Setting up a Hong Kong company as a non-resident
A Hong Kong company is incorporated in one to two days, with no capital to lock up, and is lightly taxed. For a non-resident, the real issue lies elsewhere: the exemption on foreign income is never automatic, and banks want proof of business in Asia.
Published on 3 November 2026 · Jason Pivron, director
Legal form and timing
The usual form is the Private Limited Company, governed by the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), in force since 3 March 2014. The usual capital recorded is HKD 1, and incorporation takes 1 to 2 days according to our Hong Kong profile.
A registered office in Hong Kong and a resident company secretary are mandatory: both are included in our service. Since 1 March 2018, every company also keeps a register of its significant controllers.
Tax: two rates and an exemption to claim
The 8.25% rate applies only to the first two million Hong Kong dollars of profits; above that, 16.5%. Only one entity per group may claim the reduced rate.
An exemption on income earned outside the territory is possible, but it is not automatic: it is claimed and justified file by file. A company invoicing European clients from Europe has to be able to show where the business is really carried on.
These rates were recorded on 21 September 2026 and their source checked on 30 September 2026, with the Hong Kong tax authority. Nothing here is tax advice: your case is checked during the scoping call.
Banking, the hard part
Our assessment of banking access in Hong Kong: demanding. Opening is often conditional on a trip and demonstrable Asian clients. A company with no link to Asia struggles to justify a local account.
Our bank account opening service builds the substance file (activity, clients, flows, contracts, source of funds) and presents it to at least two banks. It is an obligation of means, never of result: if your profile is not bankable, we say so at the diagnostic stage.
What a Hong Kong company costs
Published prices, government fees included, excluding capital and travel. The heaviest line is accounting, which includes filings and the audit. Full details are on the Hong Kong profile.
- Company formation: €2,390 one-off
- Registered office: €999, then €999 per year
- Bank account opening: €2,690 one-off
- Accounting, filings and audit: €4,390, then €4,390 per year
- Renewal and upkeep: €1,290, then €1,290 per year
Hong Kong or Singapore
Singapore taxes at 17%, with reliefs for young companies, and its one-tier system means dividends are not taxed in the shareholder's hands. But a director resident in Singapore is mandatory, and that is the heaviest recurring item. Formation there is published at €3,290.
Hong Kong is lighter to run; Singapore is stronger on reputation and on banking once the account is obtained. Details are in our Singapore or Hong Kong comparison.
Who Hong Kong makes sense for
For a business facing China and Asia, with clients or suppliers in the region: that is its purpose. For a purely European business, the exemption will be hard to defend and the bank account hard to open.
A Hong Kong company does not move your personal tax residence either. A free 20-minute call is enough to check these points, with a firm quote before signature: book a call.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident set up a company in Hong Kong?
Yes. The company needs a registered office in Hong Kong and a resident company secretary, both included in our service; incorporation takes 1 to 2 days.
What is the corporate tax rate in Hong Kong?
8.25% on the first two million Hong Kong dollars of profits, then 16.5%. An exemption on income earned outside the territory is possible on application, never automatic.
Do you need to travel to open a bank account in Hong Kong?
Often, yes: opening is frequently conditional on a trip and demonstrable Asian clients.
How much does a Hong Kong company cost?
Our published price for formation is €2,390, government fees included; accounting and audit are €4,390 per year.