Can I apply for a Certificate of Incorporation and a Business Registration Certificate at the same time?

Yes. When a Hong Kong limited company is formed, when the incorporation documents are submitted to the Companies Registry, the company will be registered and the business registration will be done at the same time and the relevant fees will be paid at the same time, so there is no need to apply for two separate applications.

Can I get a replacement Certificate of Incorporation (CI)?

No. The original Certificate of Incorporation will only be issued once. In case of inadvertent loss, a new original cannot be issued and only the Certificate of Incorporation or a certified copy of the same can be obtained from the Companies Registry for record purposes.

How should I present my Certificate of Incorporation correctly?

The law only requires that a valid business registration certificate must be displayed at the relevant place of business for easy inspection; the CO does not require the certificate of incorporation to be posted or displayed at the company's registered address.

What is Company CI? The difference between Certificate of Incorporation (CI) and Business Registration Certificate (BR) in one article.

What is Company CI? The Certificate of Incorporation (CI) and the Business Registration Certificate (BR) are two important documents for business start-ups, and are often confused. All persons operating a business in Hong Kong need to apply for a Business Registration Certificate (BR), while the Certificate of Incorporation (CI) is the certificate of incorporation for a limited company, and is explained below.

Certificate of Incorporation CI vs Business Registration Certificate BR

What is Certificate of Incorporation CI?

Certificate of Incorporation Certificate of Incorporation abbreviated as CI, Certificate of Incorporation responsible organ for the Companies Registry, the application for company registration is proof that the company has an independent legal personality status in Hong Kong, can be analogous to the company identity card or birth certificate, when the need to prove that the company exists in Hong Kong when the authenticity of the need to use CI.

Business Registration What is BR?

Business Registration Certificate Business Registration, or BR, is an application made by the Business Registration Office (BRO) for the purpose of legally operating a business in Hong Kong. Whether it is an individual or a company, as long as the business is operated for profit in Hong Kong, it is necessary to apply for a BR and display the Business Registration Certificate at the place of business. It also serves to symbolise that the company is a taxpayer and is required to comply with the tax laws on a regular basis.

Objects of use

The difference between a CI and a BR can be understood by looking at who they apply to:

CI applications are made by limited companies and overseas companies with offices or shops in Hong Kong.UnlimitedSince the legal liability lies with the proprietor and not the company, CI is not required to apply.

Business Registration Certificate (BR) can be applied for by individuals, limited companies, unlimited companies, etc. If you need to operate legally in Hong Kong, you have to apply for a Business Registration Certificate (BR).

What is included in the Certificate of Incorporation?

The Certificate of Incorporation sets out three important pieces of company information, including the name of the company, the date of incorporation of the company and the company's registration number.

A company registration number can prove that a business has been registered with the Companies Registry and has the legal right to operate. When opening a bank account, applying for government subsidies, or using a company as the main body for formalities, there are chances that a certificate of company registration or a company registration number will be required to be presented.

What is the company registration number CI? What is it for?

Previously, the company registration number was a 7-digit number located at the top left corner of the certificate, which is like a company identity card number and is also the company's tax identification number for filing tax returns.

Unique Business Identifier Updated in 2023

The Companies Registry has replaced the company number with the Business Registration Certificate number with effect from 27 December 2023. for limited companies incorporated before 22 December 2023, the company number on the Certificate of Incorporation will be the 7-digit number in the upper left-hand corner of the Certificate. for limited companies incorporated after 27 December 2023, the company number will be the 8-digit number.

Is the CI number equivalent to the Business Registration Number (BRN)?

The company number for companies incorporated after 27 December 2023 is an 8-digit number, which will be the same as the first 8 digits of the Business Registration Certificate number. The format of the Business Registration Certificate number is XXXXXXXXXX-&&&-&&-&&-&. The first 8-digit number is the Business Registration Certificate number, and the subsequent digits and letters represent the effective month and year of the Business Registration Certificate as well as other information used by the Inland Revenue Department.

Company CI FAQs

Can I apply for a Certificate of Incorporation and Business Registration Certificate at the same time?

Yes, company registration and business registration certificates serve different purposes. Company registration is for the purpose of the company having an independent legal status, whereas business registration is for business operators to operate legally and profitably.

What you need to fill in when applying to set up a limited companyNNC1、NNC1G及NN1The above forms will be used to apply for Hong Kong company registration and business registration services at the same time, so you need to submit a notice to the Business Registration Office and the business registration fee at the same time when you need to register your application.

Can CI replace the Certificate of Incorporation?

No. The company must keep the original company CI in safe custody. According to section 305(1) of the Companies Ordinance, the original CI will only be issued once and the Companies Registry will not reissue a copy of the original. In case of loss, it can only apply for a certificate setting out the latest information on company registration, etc. or a certified copy of the original certificate.

How to display the company registration card correctly?

According toSection 12, Chapter 310, Business Registration Ordinance, Hong Kong.A valid Business Registration Certificate (BR) must be displayed at the place of business to which it relates. Although the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance does not require the Certificate of Incorporation (CI) to be displayed at the actual and valid registered address of the company, the CI must be displayed at the place of business to which it relates, and the CI must be displayed at the place of business to which it relates.

Conclusion

If you register a limited company needs, please contact Lonfon Business Consultancy team, we provide one-stop business consultancy services, there is the opening of a company, company registration services, open a bank account, secretarial services and office representatives are all-rounded to take care of your business needs, so that you can focus your energy and time on the development of the company!

Extended reading: "TheHong Kong Company Lazybones】Hong Kong Company Formation Process, Fees, Time and Frequently Asked Questions in One Article》