{"id":255,"date":"2026-10-22T00:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T00:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/hk\/insights\/hong-kong-entrepreneur-visa\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T23:49:53","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T23:49:53","slug":"hong-kong-entrepreneur-visa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/hk\/insights\/hong-kong-entrepreneur-visa\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Foreign Founder Get a Hong Kong Visa to Run Their Own Company? (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Insights \u00b7 Hong Kong Immigration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a Foreign Founder Get a Hong Kong Visa to Run Their Own Company? (2026)<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Yes. A foreign founder can apply under the General Employment Policy (GEP) investment-as-entrepreneur route, with their own Hong Kong company as sponsor. In plain terms, it is the Hong Kong work visa for business owners. The Immigration Department sets no fixed minimum investment; it judges your three-year business plan, funds, local jobs and turnover. Approved founders normally get 36 months, extendable on a 3-2 year pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Ray Tay<\/a> \u00b7 Published 22 October 2026 \u00b7 Last reviewed 22 October 2026 \u00b7 Reviewed by Ray Tay, VIVOS. Figures checked against the Immigration Department and GovHK on 22 October 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n

Key facts: Hong Kong entrepreneur visa (GEP) as of October 2026<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

\n\n
Item<\/th>Position in October 2026<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
Scheme<\/td>General Employment Policy (GEP), investment as entrepreneurs<\/td><\/tr>\n
Who can sponsor<\/td>Your Hong Kong company (with its Business Registration Certificate) or a Hong Kong resident aged 18+<\/td><\/tr>\n
Minimum investment<\/td>None published; assessed case by case<\/td><\/tr>\n
Main test<\/td>Substantial contribution to Hong Kong’s economy, or a start-up backed by a listed government programme<\/td><\/tr>\n
Processing time<\/td>About 4 weeks after a complete application<\/td><\/tr>\n
Initial stay<\/td>Up to 36 months, on employment condition<\/td><\/tr>\n
Extensions<\/td>Normally 3-2 year pattern; 2 to 3 weeks to process<\/td><\/tr>\n
Government fees<\/td>HK$600 application fee + HK$1,300 visa issuance fee (stay over 180 days), per person<\/td><\/tr>\n
Family<\/td>Spouse or partner and unmarried children under 18 can join as dependants<\/td><\/tr>\n
Permanent residence<\/td>Possible after 7 continuous years of ordinary residence<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\n

Incorporating a Hong Kong company does not give you the right to work there. The visa is a separate decision by the Immigration Department (ImmD), and for founders the usual route is the GEP entrepreneur category. Here is what ImmD checks, what it costs and where applications go wrong. For a comparison of every Hong Kong visa route, see our Hong Kong work visa options guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Who can apply for a Hong Kong entrepreneur visa?<\/h2>\n

The GEP entrepreneur route is for people who want to establish or join a business in Hong Kong. According to ImmD, you need to meet three things on top of normal immigration requirements such as a valid travel document:<\/p>\n