TL;DR
Hong Kong has no dedicated “Startup Visa”, but you can apply for a visa through the “Entrepreneur Investment in Hong Kong” category (a self-employment category under the General Employment Policy (GEP) / Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP)). Core requirements: a feasible business plan, proof that the business contributes to the Hong Kong economy (hiring local employees, bringing in new technology/capital), and sufficient funds to operate the business. There is no mandatory minimum investment requirement, but past experience shows that start-up capital of at least HK$500,000-1,000,000 is more convincing. This article explains the application strategy in detail.
1. Who Can Apply?
1.1 Suitable Applicants
- Overseas or Mainland entrepreneurs planning to set up a company in Hong Kong
- Those with an existing business who wish to establish a branch office / representative office in Hong Kong
- Start-up founders who wish to use Hong Kong as a base to develop their business
1.2 Who It Is Not Suitable For
- The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) / Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) are more suitable (because these schemes do not require you to have a business in advance)
- If you only want to be a freelancer rather than genuinely start a business, the chance of rejection is extremely high
2. Application Requirements
The core criterion used by the Immigration Department when approving start-up visas is “the business can bring contributions to the Hong Kong economy”. The specific assessments are as follows:
2.1 Business Plan
Must include:
- Nature of the business and operating model
- Target market and customer base
- Competitive analysis (competitors, your advantages)
- Financial projections (at least 2-3 years): projected revenue, expenses, cash flow
- Market entry strategy
- Number of local employees expected to be hired within two years
- Proof of source of funds
A poorly written business plan with no numerical support and no market analysis will almost certainly be rejected.
2.2 Capital / Investment Requirements
There is no mandatory minimum investment amount, but the Immigration Department will consider:
- Whether your start-up capital is sufficient to sustain business operations for a reasonable period (usually at least 12-24 months is expected)
- That you have sufficient personal funds to live in Hong Kong (without relying on social welfare)
- Whether the scale of the business matches your investment amount
Past experience: Start-up capital of HK$500,000-1,000,000 is the basic threshold; it is very difficult for the Immigration Department to approve anything below this amount.
2.3 Contribution of the Business to Hong Kong
The Immigration Department particularly values the following contributions:
- Job creation: expected to hire local employees (even if only 1-2 people initially)
- Introduction of new technology / new business models: businesses not yet present or scarce in Hong Kong
- Tax contribution: the business is expected to generate profit and pay tax
- Spillover to related industries: for example, setting up a technology company drives local IT service demand
Key point: Technology start-ups (FinTech, AI, biotechnology) and creative industries are relatively easier to get approved. Traditional industries (restaurants, retail, trading) face stricter scrutiny, because these industries are already highly saturated.
2.4 Applicant Background
- Relevant industry experience (a fresh grad with no experience serving as CEO is usually not approved)
- Educational background (a university degree is the basic expectation)
- Your role in the company is necessary (i.e., the company genuinely needs you, and you are not dispensable)
3. Application Process
- Prepare the business plan and required documents
- Register a company in Hong Kong (limited company)
- Open a corporate bank account and inject capital
- If needed, sign an office lease
- Submit the visa application (together with all supporting documents)
- Processing time: approximately 4-8 weeks
- After approval, collect the visa and come to Hong Kong to commence business operations
Tip: You may first come to Hong Kong as a visitor to handle company registration and related matters, but you must not start working or operating the business before the visa is approved (including signing contracts, meeting clients, collecting income, etc.).
4. Visa Extension Conditions
The initial approval is usually for 1-2 years (depending on the maturity of the business plan); when applying for an extension, you must prove:
- The business is genuinely operating (has an office, has revenue, has clients)
- Local employees have been hired (at least 1-2 people)
- The company has actual financial activity (bank statements show business transactions)
- The applicant’s role remains necessary
5. Start-up Visa vs TTPS (for Entrepreneurial Purposes)
If you are eligible to apply for the TTPS (Category A: annual salary HK$2.5 million, or Category B: top 100 universities + 3 years of experience), it is recommended to apply for the TTPS rather than the start-up visa, because:
- The TTPS does not require submission of a business plan
- After the TTPS is approved, you can freely switch activities (employment / entrepreneurship / study)
- The start-up visa only allows you to engage in the business described in your plan
Only when you do not meet the TTPS / QMAS criteria is the start-up visa the first choice.
6. FAQ
Q1: Can a shared office / coworking space be used as the office address? A1: Yes. The Immigration Department accepts flexible office arrangements, as long as you have a genuine operating address.
Q2: Can you take on other part-time work under the start-up visa? A2: No. The start-up visa only allows you to engage in the business described in your business plan. If you wish to take on other work, you need to apply for the relevant work visa.
The information in this article is as of May 2026; visa policies are subject to the latest announcements of the Immigration Department.