Opening a Hong Kong place of business: When does the NN1 deadline start?

A non-Hong Kong company that establishes a place of business in Hong Kong must apply to register within one month after establishing it. Form NN1 asks for that establishment date. A lease signature, opening date and first invoice may fall on different days. Check what happened at the premises before deciding which date applies.

Identify the entity before preparing the form

Form NN1 registers the existing non-Hong Kong company. Incorporating a new Hong Kong company limited by shares through Form NNC1 creates a separate legal entity. Confirm which entity will hold the lease, employ staff or enter contracts, then use its legal name consistently across the relevant documents.

If the arrangement is only for mail forwarding, or the use of the premises is unclear, the label “representative office” does not settle the registration question. Record what the location is used for and when that use began, and check sections 774 and 776 against those facts.

Prepare the certified documents before the deadline

The Companies Registry lists Form NN1, certified constitutional documents and specified certificates, and the latest published accounts where applicable. It also requires the IRBR2 notice. NN1 asks for the Hong Kong principal place of business and details about directors and the authorised representative, among other particulars. Check which certificates and accounts the company needs to supply and allow time for overseas certification.

If the Hong Kong premises are already in use while you are waiting for certified documents, check the actual establishment date and the outstanding items promptly. Record the company registration deadline, business registration steps and processing time separately.

See Hong Kong branch and representative office consultation.

Checked on 6 November 2026 against the Companies Registry's non-Hong Kong company registration FAQ and the Form NN1 instructions.