TL;DR

There are three routes for non-local individuals who want to start a business in Hong Kong: ① the Entrepreneur Visa (available to non-Mainland residents or Mainland residents who have obtained overseas permanent residency) — you must prove that the business will contribute to the Hong Kong economy (creating jobs / introducing new technology), and vetting is stricter. ② IANG (Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates) start-ups — if you are a graduate of a local Hong Kong university, IANG lets you start a business directly (no employer sponsorship required), offering the greatest flexibility. ③ TTPS Category A start-ups — if your annual salary is HK$2.5 million or above, you may start a business freely once approved. This article gives a full comparison of the three routes.

I. Comparison of the Three Routes

  • Who can apply: Non-Mainland residents / Mainland residents with overseas permanent residency · Graduates of local Hong Kong universities · Annual salary of HK$2.5 million or above
  • Investment amount required: No fixed amount, but it must be “reasonable” · No specific capital required · Not required (only need to prove income)
  • Business plan required: ✅ A detailed business plan required · ❌ Not required · ❌ Not required
  • Local job creation required: ✅ Expected to hire locally · ❌ Not required · ❌ Not required
  • Processing time: About 3–6 months · About 2–4 weeks (IANG) · About 2–4 weeks
  • Initial visa period: About 2 years · IANG first year · 2 years
  • Flexibility: Only the business stated in the application · Free to change jobs / start a business / study · Free to work for an employer / start a business

II. Detailed Requirements for the Entrepreneur Visa

When the Immigration Department reviews an application, it considers:

  1. Business plan: Must demonstrate feasibility, market analysis and financial projections.
  2. Adequacy of capital: You need sufficient funds to start the business and support yourself (no fixed amount required).
  3. Contribution to the Hong Kong economy: The most critical point — you must show that the business will create jobs, introduce new technology / skills, or fill a market gap.
  4. Personal background: Relevant industry experience, academic qualifications and past entrepreneurial track record.

Practical tip: The hardest part is proving that the business will “contribute to the Hong Kong economy”. If your business is a café / retail shop, the case is harder to make. If you are in a tech start-up / FinTech / biotechnology, your chances of success are much higher.

III. IANG Start-ups — The Simplest Route to Start a Business

If you are a graduate of a local Hong Kong university (bachelor’s degree or above), the IANG visa is practically a “start-up magic tool”:

  • No employer sponsorship required
  • No investment amount requirement
  • No special application needed (IANG itself allows free employment / start-ups)
  • First-year visa; for subsequent extensions you must prove the business is operating (at renewal you may need to submit a business registration certificate, bank statements, office lease, etc.)

Renewal requirements: When renewing an IANG start-up, the Immigration Department will check whether you are genuinely operating a business (rather than a shell company). You need to show you have an office, turnover and that you are paying tax, among other things.

IV. TTPS Category A Start-ups

If your annual salary reaches HK$2.5 million or above, you may start a business freely once approved under TTPS Category A. There are no business restrictions or vetting.

V. FAQ

Q1: Can graduates of Mainland universities use IANG to start a business in Hong Kong? A1: No. IANG is limited to local Hong Kong universities (full-time programmes awarding degrees conferred by Hong Kong universities). Graduates of Mainland universities need to use other visa routes (for example, TTPS Category B/C if you are from one of the top one hundred universities).

Q2: If the company makes a loss during the Entrepreneur Visa period, can the visa be renewed? A2: Making a loss is not in itself a reason for refusal (many start-ups lose money in their first few years), but you must prove the business is still operating and has prospects. If the company has ceased operations or is merely a shell, the renewal will be refused.

The information in this article is current as of May 2026; visa policies are subject to the latest announcements by the Immigration Department.