How to check if a company is registered in Hong Kong
Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.
Search Hong Kong Companies Registry at the official source
Use the Companies Registry e-Services Portal. For covered entities, BRN is the Unique Business Identifier; map older CR numbers using the official service before ordering documents.
Official access and fees vary. A human request is an enquiry, not a guaranteed extract or completed purchase.
How do I check if a company is registered in Hong Kong?
To check if a company is registered in Hong Kong, search its exact registration number or legal name on Hong Kong Companies Registry (https://www.cr.gov.hk). Compare the identifier and available identity fields before reading the recorded status. A name-only match is a candidate, not confirmation. Official access requirements and document fees vary.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open the official Hong Kong Companies Registry
Go to https://www.cr.gov.hk. This is the primary government-operated source.
https://www.cr.gov.hk - 2
Search by name or number
Use the legal name or identifier supported by Hong Kong Companies Registry. Trading-name and partial-name searches are not universal.
- 3
Check status and legal name
Compare the exact identifier and legal name. Preserve the source's status wording: historical and dissolved entities can still have registry records.
- 4
Cross-check the registered address
Compare the available registered address with the counterparty's documents. A registered office can differ legitimately from a trading address; clarify the difference rather than treating it as evidence of misconduct.
- 5
Download the official extract (optional)
Most registers let you download a formal extract or certificate. Use this for KYC, procurement, or contract files.
Hong Kong: choosing and checking the right record
- Choose the correct source
- Use the Companies Registry's current e-Services Portal and its e-Search services. The former Cyber Search Centre workflow should not be treated as the current instructions. Select the record or document needed and check the applicable access rules.
- Confirm the entity
- Since 27 December 2023 the Business Registration Number is the key Unique Business Identifier for covered entities. If you have a former CR number, use the official mapping search; keep the original and mapped identifier clearly labelled.
Companies Registry e-Search and identifier mapping
Check current access and document options on the official Hong Kong Companies Registry site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the Hong Kong registry guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a company is registered in Hong Kong?
Search the exact registration number on Hong Kong Companies Registry at https://www.cr.gov.hk, then compare the legal name and available identity details. Read the status and its date in the source's own terminology. Name similarity alone does not confirm the entity.
How can I check if a Hong Kong company is still active?
Read the status on the exact entity's Hong Kong Companies Registry record, preserving its wording and retrieval date. Liquidation is not the same as dissolution: an entity can remain registered while undergoing liquidation. A registry status is not a solvency or trustworthiness assessment.
Is a Hong Kong company with a website automatically registered?
No. A website, email domain or invoice letterhead proves nothing. The only authoritative proof is a current entry in Hong Kong Companies Registry with a matching legal name and registration number.
What proves a Hong Kong company is legally registered?
An entry in Hong Kong Companies Registry with an "active" or equivalent status is the definitive proof. The registration number returned by Hong Kong Companies Registry is the authoritative identifier.
How do I look up a Hong Kong company?
Use the Companies Registry's e-Services Portal, linked from cr.gov.hk. Search by legal name or Business Registration Number (BRN), and use the official mapping search if you only have a former CR number. Check the current access and fee rules for company particulars and document images.
People also ask about check if a company is registered in Hong Kong
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the Hong Kong company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the Hong Kong Companies Registry are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official Hong Kong business registry?
The Hong Kong Companies Registry is the official public register of companies incorporated in Hong Kong. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.cr.gov.hk.
How can I check if a Hong Kong company is legitimate?
Look the company up on the Hong Kong Companies Registry. If the entity returns an "active" (or equivalent local status) result, matches the registered address on its invoices, and its listed directors match who is signing your contract, it is a real registered entity. Anything reported as "dissolved", "struck off" or "in liquidation" should be treated with caution.
What information can I get about a Hong Kong company for free?
Free public data from the Hong Kong Companies Registry typically includes: legal name, registration number, incorporation date, registered address, current status, business type, and current directors / officers. Historical filings and certified copies may carry a small fee.
Related guides and tools
More Hong Kong guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
Hong Kong data
- Hong Kong company search
Search every Hong Kong Companies Registry record.