8 Common Business Sectors Requiring Business Licenses in Hong Kong (2026)

Hong Kong is one of the world's leading financial and commercial centers, with a favorable business environment, a transparent legal system, and low tax rates. This is why many Vietnamese and international businesses choose Hong Kong as a location to establish their headquarters or expand their operations into international markets.

However, not all businesses in Hong Kong can operate with just a regular business registration. Depending on the sector, from financial services, pharmaceuticals, and tourism to employment agencies or controlled import/export goods, you may be required to have other licenses. Register for specialized license Obtain approval from the competent authority before commencing operations.

Operating without a valid license not only results in fines but can also lead to criminal prosecution under Hong Kong law.

The article below, compiled by GLA, provides all the necessary information about... business license in Hong KongThis includes: professions requiring licenses, specific conditions for each sector, step-by-step registration procedures, and important notes for maintaining a valid license throughout operation, all based on information from official Hong Kong government sources.

1. What is a business license in Hong Kong?

A Hong Kong Business License is a legal document issued by a competent government authority, permitting a business or individual to conduct a specific type of business activity in Hong Kong. It is a mandatory requirement for businesses operating in regulated sectors under Hong Kong law.

A business license is different from a business registration certificate.

• Business Registration Certificate This is an administrative obligation applicable to all businesses operating in Hong Kong, administered by the Hong Kong Tax Bureau.Inland Revenue Department ("IRD")) grant.
• Specialized business license This is an additional requirement, applicable only to areas that are tightly controlled by law because they relate to public interest, consumer safety, or financial stability.

In Hong Kong, not all businesses require specialized licenses. Businesses operating in common sectors such as consulting, information technology, or unregulated commodity trading only need to register their business.

Conversely, sectors such as financial services, pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, employment agencies, tourism, or import/export of goods are all required to have their own specialized licenses, issued and supervised by the respective industry regulatory agencies.

Each license in Hong Kong is tied to three specific elements:

• Type of activity permitted to do so,
• Business location written on the license, and
• Validity period, usually for one year and must be renewed periodically.

Businesses that violate any of the conditions mentioned above may have their licenses suspended or revoked.

2. Which businesses require a business license in Hong Kong?

The determination Which industries require a business license in Hong Kong? This is the first and most important step when preparing to start a business or expand your business operations here.

Although Hong Kong is one of the world's freest trading centers, there are still many sectors that are restricted. strict management To ensure safety, quality, and fairness for consumers.

Below is a table listing the business sectors in Hong Kong that require licenses:

According to GLA experts: A unique aspect of Hong Kong's licensing system is that each industry is managed by a different authority, with entirely independent standards and procedures. This means that a multi-industry business, for example, one that distributes pharmaceuticals and also operates an e-commerce business, may have to work with two or three different licensing authorities simultaneously. GLA's practical experience shows that planning the licensing process with the correct priorities and timelines is crucial to avoiding delays in the company's launch.

Below is detailed information about the types of businesses that require a business license in Hong Kong.

3. Travel Agency in Hong Kong

Type of license: Travel Agent License

Licensing authority: The Hong Kong Tourism Board (Travel Industry Authority (“TIA”)), operates under the Travel Industry Ordinance (Cap. 634).

Licensing conditions

TIA may grant travel agency licenses to applicants who are companies, partnerships, or sole proprietorships, provided the applicant is assessed as fit to hold the license.

Specifically, businesses need to meet the following requirements. simultaneously the groups of conditions or:

Regarding legal form and headquarters: The business must be legally registered in Hong Kong. The business premises must be located in a suitable location and have the necessary conditions for travel agency operations, and must be used exclusively for this purpose.

Regarding the Authorized Representative: Applicants must designate an individual as their Authorized Representative. TIA will only approve this individual if they are deemed suitable and are not simultaneously holding the role of Authorized Representative for another travel agency.

Authorized representatives must meet one of the following competency standards:

• Graduated from high school (Hong Kong Form 5 or equivalent) and have at least 5 years of management experience in the tourism industry; or
• Must have at least 10 years of management experience in the tourism industry.
• Completion of the Authorized Representative Course as prescribed by TIA is required.
• Not falling under any of the following categories: unresolved bankruptcy; whether or not there is a debt repayment agreement with a creditor; legal capacity (not suffering from a mental illness as defined by the Mental Health Ordinance); criminal record related to fraud, corruption, dishonest conduct, violence, or violations of the Travel Industry Ordinance or Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

Regarding financial capacity: For businesses that are companies, the minimum contributed capital must be HK$500.000. Applicants (new or renewing) must deposit a bank guarantee of HK$500.000, valid for the duration of the license plus six months, issued by a financial institution authorized under Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155).

4. Food & Beverage Business in Hong Kong

To operate a restaurant in Hong Kong, you need a general restaurant license.

The licensing authority for this permit is the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

Requirements:

• The facilities must meet hygiene and food safety standards.
• It has a waste disposal system, a ventilation system, refrigeration equipment, and a separate processing room.
• A manager must have food hygiene certificate (If they sell raw food like sushi or sashimi).

Required permits:

• Restaurant license (General Restaurant License).
• Alcohol license (Liquor License) if selling alcoholic beverages.
• Food processing license (Food Factory License) if producing food.
• Food control license (Restricted Food Permit) if selling sashimi, oysters, or fresh fruit.

Note: Restaurants selling sushi or sashimi are required to have documentation proving the origin of the food, quarantine procedures, and specialized cold storage equipment.

5. Financial Services Business in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, organizations and individuals wishing to conduct financial services business must be licensed or registered with the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) in accordance with the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”).

Securities and Futures Commission (Securities and Futures Commission) in Hong Kong

SFO regulations 13 types of regulated financial activitiesThis includes: securities trading/futures trading/leveraged foreign exchange trading/securities advisory/corporate financial advisory/asset management/and several other types of activities. Any company or individual conducting these activities in Hong Kong must obtain the appropriate license before operating.

To be licensed by the SFC, businesses need to meet the following main sets of conditions:

• Legal form: It must be The company was incorporated in Hong Kong. or foreign companies registered with the Companies Registry in Hong Kong. Sole proprietorships and partnerships are not accepted.
• Performance (Fit and Proper): Businesses must demonstrate that they have an appropriate organizational structure, a sound internal control system, and a competent workforce to manage risks in the field for which they are applying.
• Responsible Officers: Each type of activity must have at least two responsible individuals approved by the SFC, at least one of whom must be the executive director of the Hong Kong company.
• Minimum capital: Business & Investment The level of capital contribution must be maintained. (paid-up share capital) and liquid capital as required, depending on the type of service registered.
• For example, a typical securities trading firm (Type 1) requires a minimum capital contribution of HK$5 million and a minimum liquidity of HK$3 million; whereas a leveraged foreign exchange trading firm (Type 3) has much higher requirements, with a minimum capital contribution of up to HK$30 million.
• Insurance: Certain types of business activities, particularly the trading of securities and futures contracts on exchanges, require businesses to purchase insurance as mandated by regulations.

Capital contribution and liquidity requirements as stipulated in Hong Kong (Source: sfc.hk)

Some cases are exempt.

Not all financial activities require a license. SFOs allow exemptions in certain cases, such as advisory services that are ancillary to the main licensed services, activities that serve only the internal needs of the corporation, or advisory services provided by lawyers and auditors within their professional scope.

6. Employment Agency in Hong Kong

According to the Employment Ordinance, any individual or organization wishing to operate an employment agency in Hong Kong must obtain a license from the Commissioner for Labour before commencing operations. The direct regulatory authority is... Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) Belongs to the Department of Labor.

To be granted a license, a Hong Kong company needs to meet the following key conditions:

• Legally valid form: Businesses must be Establish and legally register a company in Hong Kong., has Business Registration, and has a physical office address.
• Qualified manager: Businesses must appoint a fit and proper manager to oversee operations, who must pass a background check and have no prior convictions for labor law violations.
• In-person interview: Applicants must attend an in-person interview with the responsible officer at the EAA, bringing all required documents. The license application must be submitted no later than one month before the intended start date of business.

7. Alcohol Sales in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Liquor Licensing Board (“LLB”) is the body responsible for licensing alcoholic beverage establishments under the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations (Cap. 109B).

In Hong Kong, there are two main types of liquor licenses:

• Regular Liquor License: For restaurants, bars, and other establishments that serve alcoholic beverages directly to customers on-site.
• Club Liquor License: This applies to clubs that serve alcohol to members. The application for this license must be submitted by the club secretary, and the license will be issued to the secretary or a person designated by the club.

Depending on the type of license being applied for, the required documents, facility conditions, and review process will have certain differences that businesses need to be aware of when preparing their applications.

8. Pharmaceutical & Chemical Business in Hong Kong

The pharmaceutical business in Hong Kong is governed by three main legal instruments: the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), the Antibiotics Ordinance (Cap. 137), and the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134).

The Department of Health is the agency responsible for overseeing the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, from manufacturing and wholesale to retail, including product registration, manufacturing licensing, distribution, and import/export.

Depending on its position in the supply chain, the Hong Kong company needs to register. types of licenses or:

• Wholesale Dealer Licence (“WDL”)Any company wishing to trade in poisons or pharmaceuticals on a wholesale basis.
• Antibiotics Permit: Expanding the business to include antibiotics.
• Wholesale Dealer's Licence to Supply Dangerous Drugs: Trading in Group I dangerous drugs according to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

If the toxic substance the company intends to trade is a psychotropic drug or a Class I hazardous drug, the company is required to have a registered pharmacist in charge of all related transactions.

9. Trading & Import/Export of Controlled Goods in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a free port and does not apply customs duties to imported or exported goods. Licensing These requirements are primarily imposed on certain types of goods to fulfill international obligations, or to meet public health, safety, or domestic security requirements.

Controlled goods and licensing authorities

Each type of controlled commodity is managed by a different government agency:

• Strategic Commodities: This includes high-performance computers, integrated circuits, advanced telecommunications systems, nuclear materials, high-precision machine tools, chemical weapons precursors, small arms, ammunition, and items related to nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. Import and export of these items require a license issued by the Department of Commerce and Industry.
• Controlled Chemicals: According to the Control of Chemicals Ordinance (Cap. 145), 54 substances that are precursors or essential chemicals in the production of dangerous drugs or psychotropic substances, such as acetic anhydride, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine, are all subject to legal control.
• Hazardous Chemicals: According to the Hazardous Chemicals Control Ordinance (Cap. 595), the export of hazardous chemicals other than pesticides listed in Annexes 1 and 2 requires a permit issued for each activity and an export permit issued for each shipment by the Department of Environmental Protection.
• Pharmaceuticals and medicines: The export of pharmaceuticals and medicines is controlled under the Import and Export (General) Regulations (Cap. 60A) and requires a permit issued by the Department of Health. Pharmaceuticals carried in personal baggage in reasonable quantities for personal use may be exempt from the permit requirement.
• Weapons and ammunition: According to the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance (Cap. 238), possession of weapons and ammunition requires a license or business permit issued by the Hong Kong Police. Additionally, the export of weapons and ammunition listed in the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations requires a license from the Department for Commerce and Industry.
• Ozone-depleting substances and HFCs: The export of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and ozone-depleting substances such as HCFCs, CFCs, halons, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide, and carbon tetrachloride requires a valid permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection and is only granted to traders registered under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
• Rough Diamonds: Any individual or organization engaged in the import, export, purchase, sale, or transport of rough diamonds must register with the Department of Commerce and Industry. When exporting, a Kimberley Process Certificate issued by the Department of Commerce and Industry is required.
• Baby formula (Powdered Formula): Since March 1, 2013, the export of powdered milk and soy milk for children under 36 months of age without a license is prohibited. Violators may be fined up to HK$500.000 and imprisoned for up to two years. An exception applies to individuals carrying personal baggage not exceeding 1,8 kg.
• Mercury: According to Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640), the export of mercury and mercury-containing mixtures requires a permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection. Furthermore, the export of products containing mercury, such as non-electronic thermometers or cosmetics with mercury levels exceeding 1 ppm, is strictly prohibited.

10. E-commerce Business in Hong Kong

Hong Kong There is no separate license for e-commerce.Online businesses are subject to the same legal framework as traditional businesses, plus specialized obligations depending on the type of goods or services offered.

Business Registration

According to the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), all online businesses generating profit in Hong Kong must register with the Hong Kong Internal Revenue Service (IRD) within one month of commencing operations.

The Hong Kong Tax Department determines registration obligations based on a combination of factors including: place of purchase, advertising, delivery, and payment. The registered address must be a physical address; mailboxes or virtual addresses are not accepted. Violations may result in criminal prosecution.

Specialized licenses based on the type of goods/services

E-commerce businesses do not need a separate license for online operations, but Licensing obligations still arise depending on the type of goods or services provided., Specifically:

• Selling liquor online: requires a Liquor Licensing Board license.
• Selling pharmaceuticals online: requires a license from the Department of Health under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.
• Import/export of controlled goods: requires a license from the Trade and Industry Department.
• Providing multi-purpose payment and e-wallet services requires a license under the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 584) from the HKMA.
• Providing currency exchange or money transfer services integrated into the platform → may require a Money Service Operator (MSO) license from the Customs and Excise Department.

Tax liability

According to the Hong Kong Tax Department, businesses operating in Hong Kong and generating profits from Hong Kong are subject to income tax.

The Hong Kong Tax Department will review the full facts of each case to determine whether an individual is liable to pay income tax on profits from internet transactions.

11. What is the procedure for registering a business license in Hong Kong?

The business license application process in Hong Kong is divided into five main steps. Each step requires businesses to prepare the correct documents and submit their applications to the appropriate authority to avoid rejection or delays in processing.

Step 1: Determine the type of business and the necessary licenses.

Before beginning any procedure, the company needs to identify two key factors.

• Legal form: Hong Kong allows business operations under three main forms: limited liability companies, sole proprietorships, and partnerships. Each form has a different registration process and is regulated by different authorities.
• Specialized licenses: Businesses may require specific licenses, certifications, or approvals from government agencies depending on their field of activity.

GLA provides consulting services to help you choose the appropriate business type and thoroughly review all necessary licenses, helping you build a clear legal roadmap from the outset.

Step 2: Register your company at Companies Registry (if it's a limited liability company)

The business wants to operate in the following form: Limited Liability Company in Hong Kong It must be registered with the Companies Registry ("CR").

When a business submits an application to establish a company at Companies Registry, the business registration application will be processed simultaneously. Companies Registry will issue both the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate at the same time.

Company registration documents include:

• Form NNC1 (or NNC1G).
• Articles of Association.
• Information about the company's directors, shareholders, and secretary.

GLA provides comprehensive support. Incorporating a company in Hong KongFrom preparing documents and submitting applications on your behalf to receiving results quickly and accurately.

Step 3: Register your business with the Hong Kong Tax Bureau.

For sole proprietorships and partnerships, you do not register through the Companies Registry but must file directly with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

Businesses need to complete business registration within 1 month from the start date of operationIn addition, the registered business address must be a valid physical address in Hong Kong.

GLA assists with Business Registration with IRD and provides a legal office address, helping businesses meet all legal requirements right from the start.

Step 4: Submit the application for a specialized license.

After completing business registration, Hong Kong companies operating in regulated industries must apply for specialized licenses from the respective regulatory authorities. Each type of license has its own documentation, procedures, and processing time. The following types of licenses are available:

• Financial services: Submit your application to the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
• Job placement services: Apply through the Employment Agencies Administration (EAA) within the Department of Labour.
• Alcoholic beverages business: Submit your application to the Liquor Licensing Board (LLB) of FEHD.
• Travel agency: Apply through the Travel Industry Authority (TIA).
• Wholesale pharmaceuticals: Apply at the Drug Office, Department of Health.

Hong Kong companies need to prepare all the necessary documents as required by each agency, typically including: Business registration certificate; Company incorporation certificate; information on directors and those in charge; floor plan; and other specialized documents depending on the industry.

Step 5: Monitor results and receive your license.

After the application is submitted, the competent authority will review it and may request additional documents, inspect facilities, or interview the representative.

Processing time depends on the type of license, typically ranging from 4 business days (company formation) to 2 months (specialized licenses, time varies depending on the complexity of the industry).

After being granted a license, Hong Kong companies are required to display the business license at their designated business location and proactively renew it before expiration to avoid operational disruptions. Most specialized licenses are valid for one year and require periodic renewal.

Important note: Businesses are not permitted to commence operations before obtaining all required permits. Operating a business without a valid permit in Hong Kong is a violation of the law and may result in fines or criminal prosecution, depending on the sector.

12.7 Things to Note When Maintaining a Business License in Hong Kong

Obtaining a new business license is just the beginning. Hong Kong companies need to maintain the license continuously and fully comply with all legal obligations arising throughout their operation. Below are some important points that foreign companies need to be aware of when doing business in Hong Kong.

13. How does GLA assist businesses in registering for business licenses in Hong Kong?

With experience advising businesses on expanding into international markets, GLA provides solutions. Complete package, fast and compliant with regulations. When registering for a business license in Hong Kong:

14. Frequently Asked Questions about Business License Registration in Hong Kong

Highlights

• Companies incorporated in Hong Kong do not always need a license, but it is mandatory if operating in regulated sectors such as finance, food and beverage, education, tourism, or controlled goods.
• The Business Registration Certificate (BRC) does not replace a specialized business license; Hong Kong companies need to determine the correct type of license based on their actual operations to avoid legal violations.
• Costs and licensing requirements vary by industry and may include fees, minimum capital requirements, or specific operating conditions.
• Hong Kong companies need to maintain proper licensing (renewal, compliance with conditions, record keeping) to avoid fines, suspension, or closure of operations.