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If you live in Hong Kong, you can register a Singapore company and own every share. A registered corporate service provider (CSP) must file it, and one director has to be ordinarily resident in Singapore. ACRA's fees are S$15 plus S$300. The part that differs from other nationalities is the tax paper: IRAS lists Hong Kong as a Limited DTA, not a full one. Checked . This guide is independent and is not ACRA, IRAS, IRD or a provider. The quote form passes your enquiry to providers.
What is different for a Hong Kong founder?
| Item | Hong Kong position | Official body |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | HKSAR passport: no visa up to 30 days | Singapore mission in Hong Kong |
| Tax agreement | Limited DTA only, in force | IRAS |
| Home tax basis | Territorial source principle | IRD |
| Filing | CSP plus one resident director | ACRA |
Is there a tax treaty between Hong Kong and Singapore?
Only a limited one, according to the IRAS list. Hong Kong appears there as a Limited DTA that is in force and not modified by the Multilateral Instrument. There is no row for a full agreement. IRAS does not describe the scope on the list page, so we do not describe it either. Download the PDF and read the articles yourself or give it to a Hong Kong adviser. Without a full treaty you should expect to deal with each country's rules directly. Singapore's rules are in corporate tax in Singapore.
How does Hong Kong tax a company that earns abroad?
The Inland Revenue Department explains that Hong Kong applies a territorial source principle: profits tax is charged on profits that arise in or are derived from Hong Kong. IRD adds that where profits arise is a practical question of fact, decided by what the taxpayer did and where. That matters if you plan to hold a Singapore company alongside a Hong Kong one. It is also why we do not say which one pays tax on a given deal. A Hong Kong adviser has to review the facts of the work.
Do Hong Kong passport holders need a visa?
The Singapore mission in Hong Kong states that HKSAR and Macao SAR passport holders do not require a visa to enter Singapore for business or social visits for up to 30 days. It adds that holders of a HKSAR Document of Identity must get a visa because that is a different travel document. ICA does not list Hong Kong on its visa-required page. The SG Arrival Card must be filed within 3 days before arrival.
Visits are not work. A founder who wants a salary from the company should look at Employment Pass: the floor for new applications is S$5,600 a month in the youngest age band now, and S$6,000 from 1 January.
Can you register from Hong Kong without moving?
Yes, as far as ACRA's rules go. The owner does not have to live in Singapore. The board does need a director who is ordinarily resident in Singapore, aged 18 or older, and the company needs a secretary within six months of registration and a registered office open to the public at least 3 hours a day. A Hong Kong founder meets the director rule with a local partner or a nominee from a provider, see nominee director in Singapore. Check the registered address in Singapore page for the office rule.
Should you compare Singapore with Hong Kong first?
If you have not decided, read Singapore vs Hong Kong company. It sticks to points that ACRA, IRAS and IRD publish. We do not repeat the many unsourced claims that vendor pages make about speed or tax savings.
What about documents and certification?
ACRA's foreigner page has no certification rule. A provider may ask for certified copies of your passport and address proof. The Hague Conference table that we read lists China as one party, with declarations, and we did not confirm how its apostille position applies to Hong Kong documents. We have therefore left that question out. Ask the provider which certification it accepts, and ask the Hong Kong authority that issues your document what it can provide.
What are the steps?
- Choose a CSP and send the proposed name, business activity and shareholders.
- The CSP reserves the name on Bizfile (S$15) and then files (S$300).
- Send the passport and address proof for each officer.
- ACRA approves most filings soon after payment, and the slower ones within 15 working days.
- Use the UEN to open a bank account. We found no published bank rule for Hong Kong residents, so ask each bank.
Compare providers through the form on this page and mention Hong Kong.
Sources
- IRAS: list of DTAs, limited DTAs and EOI arrangements: Hong Kong entry.
- Singapore mission in Hong Kong: visa information: HKSAR passport rule and DOI exception.
- ICA: visa guidelines: visa list and arrival card.
- IRD: territorial source principle: profits tax basis.
- ACRA: foreigners registering a business: CSP and resident rules.
- ACRA: service and transaction fees: fees.
- HCCH: Apostille status table: China entry and declaration note.
- MOM: Employment Pass eligibility: salary floor.
