Is there a Hong Kong startup visa?

Not as a single, separately branded scheme the way some countries run one. Founders apply through Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs, a track within the Immigration Department's General Employment Policy built for people establishing or joining a business rather than taking a job. We describe it as the Entrepreneur Stream on this page to make it easier to find, but it is officially a GEP application, not a standalone named visa.

You generally need a first degree relevant to the business, or good technical qualifications, proven professional ability, or relevant experience, no security objection and no known record of serious crime, and a business the Immigration Department believes can substantially contribute to Hong Kong's economy. Chinese Mainland residents are not eligible, and nor are nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, or North Korea. Official source: Immigration Department, Investment as Entrepreneurs. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How much money do I need to invest?

There is no published minimum investment figure. The Immigration Department instead weighs your business plan, projected turnover, your financial resources, the capital you are putting in, local job creation, and any new technology or skills your business brings, together rather than against one number. Official source: Immigration Department, Investment as Entrepreneurs. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

What does my business plan need to include?

A three-year plan covering the nature of the business, a market analysis, your market positioning and business direction, sales targets, your marketing strategy, and three-year financial forecasts covering profit and loss, cash flow, and your balance sheet. Official source: Immigration Department, Investment as Entrepreneurs. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Does my business need to be in a specific sector?

No sector is required, but applications are generally considered more favourably when the business supports Hong Kong's established pillar industries, such as trading and logistics, financial services, professional and producer services, and tourism, or fits the government's innovation and technology or creative industries priorities.

Is there a quota for this route?

The Immigration Department does not publish a fixed annual quota for the entrepreneur route the way it does for some other Hong Kong schemes. Every application is still assessed case by case, so the absence of a published quota does not mean approval is automatic.

How long does the process take?

An initial application normally takes around four weeks once the Immigration Department has received all the required documents and the application fee, and extension applications typically take two to three weeks for straightforward cases. Official source: Immigration Department, Investment as Entrepreneurs. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How much does the Hong Kong Entrepreneur Stream cost?

As a specified scheme under the General Employment Policy, expect a HK$600 application fee plus a visa or entry permit label fee of HK$600 for stays of 180 days or less, or HK$1,300 for longer stays, giving a typical total of HK$1,200 to HK$1,900. This covers government fees only, not the cost of preparing your business plan or the working capital your business needs. Official source: Immigration Department, Fee Tables. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Can my spouse and children come with me?

Generally yes. A spouse or same-sex civil partner, and unmarried children under 18, can usually apply as dependants, provided you can show a genuine relationship and that you can support them well above the subsistence level in Hong Kong. Official source: Immigration Department, Investment as Entrepreneurs. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

How long can I stay, and can I renew?

You are generally granted an initial stay of up to 36 months, tied to the specific business approved. Extensions are assessed against how the business has actually performed, and practitioners commonly report a further 24 months where the business is trading well, though this is a reported pattern rather than a published fixed rule, so confirm current practice before you rely on it.

How is this different from the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme?

QMAS is points-based and does not require a job offer or a business at all, so it suits people who want flexibility before committing to a specific plan. The entrepreneur route needs a genuine business you will actively run, assessed on its own merits rather than against a set score. See our Quality Migrant Admission Scheme guide for the full picture.

How is this different from the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme?

The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme is built around a much larger net asset test and a managed portfolio investment, and does not require you to run a business day to day. The entrepreneur route is for people who want to actively establish or join a business themselves, with no fixed capital threshold but a real requirement to show the business is substantial and credible.

How is this different from the employer-sponsored professional route under GEP?

The professional track of the General Employment Policy needs a confirmed job offer from a Hong Kong employer, in a role that cannot easily be filled locally. The entrepreneur track has no employer and no job offer, because you are the one establishing or actively running the business. See our General Employment Policy guide for how the employer-sponsored track works.

Move to Hong Kong to run your own business

Q: What is the Hong Kong Entrepreneur Stream?

It is our shorthand for Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs, the Immigration Department's route for overseas, Taiwan, and Macao nationals who want to establish a new business in Hong Kong or join an existing one as a proprietor, partner, or other active principal. Official source: Immigration Department, Investment as Entrepreneurs. Reviewed 17 July 2026.

Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs is the Immigration Department's route for overseas, Taiwan, and Macao nationals who want to establish a new business in Hong Kong, or join an existing one as a proprietor, partner, or other active principal. It sits within the wider General Employment Policy, alongside the employer-sponsored professional track, but the entrepreneur track has its own test: instead of a job offer, you need a business the Immigration Department believes can make a substantial contribution to Hong Kong's economy.

Who it is for

Founders who want to set up a new company in Hong Kong and run it themselves; Entrepreneurs joining an existing Hong Kong business as an active partner, proprietor, or principal, not a passive shareholder; People who can put together a credible, evidenced business plan for the Hong Kong market; Founders whose business fits Hong Kong's established industries or its innovation and technology priorities; People comfortable with a case-by-case assessment rather than a fixed points score or a single published capital number.

How eMigr8 helps

eMigr8 gives you coaching and guidance to understand this route and prepare a stronger application. We do not give legal advice or immigration consultation, and we have no influence over Immigration Department decisions. Hong Kong's entrepreneur route is less standardised than some other countries' founder visas, and its eligibility factors, fees, and processing times can change, so confirm the current position with the Immigration Department or a qualified professional before you rely on any figure here.