real yearly costs are the secretary, the office, bookkeeping and the audit.
Setup costs
Official fees as published; confirm on the filing day
The yearly calendar
- Within 42 days of each anniversaryAnnual return NAR1, HK$105 if on time
- Each year or three yearsBusiness registration renewal
- About 18 months inFirst profits tax return, with audited accounts
- Within 60 days of hiringMPF enrolment for eligible employees
- By 31 DecemberAnnual Performance Report in India
- By 15 JulyFLA return to RBI
Sources checked October 2026: Companies Registry, Inland Revenue Department, MPFA and the RBI overseas investment directions.
Hong Kong and India handled together
Comply Globally coordinates the secretary, registered office and Registry filing, prepares Form FC with your bank and keeps both calendars. See our Hong Kong company setup service.
38 questions, grouped by topic
Start with a topic, or use All 38 FAQs at the end of the row to read every answer.
Can an Indian form a company in Hong Kong?
Yes. There is no nationality or residence condition for shareholders or directors of a Hong Kong private company. An Indian individual or Indian company can own all the shares, provided the company has a qualified Hong Kong company secretary and a registered office in Hong Kong.
What is the most common structure?
A private company limited by shares. It is a separate legal person, the shareholders' liability is limited to their shares, and it is the structure banks and customers expect for a trading or holding business.
Who registers the company?
The Companies Registry. Its one stop filing also registers the business with the Inland Revenue Department, so you receive the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate together.
How fast is incorporation?
For a straightforward private company filed electronically, the Registry normally issues both certificates in about one hour. Choosing a name, appointing a secretary and preparing the documents is what takes the time.
Is there a minimum share capital?
No. Hong Kong has no minimum or maximum share capital and no par value. Many companies start with a small issue, such as HK$10,000, and add more when needed.
How many shareholders and directors are needed?
At least one shareholder and one director who is a natural person. A corporate director may be added, but cannot be the only director of a private company.
Can the company use an English name?
Yes. The name can be in English, Chinese or both, and an English name must end with Limited. Search the register first and keep two or three alternatives ready.
Should my Indian company open a branch instead?
An Indian company that sets up a place of business in Hong Kong can register as a non Hong Kong company using Form NN1 within one month. The branch is part of the parent, so the Indian company carries its liabilities.
What is a company limited by guarantee?
A company whose members promise a fixed contribution if it is wound up, instead of buying shares. It is used for clubs, charities and non profit bodies, not for investment.
Can I run a sole proprietorship from India?
A sole proprietorship is only a business registration in the owner's name, with unlimited personal liability. It suits people living and working in Hong Kong, not overseas investors.
Is there a federal or provincial incorporation choice?
No. Hong Kong has one Companies Ordinance and one Companies Registry. The real choice is between a new local company, a non Hong Kong company registration and a sole proprietorship.
Can a Hong Kong company hold my Indian or Asian subsidiaries?
Yes. Hong Kong companies are often used as regional holding companies. The Indian rules on overseas investment, including limits on structures with several layers, still apply to the Indian owner.
Do I need a Hong Kong resident director?
No. Directors can live anywhere. The local requirement is a company secretary who is either an individual ordinarily resident in Hong Kong or a company with a registered office or place of business in Hong Kong.
Can I be both director and secretary?
Not if you are the sole director. A sole director who is an individual cannot also act as the company secretary, so most overseas founders appoint a licensed corporate secretary.
Can the registered office be a service address?
Yes, provided it is a physical address in Hong Kong where official letters can be delivered. A PO box is not accepted. Many founders use their secretary's address.
Does owning a company give me a Hong Kong visa?
No. To live or work in Hong Kong you need permission from the Immigration Department, for example under the entrepreneur route of the investment visa scheme. Owning shares alone gives no right to stay.
Can I manage the company from India?
Yes, but tax residence and source of profits matter. If key decisions are made in India, Indian tax rules may treat the company as managed from India, so keep decisions and records consistent with your plan.
What must I do in India before sending money?
Resident Indians invest through an authorised dealer bank under the overseas investment rules: Form FC, a unique identification number from RBI, then annual returns. See our FEMA and RBI guide for Hong Kong company owners.
Which forms are filed to incorporate?
Form NNC1 (incorporation form), the articles of association and Form IRBR1 (business registration notice). Together they create the company and register the business in one filing.
What does an individual founder need to provide?
A passport copy, residential address proof, the proposed shareholding and director details, and signed consents. The secretary and the bank will also run their own identity and source of funds checks.
What does an Indian parent company need?
Its certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents, a board resolution approving the investment and naming the signatory, and an ownership chart to the individuals who control it.
What is the Significant Controllers Register?
A register of people with significant control, usually those holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights. Most local companies must keep it at their Hong Kong address and appoint a designated representative.
Do Indian documents need an apostille?
Where legalisation is needed, an apostille from India's Ministry of External Affairs is generally accepted in Hong Kong. Most service providers will tell you which documents must be certified.
What does incorporation cost?
The Companies Registry fee for a company limited by shares is HK$1,545 when filed electronically and HK$1,720 on paper. The business registration fee and levy are paid with the same filing; check the current IRD schedule. Our Hong Kong company costs guide breaks down the first year.
What profits tax rate applies?
Under the two tier system, eligible corporations pay 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the rest. Only one company in a connected group can use the lower tier.
Is all income of a Hong Kong company taxed?
No. Hong Kong taxes only profits that arise in or are derived from Hong Kong, so offshore profits may be exempt. Certain foreign sourced dividends, interest and gains are taxed unless the company meets the economic substance or other conditions. Read the Hong Kong tax guide for Indians.
Is there VAT or GST in Hong Kong?
No. Hong Kong has no sales tax, VAT or GST, and no withholding tax on dividends paid to shareholders.
Do small companies need an audit?
Yes. Hong Kong companies generally must have their financial statements audited by a Hong Kong certified public accountant and file them with the profits tax return. Dormant companies can be exempt.
What does Comply Globally charge for Hong Kong?
Hong Kong company formation support starts from ₹45,000. Government fees, the secretary and other third party costs are billed separately and confirmed in writing before work starts.
What happens after the certificates are issued?
Issue share certificates, set up the statutory registers and the Significant Controllers Register, open a bank account, and set up bookkeeping. If you employ staff, register for MPF.
When is the annual return due?
A private company files Form NAR1 within 42 days after each anniversary of incorporation, except in the year it was formed. The fee is HK$105 when filed on time; late fees rise steeply.
When is the first profits tax return issued?
The Inland Revenue Department normally issues the first return about 18 months after incorporation. Later returns are issued each April, with audited accounts attached.
Why is opening a bank account difficult?
Hong Kong banks carry out detailed checks on owners, controllers, source of funds and the business model, often with a meeting. Prepare contracts, invoices and a clear plan. See our Hong Kong business bank account guide.
What are the MPF rules?
Employers must enrol eligible employees aged 18 to 64 in a Mandatory Provident Fund scheme within 60 days of employment and make regular contributions.
What are the ongoing compliance duties?
Business registration renewal, the annual return, audited accounts, the profits tax return, updates to the registers and your Indian APR and FLA returns. Our Hong Kong compliance guide lists the dates.
Can Comply Globally provide the secretary and office?
Comply Globally coordinates a licensed Hong Kong corporate secretary and registered office through its local partners, along with the filing itself.
Can Comply Globally handle the Indian side?
Yes. The team prepares Form FC with your authorised dealer bank and keeps the APR and FLA dates in the same calendar as your Hong Kong deadlines.
Can Comply Globally help me compare Hong Kong with Singapore?
Yes. Start with our comparison of Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea, then the team can compare tax, banking and cost for your plan.
Your Hong Kong roadmap
Hong Kong is one of the quickest places to incorporate. The work that matters is the people, the bank and the yearly audit cycle.
Prepare
- Choose the structure
- Clear the name
- Appoint director and secretary
- Secure the registered office
Incorporate
- File NNC1, articles and IRBR1
- Pay the fees
- Check both certificates
Operate
- Registers and share certificates
- Bank account
- Form FC, then remit
- MPF if hiring
Comply
- Annual return within 42 days
- Audit and profits tax return
- Business registration renewal
- APR and FLA in India
Settle the secretary, the registered office and the ODI route before you file. The Hong Kong side then usually moves in days.
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