- A certificate of incorporation is the Companies Registry’s proof that your Hong Kong company legally exists as a separate entity. It’s issued once and never expires.
- It’s issued together with your Business Registration Certificate, from one application, under the One-stop Company and Business Registration Service.
- Online applications cost HK$1,545 and certificates are normally issued within one hour. Paper applications cost HK$1,720 and take about four working days.
- Electronic certificates have the same legal effect as paper ones. The CR never reissues an original, but you can order a certified copy.
- For overseas use, you may need a recent certificate of continuing registration or an apostille from the High Court.
A certificate of incorporation in Hong Kong is the first document every bank, landlord and overseas partner asks to see. You only get it once, it never expires, and it arrives in the same hour as your Business Registration Certificate. The questions come later: when a bank wants a certified copy, an overseas authority wants an apostille, or you can’t find the original.
This guide covers what the certificate shows, how to get one when you register a company in Hong Kong, and how to copy, verify or legalise it afterwards.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What the certificate of incorporation is and what’s printed on it
- How it differs from your Business Registration Certificate
- How to get one, what it costs and how long it takes
- How to get a certified copy, verify a certificate or apostille it
- What to do in your first year after it’s issued
What is a certificate of incorporation in Hong Kong?
A certificate of incorporation is the official document the Registrar of Companies issues when a local company is incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). It confirms your company exists as a separate legal entity, able to own property, sign contracts and be sued in its own name.
You’ll be asked for it to:
- Open a business bank account: banks ask for it during onboarding.
- Sign leases and contracts: landlords and larger clients often ask for a copy.
- Apply for licences: government departments check you’re dealing as a company.
- Deal with overseas parties: investors, banks and authorities abroad may want a certified or apostilled copy.
What’s on the certificate?
- Company name: in English, Chinese or both, exactly as registered.
- Company number: older certificates show a 7-digit Company Registration Number (CR No.). For searches and filings today, use your 8-digit BR number, which has been the Unique Business Identifier for both the CR and the IRD since 27 December 2023.
- Date of incorporation: the date your company came into existence.
- Statement of incorporation: that the company is incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance, and whether it’s limited.
- Issuing authority: the certificate is issued by the Registrar of Companies.
Applications filed online receive an electronic certificate in PDF format, and paper applications receive a hard copy. Both have the same legal effect.
How is a certificate of incorporation different from a Business Registration Certificate?
The certificate of incorporation proves your company exists. The Business Registration Certificate proves your business is registered with the IRD to trade. A limited company needs both, and since 21 February 2011 the CR issues them together from one application.
| Certificate of incorporation | Business Registration Certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Companies Registry | IRD’s Business Registration Office |
| Proves | The company legally exists | The business is registered to trade |
| Validity | Never expires | One or three years |
| Renewal | None | Every one or three years |
| 2026 fee | HK$1,545 online / HK$1,720 paper | HK$2,350 (one year) / HK$6,170 (three years) |
| Must be displayed? | No | Yes, at your business address |
How do you get a certificate of incorporation in Hong Kong?
You apply for incorporation on the Companies Registry’s e-Services Portal with Form NNC1, your articles of association and Form IRBR1. The CR then issues the certificate of incorporation and Business Registration Certificate together, normally within one hour.
- Check your name: search the CR’s free name index and follow the guide to picking a company name in Hong Kong. Some words, such as “bank”, need approval from the relevant regulator.
- Prepare three documents: Form NNC1 (or NNC1G for a company limited by guarantee), your articles of association, and Form IRBR1 choosing a one-year or three-year BR certificate.
- Line up your officers and address: at least one director who is an individual, a company secretary who ordinarily lives in Hong Kong (or a company with its registered or principal office here), and a registered office address in Hong Kong.
- Submit and pay: file online and pay the incorporation fee, BR fee and levy together. An application without the BR fee is rejected.
- Download your certificates: you’ll be notified by email and in your e-Services Portal message box.
For the full process from idea to trading, see how to start a business in Hong Kong.
How much does a certificate of incorporation cost, and how long does it take?
The incorporation fee is HK$1,545 online or HK$1,720 on paper, plus the Business Registration fee. Online, the certificates are normally issued within one hour.
| Route | CR fee | Plus BR fee (one year) | Total | Normally issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online, limited by shares | HK$1,545 | HK$2,350 | HK$3,895 | Within one hour |
| Paper, limited by shares | HK$1,720 | HK$2,350 | HK$4,070 | About four working days, collected in person |
| Company limited by guarantee | From HK$155 online | Varies | Varies | About three weeks |
A three-year BR certificate costs HK$6,170 instead of HK$2,350. These are government fees only. For service fees and the full first-year budget, see the cost of company registration in Hong Kong.
Choose the three-year Business Registration Certificate on your IRBR1. At 2026 rates it costs HK$6,170, against HK$7,050 for three one-year certificates, which saves you HK$880 and two renewals. You pay more upfront, so only choose it if you expect to trade for at least three years.
What should you do after your certificate is issued?
Your company exists from the date on the certificate, and several deadlines start then. These are the ones to diarise in your first year.
| Task | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Keep a significant controllers register and appoint a designated representative | From incorporation |
| File Form NNC3 for any first director who didn’t consent in the NNC1 | Within 15 days of incorporation |
| Tell the Business Registration Office your business details (Form IRBR200 or a letter) | Within one month of starting business |
| Display a printed copy of your Business Registration Certificate | At your business address, at all times |
| Open a business bank account and start bookkeeping | As soon as possible |
| File your first annual return (Form NAR1, HK$105 on time) | Within 42 days after your first incorporation anniversary |
| File your first profits tax return | Issued by the IRD about 18 months after incorporation |
How do you get a copy of your certificate of incorporation?
The CR doesn’t issue a replacement original. If you filed online, your electronic certificate is the original, so keep the PDF safe and print it when needed. If you need an official copy, order a certified copy from the CR, which costs a HK$130 certifying fee per copy plus the document fee.
- Where to order: on the e-Services Portal, or at the CR’s e-Services Centre on 13/F, Queensway Government Offices.
- How it arrives: collect it at the e-Services Centre, or have it posted or couriered for a handling fee.
- When you need one: some banks, courts and overseas authorities won’t accept a print-out or photocopy.
For what makes a copy “certified” and who else can certify it, see the guide to certified true copies in Hong Kong.
How do you verify a Hong Kong certificate of incorporation?
Search the company on the CR’s e-Services Portal and check the register matches the certificate. The basic search is free and takes a few minutes.
- Search by name or BR number: if the certificate only shows an old CR No., use the CR’s mapping list to find the matching BR number first.
- Compare the basics: the free search shows the company’s status, incorporation date and name history. All three should match the certificate.
- Check who runs it: a Company Particulars Search (HK$22) shows the registered office, directors and company secretary. Compare them with the contract or invoice you’ve been sent.
Treat it as a red flag if:
- the name or incorporation date doesn’t match the register;
- the status shows “dissolved” or “struck off”;
- the name on the certificate isn’t the company’s current name, and there’s no certificate of change of name to explain it;
- the person you’re dealing with isn’t a director and can’t show they’re authorised.
For screenshots and every search type, see the guide to Hong Kong company search.
When do you need more than your certificate of incorporation?
Your certificate proves your company was incorporated. It doesn’t prove what’s happened since, so overseas parties often ask for one of these as well.
| Document | What it proves | Cost and timing |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of continuing registration | The company is still on the register on the issue date | HK$170, normally ready within 6 hours |
| Certificate of change of name | The company’s current name, if it has changed since incorporation | Issued when you file Form NNC2 |
| Apostille from the High Court | The certificate is genuine, for use in another Hague Convention country | HK$125, normally two working days |
To apostille a CR certificate, the High Court needs the original certificate with a company search print-out made within the last three working days. The certificate of continuing registration is often called a certificate of good standing.
What mistakes do founders make with their certificate of incorporation?
Confusing it with the Business Registration Certificate
They’re issued together and look similar, but only the BR certificate expires. Renewing your BR certificate doesn’t touch your certificate of incorporation, and the certificate of incorporation doesn’t need renewing.
Sending an old certificate as proof of good standing
A certificate of incorporation only proves the company was formed. Banks and overseas authorities that want to know it still exists will ask for a recent certificate of continuing registration.
Forgetting the certificate of change of name
If you’ve renamed the company, your certificate of incorporation still shows the old name. Keep the certificate of change of name with it, or the two documents won’t match.
Apostilling without a fresh company search
The High Court needs a company search print-out from within three working days. An older print-out means a wasted trip.
Following guides to retired CR portals
The e-Registry and Cyber Search Centre closed on 27 December 2023. Incorporation, searches and certified copies now all run through the e-Services Portal.
How Sleek can help get your certificate of incorporation
Sleek prepares and files your incorporation, then handles the compliance that starts the day your certificate is issued.
With Sleek, you can:
- Incorporate without paperwork: we prepare your NNC1, articles and IRBR1, and file them for you.
- Meet the officer requirements: Sleek holds TCSP licence TC006483 and can act as your company secretary.
- Use a Hong Kong registered office: a compliant address for your CR filings and official mail.
- Stay on top of year-one deadlines: your significant controllers register and annual return are prepared and tracked for you.
You get your certificates quickly, and the deadlines that follow don’t catch you out.
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FAQs about the certificate of incorporation in Hong Kong
Can I get a Hong Kong certificate of incorporation without visiting Hong Kong?
Yes. Incorporation is filed online, and directors and shareholders can live anywhere. You still need a company secretary based in Hong Kong and a Hong Kong registered office, so most overseas founders use a licensed provider that supplies both and files for them.
Can an overseas company get a Hong Kong certificate of incorporation?
No. A company incorporated elsewhere that sets up a place of business in Hong Kong registers as a non-Hong Kong company on Form NN1 and receives a certificate of registration instead. If you want a Hong Kong legal entity, incorporate a new local company.
Does my certificate change if my shareholders or directors change?
No. The certificate doesn’t list shareholders or directors, so it stays the same. Director changes are filed on Form ND2A within 15 days, and share transfers are reported in your next annual return.
What happens to my certificate of incorporation if the company is struck off?
The certificate remains a record of when the company was formed, but the company itself is dissolved and no longer exists. A former director or member can usually apply for administrative restoration within 20 years. See how to restore a struck-off company in Hong Kong.
Is a “company registration certificate” the same as a certificate of incorporation?
Usually, yes. When a bank or overseas partner asks for your company registration certificate, they normally mean the certificate of incorporation. Some use the phrase for the Business Registration Certificate instead. If you’re unsure, send both: they’re issued together and you’ll have both on file.
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My company is moving to Hong Kong from overseas. Will it get a certificate of incorporation?
No. Under the company re-domiciliation regime, in force since 23 May 2025, an overseas company that moves its place of incorporation to Hong Kong keeps its legal identity. The CR issues a certificate of re-domiciliation instead of a certificate of incorporation.
