Company Registration in the UAE and Abroad
Company01
Company in Hong Kong
Registration with the Companies Registry and the corporate kit; the registered address is included in the package.
3–7 daysfrom €1,308
You get: CI, BR and the corporate kit
Annual return — 42 days
Form NAR1 is filed within 42 days after the anniversary of incorporation; the fee is HK$105. Late filing costs from HK$870 to HK$3,480 and risks a criminal fine.
Company Registration in the UAE and Abroad
Company Registration in Hong Kong
A Hong Kong private company limited by shares is the familiar form for trade with China and the rest of the world. The director and shareholders can be from any country outside the high-risk lists, and there is no need to travel for registration. The harder part is the tax position, the annual audit and the bank — we work on these from day one.
- from €1,308
- Registration and first year — package
- 3–7 days
- Registration once the full document set is ready
- 8.25%
- Tax on the first HK$2 million of profit, 16.5% above that
- Remote
- Registration without a trip to Hong Kong
In short
A Hong Kong company is registered remotely — in 3–7 days once the full document set is ready; the registration and first-year package is from €1,308. Profits tax is 8.25% on the first HK$2 million and 16.5% above; an audit and the NAR1 annual return are due every year, even with no turnover.
Checked 18 October 2026 · Kermen Tserenkeeva
Cost of a mistake
Up to HK$50,000
The criminal fine for not filing the NAR1 annual return — plus HK$1,000 per day. The return is due even if the company does nothing.
How to avoid itHow a Hong Kong company works
Registration in Hong Kong takes days, but after that the company runs on a strict calendar: audit, annual return and tax return — every year, even with no turnover.
A director from any country
You need at least one shareholder and one director who is an individual. The director does not have to live in Hong Kong, and a shareholder can also be a company.
Secretary and address in Hong Kong
The Companies Ordinance requires a secretary: a Hong Kong resident or a company with an office in Hong Kong; a provider that takes on the role for a fee needs a TCSP licence. The registered address must also be in Hong Kong.
Tax on Hong Kong profit
Only profit sourced in Hong Kong is taxed: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, 16.5% above that. Profit from deals outside Hong Kong can be claimed as offshore — with evidence.
The account is a separate bank decision
Hong Kong banks usually require the director to visit in person and the business to have a link to Asia. Chinese banks also open NRA accounts for Hong Kong companies.
Expert tip
Before registration, we check which bank will open an account for your profile: the director’s citizenship, the industry, the counterparties. A company without an account means audit and renewal costs with no benefit.
Kermen TserenkeevaSenior Lawyer · Company registrationWho it suits
Who it suits — and when to choose something else
A good fit if
- 01You buy in China and sell to other countries — you need a company that suppliers and Asian banks understand.
- 02You need a base for an NRA account with a Chinese bank — such accounts are opened precisely for Hong Kong companies.
- 03Deals are negotiated and concluded outside Hong Kong, and you are ready to show this with documents — the tax depends on it.
- 04You need a trading or holding hub in Asia with no currency controls and no tax on dividends.
- 05The director and shareholders are ready to go through KYC: passport, proof of address, a selfie holding the passport.
Consider something else if
- 01You need a residence visa and work with clients in the UAE — a Hong Kong company won’t give you either.Freezone
- 02The business is inside mainland China: a warehouse, staff, sales in yuan with fapiao.China
- 03Purchases in China are one-off and small — it’s simpler to pay from your UAE company’s account, with the documents properly prepared.UAE
- 04Counting on zero tax without evidence of where the deals are made. An offshore claim is not automatic: the tax office requests contracts, correspondence and the route of the goods.
Comparison
How Hong Kong differs from China, Singapore and Malaysia
Package prices are “from” figures, indicative as of October 2026, and what a package includes differs by country; tax is the headline rate before incentives.
- Registration
3–7 days
- First year
from €1,308
registration and address
- From year two
from €1,308 per year
+ Business Registration HK$2,350
- Corporate income tax
8.25% / 16.5%
only on Hong Kong profit
Click an option to highlight it across every parameter
Benefits
What you get
Let’s discuss the details
Will a bank open an account for your Hong Kong company?
This is a question for before registration, not after. Describe the director’s citizenship, the goods, suppliers and buyers — we’ll tell you which banks realistically consider such a profile.
Route
From registration to the first payment to a supplier
A company without an account can’t operate — which is why we choose the bank before registration. Timelines are based on our experience as of October 2026; the decision to open an account rests with the bank.
Account02
NRA account with a Chinese bank
OCBC, HSBC and Chouzhou open accounts without the director’s visit; each bank has its own requirements for turnover and links to Asia.
3–4 weeks + tokens
You get: account details at a Chinese bank and tokens
Platform03
Payment platform
A multi-currency account with CNY and HKD — a second channel for paying suppliers.
3–10 working daysin parallel
You get: a second payment channel
Until payments through the bank
≈ 5.5–7 weeks
Registration 3–7 days, the bank — 3–4 weeks from a complete package, tokens — about 2 weeks. We connect the platform in parallel.
Company01
Company in Hong Kong
Registration with the Companies Registry and the corporate kit; the registered address is included in the package.
3–7 daysfrom €1,308
You get: CI, BR and the corporate kit
Account02
Account with a Hong Kong bank
HSBC, Hang Seng, OCBC, DBS or CITIC: at all five, the director attends the meeting in person. The minimum balance at HSBC, Hang Seng and OCBC is HKD 100,000; the deposit at DBS is HKD 1 million.
6–8 weeks at HSBC and Hang Seng
You get: account in HKD, USD, CNY and EUR
Platform03
Payment platform
A multi-currency account with CNY and HKD — a second channel for paying suppliers.
3–10 working daysin parallel
You get: a second payment channel
The main timeline
6–8 weeks
From submission to HSBC or Hang Seng; before that — registration in 3–7 days and the file. At DBS and CITIC — usually several months.
Process
7 steps from the first conversation to the result
Every step is visible in the client portal: what’s happening now and whether we need anything from you.
Steps on your side: 1 of 7
We handle it · 5Needed from you · 1Authority · 1
We look at the goods, suppliers, buyers and where negotiations take place. We check the citizenship of the director and shareholders against bank requirements and decide where to open the account — in Hong Kong or in China.
Step 1 of 7
Profile and bank
We look at the goods, suppliers, buyers and where negotiations take place. We check the citizenship of the director and shareholders against bank requirements and decide where to open the account — in Hong Kong or in China.
We handle it1–2 days
Documents
What you’ll need
For registration — from the director and shareholders
- Passport scan: a clear spread with full name, date of birth, photo, number and signature
- Proof of address from the last 3 months: utility bill, bank or credit card statement, lease or tenancy agreement
- Completed KYC form
- Selfie of the director holding the passport
If the shareholder is a company
- Certificate of incorporation and articles of association
- Register of directors and shareholders
- Details of the ultimate beneficial owners and their documents as listed above
- Resolution on participation in the Hong Kong company
For the bank account
- Director’s passport scan
- Director’s proof of address from the last 3 months: utility bill or bank statement
- If there are no transactions yet — two contracts for planned deals: with a supplier and with a buyer
- A statement from another bank and the company website — if available
For an NRA account with a Chinese bank
- Originals of the CI and BR, form NNC1 or NAR1 no older than one year, the articles of association
- Company and director seals
- Original of the director’s passport and translations into Chinese
- Proof of activity: contracts, invoices, a description of the business model; Chinese SIM cards — if the bank requires them
Timing and budget
What makes up the budget
The package covers registration and the first year, but a Hong Kong company costs money every year: budget for renewal, audit and reporting from the start.
ItemDepends onWhen
- Registration and first year — from €1,308Depends onFull company registration and a registered address in Hong Kong. We fix the exact scope and price in a proposal before work starts.WhenOn registration
- Companies Registry fee — HK$1,545Depends onThe government fee for electronic incorporation; on paper — HK$1,720. Registry rate as of October 2026; which government fees are already included in the package is shown in the proposal.WhenOn registration
- Renewal from the second year — from €1,308 per yearDepends onMaintaining the company and the registered address. We set out the renewal scope in the same proposal so the second year doesn’t come as a surprise.WhenAnnually
- Company secretaryDepends onA mandatory position: a Hong Kong resident or a company with an office in Hong Kong; a provider that takes on the role for a fee needs a TCSP licence. We set out the secretary’s terms in the proposal together with the package.WhenOngoing
- Business RegistrationDepends onGuide figure from 1 April 2026 — HK$2,350 for a one-year certificate: a HK$2,200 fee and a HK$150 levy. The rates are set by the Hong Kong government.WhenOn registration, then annually
- NAR1 annual returnDepends onThe registry fee is HK$105 if filed within 42 days after the anniversary of incorporation. Late filing costs from HK$870 to HK$3,480.WhenAnnually
- Bookkeeping and auditDepends onAn audit is mandatory every year. The cost depends on the number of transactions, the currencies and how orderly the source documents are.WhenAnnually after year-end
- Tax return and offshore claimDepends onThe profits tax return with audited financial statements. An offshore claim means tax office questionnaires and a package of evidence on the deals — a separate scope of work.WhenAnnually and on tax office requests
- Bank accountDepends onBank terms, based on our experience as of October 2026: at HSBC and Hang Seng — a balance of, as a rule, HKD 100,000 and an application fee of HK$1,300 under the bank’s tariff; at OCBC — HKD 6,500 for opening. NRA accounts in China have their own tariffs.WhenAt opening and monthly
Company calendar
What a Hong Kong company files, and when
Counted from the date of incorporation. We handle the annual filings, but by law the company, its directors and the secretary are responsible: tell us straight away about changes in directors or shareholders and about new employees.
01234567891011121314151617181920months from the date of incorporation
Day 0
The company is incorporated
The registry issues the CI and BR. From this day, the significant controllers register and records of every transaction are kept — records are retained for 7 years.
Anniversary
BR renewal and the NAR1 annual return
BR — on the Inland Revenue Department’s demand note: HK$2,350 per year. NAR1 — within 42 days after the anniversary, fee HK$105.
If missed: NAR1 filed late — fee of HK$870–3,480; the breach itself is a criminal offence: up to HK$50,000 and HK$1,000 per day
≈ 18 months
First profits tax return
The tax office usually issues it 18 months after incorporation, and the filing period is, as a rule, 3 months. The audited financial statements are attached to the return.
If missed: up to HK$10,000 and up to three times the tax undercharged
Every year
Every anniversary
BR and NAR1
The same deadlines and fees as at the first anniversary. NAR1 is filed even if the BR has already been renewed.
After the financial year-end
Audit of accounts
A local auditor audits the accounts at any turnover; the audited financial statements are attached to the tax return.
One month from the date of issue
Profits tax return
The tax office issues returns in early April. With a tax representative, the deadline is extended according to the year-end: for a December year-end — to the second half of August (for 2025/26 returns, to 31 August 2026), for January–March — to mid-November; for a year ending between April and November, there is no extension.
If missed: estimated assessment, up to HK$10,000 and up to three times the tax
When something changes
15 days
New director or secretary
Form ND2A — for an appointment or resignation, ND2B — for a change of particulars.
If missed: up to HK$25,000 and HK$700 per day
7 days
Significant controllers register
Changes are entered within 7 days after the details are confirmed.
If missed: up to HK$25,000 and HK$700 per day
15 days
New registered address
Notice NR1 to the registry.
If missed: up to HK$50,000 and HK$1,000 per day
1 month
Issue of new shares
Return of allotment NSC1 with the new capital structure.
If missed: up to HK$25,000 and HK$700 per day
With employees
60 days from the start of employment
MPF pension scheme
Employees aged 18 to 64 are enrolled in an MPF scheme.
If missed: up to HK$350,000 and 3 years’ imprisonment
3 months from the start of employment
IR56E notification
Notify the tax office of a new employee if their income is or may be chargeable to salaries tax.
If missed: up to HK$10,000
One month from the date of issue
Employer’s return
The tax office issues it once a year; the block extension for tax representatives does not apply to it.
If missed: up to HK$10,000
Getting it right
Common mistakes — and how to avoid them
Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 7 open
01 What people often do
Registering the company and looking for a bank later — only to find that banks don’t take clients with that director’s citizenship or that industry.
02 What people often do
Assuming that a Hong Kong company with clients abroad automatically pays no tax.
03 What people often do
Skipping the audit because there were few transactions.
04 What people often do
Skipping the NAR1 annual return because “the company does nothing”.
05 What people often do
Appointing the sole director as secretary as well, to save money.
06 What people often do
Opening a second company to apply the 8.25% rate twice.
07 What people often do
Opening an NRA account with a Chinese bank and planning to connect Stripe or PayPal to it.
FAQ
Expert answers
Kermen Tserenkeeva — Company registration
For registration — no: KYC is done on documents and a selfie with the passport, and filing with the registry is electronic. A trip is usually needed later — for a meeting at a Hong Kong bank. Some NRA accounts with Chinese banks are opened without the director’s visit, through a courier procedure.
Kermen Tserenkeeva · Company registrationSources
- Hong Kong Companies Registry — incorporation FAQ
- Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department — business registration fees
- Hong Kong Companies Registry — annual return of a private company
- Hong Kong Companies Registry — accounts and audit
- Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department — two-tiered profits tax rates
- Hong Kong e-Legislation — Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)
- Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department — block extension scheme 2025/26
- Hong Kong Companies Registry — directors and company secretary
Deadlines, amounts and rules are based on these sources as of the check date. Rules change: check with us before deciding.
Often goes with this
What else you may need
Bank AccountsHong Kong
The next step after registration: an account with a Hong Kong bank — which banks consider your profile and what to show them.
Business SupportHong Kong
From the second year — a secretary, registered address, the NAR1 annual return and an audit at any turnover: Hong Kong company support.
Bank AccountsChina
An NRA account with a bank in mainland China for a Hong Kong company — for settlements with Chinese suppliers.
Next step
We’ll set up your Hong Kong company and prepare it for the bank
Tell us what you buy and from whom, who you sell to and where negotiations take place. We’ll check whether Hong Kong fits and which bank will realistically open an account, then handle KYC, registration and the corporate kit.
Kermen TserenkeevaSenior Lawyer · Company registration