Business licenses and permits in Hong Kong

It is a important step to know whether your business falls into activities that must have licenses in Hong Kong or not.

Refer to below typical types of business that are required to apply for a business license in Hong Kong.

An Employment Agency

1. Education Business
2. Retail Business
3. Travel agency
4. Restaurant business
5. Financial service company
6. Trading company
7. Event management
8. Environmental protection

The first one is an Employment Agency

A business that provides recruitment or placement services in Hong Kong is required to apply for a license with the Labour Department in order to operate in the jurisdiction.

If you are granted a Certificate of Exemption from the Commissioner for Labor under section 52 of the Employment Ordinance, you will be exempted from the license application.

The Second one is Education Business

You need a license and permit in Hong Kong if you intend to start an educational institution here. With a certificate of registration of a school, you qualify for operating a kindergarten, vocational center, language school, academic school, childcare centre, an enrichment centre that offers certificate courses, computer education center, a distance learning center, and nursery schools.

The third one is Retail Business

The type of license will depend on the type of goods you intend to sell.

However, that the required licenses or permits for a retail business can be varied from one type of goods/services to another. In other words, you may be asked for more than 1 license or permit if you sell different types of goods/services.

Below are three popular licenses for a retail business in Hong Kong: They are the retailer license with the Department of Health and an animal boarding establishment license for operating a Pets and Accessories retail shop and a business dealing license and permit for operating cosmetics, medicinal, pharmaceutical & drugs stores.

The fourth is Travel Agency

With the Travel Agent’s License, you are allowed to conduct tour offers, travel packages, and transportation services. To be more specific, you can sell transportation tickets, organize a group of the tour, arrange hotel accommodations, and other relevant activities.

The fifth is Restaurant business

You ought to apply for a General Restaurant License with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. However, before applying for the license, you must finalize your business premises.

A restaurant operation will be tied closely to the food and beverage business. Therefore, it is also important for you to learn about other different types of licenses that may be required for the food business.

Then you may need to apply below licenses as well.

The sixth is Financial service company

Please refer to below some most common types of licenses for your reference:

Nobody can operate as a financial services business without a registered license and permits in Hong Kong. for example, You need to apply for a money lenders license for money lending business with the Companies Registry. For insurance business, you need to get registered as an insurance agent in Hong Kong.

The seventh is Trading Company

Free trade policy is a pull factor for many people making investments in Hong Kong. The number of trading companies in Hong Kong is also proportional to its trading economy growth.

If you wish to start an import or export business, you may apply for a specific import/export license, depending upon the type of goods you are dealing with.

If you would like to know more detail and please go through the Government website:

For a business trading in controlled goods, an import-export license for that type of goods is required. Below we instance some of popular import/export licenses for you:

There are including dutiable goods; controlled chemicals; animals; foodstuffs or medicines import /export License

The eighth is Event management

With different types of specialized events, you are required to obtain specific licenses and permits in Hong Kong. Look at the following examples to examine which activities your event company is falling into, then apply for valid licenses/permits in need.

You may need to apply for: Liquor License, Certificate for Advertising Materials, Certificate of Approval, Lottery License

Amusements with Prizes License, Food Factory License

The last one is Environmental protection

It is important to be aware of the law regarding environmental protection in Hong Kong if your business is involved in polluting processes.