Hong Kong Company Re-domiciliation: Migrate Your Company to Hong Kong (2025/2026 New Regime)

In 2025, Hong Kong introduced a landmark company re-domiciliation regime, allowing foreign companies to migrate their registration to Hong Kong while maintaining their legal continuity. This is a significant development that opens new opportunities for international businesses seeking to establish a Hong Kong presence without the disruption of winding up and re-incorporating.

What is Company Re-domiciliation?

Company re-domiciliation (also called “migration” or “continuation”) is the process by which a company incorporated in one jurisdiction transfers its registration to another jurisdiction, while maintaining its legal identity, contracts, assets, and liabilities. The company does not need to be wound up and re-incorporated — it simply changes its “home” jurisdiction.

Hong Kong’s New Re-domiciliation Regime (2025)

The Companies (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 introduced an inbound re-domiciliation regime for Hong Kong, allowing foreign companies to migrate to Hong Kong as a private company limited by shares. This regime came into effect in 2025 and represents a major step in Hong Kong’s efforts to attract international businesses.

Who Can Re-domicile to Hong Kong?

To be eligible for re-domiciliation to Hong Kong, a foreign company must:

• Be a company limited by shares (or equivalent) in its current jurisdiction
• Be permitted by the laws of its current jurisdiction to re-domicile
• Not be insolvent or subject to winding-up proceedings
• Have at least one shareholder and one director after re-domiciliation
• Comply with Hong Kong’s Companies Ordinance requirements

Key Benefits of Re-domiciling to Hong Kong

• Legal continuity: Your company retains its existing contracts, assets, liabilities, and legal history — no need to transfer assets or renegotiate contracts.
• Access to Hong Kong’s tax system: Benefit from Hong Kong’s territorial tax system, low profits tax rates, and potential offshore exemption.
• Enhanced credibility: A Hong Kong registered company carries significant international credibility, particularly in Asia-Pacific markets.
• Banking access: Access to Hong Kong’s world-class banking infrastructure, including major international banks and digital banking solutions.
• Common law legal system: Hong Kong’s common law system provides a familiar and trusted legal framework for international businesses.

The Re-domiciliation Process

The re-domiciliation process involves steps in both the current jurisdiction and Hong Kong:

1. Eligibility assessment: Confirm that re-domiciliation is permitted under the laws of your current jurisdiction.
2. Shareholder approval: Obtain the required shareholder approval in your current jurisdiction.
3. Application to Companies Registry: Submit the re-domiciliation application to the Hong Kong Companies Registry with required documents.
4. Deregistration in current jurisdiction: Complete the deregistration process in your current jurisdiction (timing varies by jurisdiction).
5. Certificate of Re-domiciliation: Receive the Certificate of Re-domiciliation from the Hong Kong Companies Registry.

Tax Implications of Re-domiciliation

Re-domiciliation to Hong Kong may have tax implications in both the current jurisdiction and Hong Kong. Key considerations include:

• Exit taxes in the current jurisdiction (if applicable)
• Hong Kong profits tax on income arising after re-domiciliation
• Treatment of pre-existing assets and liabilities for Hong Kong tax purposes
• Potential stamp duty implications on share transfers

Echo Olesen Global strongly recommends obtaining professional tax advice before proceeding with re-domiciliation.

Conclusion

Hong Kong’s new re-domiciliation regime is a game-changer for international businesses seeking to establish a Hong Kong presence. By allowing companies to migrate without winding up and re-incorporating, it removes a significant barrier to Hong Kong registration. Echo Olesen Global’s TCSP-licensed team is at the forefront of this new regime — contact us for a free consultation on whether re-domiciliation is right for your business.