TL;DR. Hong Kong’s official business registry is the Companies Registry, operated by the Companies Registry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The public search system is the Integrated Companies Registry Information System (ICRIS), with the Cyber Search Centre as the online portal. Foreign buyers can register with an email address and purchase records for HKD 22-340 (~USD 2.80-43.60). The interface is fully in English and Chinese, and there is no general public API.
What is the official Hong Kong business registry?
The Companies Registry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is the statutory body responsible for incorporating and registering companies, maintaining the public register, and enforcing the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). The primary online system for document search and retrieval is the Integrated Companies Registry Information System (ICRIS), accessible via the Cyber Search Centre at icris.cr.gov.hk.
ICRIS covers all companies incorporated in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance, registered non-Hong Kong companies (branch offices), limited partnerships, and business name registrations under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310). The Business Registration Office, a separate but related government body, handles the Business Registration Certificate which is distinct from the company incorporation record.
Records in ICRIS cover companies incorporated from the 1980s onward in digital form. Older records may require a physical search at the Companies Registry counter in Queensway, Hong Kong. The registry holds documents including articles of association, annual returns, change of director filings, mortgage and charge registrations, and winding-up orders.
What can you search?
ICRIS supports searches by:
- Company name (English or Chinese, partial match supported)
- Company number (the primary identifier, a 7-digit number for local companies)
- Registered non-Hong Kong company number
- Director name (returns companies where the individual is listed as director)
Data available per entity includes: company name (English and Chinese), company number, date of incorporation, registered office address, company type, status (live, struck off, being wound up, dissolved), list of current and former directors, company secretary, issued share capital, and a list of all filed documents available for purchase.
Data freshness is event-driven. The Companies Registry processes filings electronically and the ICRIS record updates within 1-2 business days of the filing being registered. Annual return data reflects the most recently filed return, which for private companies may be up to 12 months prior.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Cost (HKD) | Cost (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Company search (image record, basic) | HKD 22 | ~USD 2.80 |
| Annual return document (per filing) | HKD 22 | ~USD 2.80 |
| Incorporation document | HKD 22 | ~USD 2.80 |
| Director / shareholder details (certified) | HKD 120 | ~USD 15.40 |
| Certificate of Incorporation (certified) | HKD 340 | ~USD 43.60 |
Prices are as of May 2026 per the Companies Registry fee schedule at cr.gov.hk. HKD/USD conversion used: 0.128 (approximate as of May 2026; verify at point of purchase). The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar in a narrow band (7.75-7.85 HKD/USD), so conversions are stable.
An annual e-Search subscription is also available for frequent users. Individual document purchases at the per-item rate above are available without a subscription.
Do you need a local account or ID?
Account registration on ICRIS requires an email address and basic contact details. No Hong Kong identity document (HKID), Hong Kong company, or local bank account is required for registration or document purchase. Foreign buyers can complete registration using a passport and pay with an international credit card.
The ICRIS registration process includes a captcha step. The system also offers PPS (an online bill payment service used in Hong Kong) and bank transfer as alternative payment methods, though these are primarily used by local buyers. International credit card is the most accessible option for foreign compliance teams.
Is the website in English?
Yes. ICRIS and the Cyber Search Centre are fully bilingual in English and Traditional Chinese. All search interfaces, document type labels, filing type descriptions, and status indicators are available in English. Company names in Hong Kong are registered in English, Chinese, or both; the registry reflects the exact filing. For Chinese-only company names, no automatic English transliteration is provided.
What’s the turnaround time?
Document downloads from ICRIS are instant once payment is processed. The system generates the image document on demand. Certified extracts requiring the Companies Registry seal for legal proceedings take longer and may require a physical application or specific service request; contact the Companies Registry directly for certified copy processing times.
For standard compliance purposes such as KYC, AML review, or counterparty due diligence, the uncertified ICRIS document is the primary source. Many compliance teams accept ICRIS downloads as sufficient without an additional certification step.
Is there an API?
No general public API is available for ICRIS. The Companies Registry does not operate an open developer API or API key program as of May 2026. ICRIS does offer a bulk data service for licensed users, described as the “Bulk Data Transfer Service” for organizations that need large-scale programmatic access; this is a separately negotiated service, not a self-service API. Contact the Companies Registry at [email protected] for terms.
For compliance platforms needing structured Hong Kong entity data, the licensed bulk service or a commercial data supplier (see below) are the practical options.
What you legally cannot do
The Companies Registry’s Terms and Conditions for ICRIS prohibit automated scraping of the portal, systematic downloading of documents for commercial resale, and any use of the data that misrepresents the source as other than the official registry. These prohibitions are consistent with Hong Kong’s Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528), which covers government copyright in official records.
Hong Kong’s Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (PDPO, Cap. 486) governs how personal data of individuals obtained from registry records, including director names and addresses, may be collected, stored, and used. Compliance buyers processing this data for AML, KYC, or CDD purposes should document the data purpose and retention policy in line with PDPO requirements.
Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers
- The 7-digit company number is the anchor identifier. All HKSAR-incorporated companies have a 7-digit number (e.g., 0012345). Registered non-Hong Kong companies have a separate “F” prefix number. Always search by number when you have it; English transliterations of Chinese company names vary.
- Private company vs public company. Most Hong Kong companies are private companies limited by shares. Public companies have higher disclosure obligations. Unlimited companies and companies limited by guarantee are less common but appear on the register.
- Shareholding disclosure. As of the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, Hong Kong introduced a Significant Controllers Register (SCR) requirement for companies to maintain a record of significant controllers (generally those holding 25%+ of shares or voting rights). However, the SCR is held at company level, not filed publicly with the registry. To obtain SCR information, a buyer must request it from the company itself through the formal legal process.
- Branch offices. Non-Hong Kong companies registered in Hong Kong file as “Registered Non-Hong Kong Companies” and have a separate registration number. Documents filed by the branch do not automatically include the parent company’s full filing history; a separate search in the parent’s home jurisdiction is needed.
- Status labels. “Live” means the company is registered and not subject to dissolution proceedings. “Being wound up” means formal winding-up proceedings are underway. “Dissolved” means the company no longer exists as a legal entity.
- Hong Kong maintains a separate FATF status from Mainland China. Hong Kong is assessed as a separate jurisdiction in FATF evaluations as it has its own AML/CFT legal framework under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO, Cap. 615).
For a broader view of how registry verification fits into a global compliance workflow, see the Global Business Due Diligence Guide.
Alternatives if you cannot access ICRIS directly
- Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates indexes Hong Kong company filings but lags official data. Useful for a quick name check; not for compliance-grade verification.
- ICRIS Bulk Data Transfer Service: for licensed organizations needing large-scale access; contact [email protected].
Local data suppliers
- Dun and Bradstreet Hong Kong (dnb.com). Global credit bureau with a Hong Kong office. Provides commercial credit reports incorporating ICRIS data, trade references, and payment history. Target audience: banks, exporters, and corporates performing counterparty credit assessment.
- Experian Hong Kong (experian.com.hk). Provides commercial credit reports and business information services for Hong Kong entities. Target audience: financial institutions, trade credit teams.
Use ICRIS for the authoritative legal filing record. Use a commercial bureau when you also need credit risk scoring or trade payment behavior.
FAQ
Can a foreign company access the Hong Kong registry directly?
Yes. ICRIS is accessible globally via the internet. Foreign buyers register with an email address and pay with an international credit card. No Hong Kong address, company, or bank account is required. The process is straightforward and documents are available within minutes of account creation.
What is the company number in Hong Kong?
HKSAR-incorporated companies receive a 7-digit company registration number assigned by the Companies Registry at incorporation (e.g., 1234567). Registered non-Hong Kong companies receive a separate registration number with an “F” prefix. The company number is used across all ICRIS searches and government filings and is the primary identifier for compliance searches.
What entity types are registered with the Companies Registry?
The Companies Registry registers private companies limited by shares (the dominant form), public companies, companies limited by guarantee, unlimited companies, and registered non-Hong Kong companies (branch offices). Limited partnerships are separately registered under the Limited Partnerships Ordinance (Cap. 37). Business name registrations for sole proprietors and partnerships are handled by the Business Registration Office under the Business Registration Ordinance.
Does Hong Kong have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?
Hong Kong has a Significant Controllers Register (SCR) requirement under the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2021. Companies must maintain an SCR internally, recording individuals or legal entities holding 25% or more of shares, voting rights, or the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors. The SCR is not publicly filed with the Companies Registry; it is held at the company and accessible to law enforcement on demand. This differs from the EU’s public UBO register model. Hong Kong’s approach aligns with FATF Recommendation 24 but stops short of full public disclosure.
How current is the data in ICRIS?
Data is updated on a filing-event basis within 1-2 business days of the Companies Registry processing a lodgment. Annual return data is current to the date of the most recently filed return, which may be up to 12 months prior for private companies. For director changes, the effective date of change is recorded in the filing; the ICRIS record reflects the filing date, not necessarily the event date.
Is Hong Kong on the FATF grey list?
No. Hong Kong is not on the FATF Increased Monitoring list as of May 2026. Hong Kong operates under its own AML/CFT framework as a separate FATF jurisdiction from Mainland China. Standard customer due diligence applies for Hong Kong counterparties. For the current FATF list, see fatf-gafi.org.
What’s the difference between the Companies Registry and the Business Registration Office?
The Companies Registry handles incorporation and ongoing filing obligations under the Companies Ordinance: articles of association, annual returns, director changes, and winding up. The Business Registration Office handles the Business Registration Certificate, which is required for all businesses operating in Hong Kong, including sole proprietors and partnerships that are not incorporated companies. A Hong Kong company will typically have both a Companies Registry filing and a Business Registration Certificate; for compliance purposes, the Companies Registry record is the primary source for entity verification.
Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Companies Registry HKSAR (cr.gov.hk), ICRIS (icris.cr.gov.hk), Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.