Hong Kong company search: how to check directors

A Hong Kong company search lets you view information such as directors, shareholders and company status. This article explains how to search, what you can find, the latest 2026 fees and the new search arrangements.

A company search lets you view information on a Hong Kong limited company, such as its directors, shareholders and company status. Searching the company name and the index of documents is free.
Unlimited companies do not come under the Companies Registry and must be searched separately through the Inland Revenue Department's Business Registration Office system.
New search arrangements have applied since 2021. Directors' correspondence addresses and some identity card numbers are now protected information and cannot be viewed by the general public.
Viewing detailed company information (such as the list of directors) requires payment, from HK$22 per company.

What is a company search? A key step when applying to register a company

What can a company search show?

A company search uses the Hong Kong Companies Registry's system to look up the basic details of locally registered companies.

This information includes the company's members, directors' names and registered address, and if the company enters liquidation, it also shows the persons responsible. All of this comes from the Companies Ordinance and is public and transparent, so anyone can look it up.

What must you do before setting up a company?

If we want to Company formation, we need to decide on a company name. How can we make sure the name we choose is not already in use?

We know that a company search can look up the details of locally registered companies in Hong Kong, including company names. So we can use a search to confirm whether the name we have chosen has already been registered and used, to avoid delaying the registration.

Other important uses of a company search

If you are about to work with a company, you naturally want to know whether it is legally registered and whether its background is suspicious. Or, if you are an investor, you may want to confirm whether the company's directors can be trusted. A search can at least give you the most basic background on the company and reduce risk, which is extremely important for business people.

What is the difference between a company search and a Business Registration Certificate?

Many people confuse a “company search” with a “Business registration”, but the two serve different purposes:

Company search: looks up information recorded by the Companies Registry, such as directors, shareholders and the company's status.
Business Registration Certificate (BR): issued by the IRD, it mainly records business operation details, such as the nature of business, address and business name.

Simply put, a company search looks at the “backbone structure” behind a company, while business registration is more a record of “business activities”.

How do you do a company search? The three most convenient ways

You can look up company information in the following three ways:

Log in to the Companies Registry's [CR e-services website] (https://www.e-services.cr.gov.hk/)
Log in on your phone to the [Company Search Mobile] website (www.mobile-cr.gov.hk)
Go in person to the e-Services Centre on the 13th floor of Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Whenever you need to, you can use these platforms to look up information. The procedure is simple and the fees are not high.

Who needs to use a company search?

A company search is not only for people in business. The following people may also need one:

People about to start a business who want to check whether a company name is available
Investors and partners who want to understand a company's background
Professionals such as lawyers, accountants and auditors
Job seekers who want to confirm whether the company interviewing them is legitimate
Members of the public checking whether a business is on record

Whatever your situation, a company search is a tool well worth using. It is convenient and lawful, and you can get reliable information within minutes.

What information can you look up through a company search?

Through a company search, you can find current information on registered companies kept in the Companies Register, and image records of registered documents, even for companies that have been dissolved.

The main types of information you can look up are:

Forms and documents the company has filed: such as incorporation documents, annual returns and changes of directors
Current and former directors' details: to confirm who is actually behind the company
Company members and registration details: to confirm the company's latest details, such as its name and registered address
Company charge records: for example, whether the company has pledged assets to borrow, which is an important reference for investment or cooperation

If you need them for more formal purposes, you can also apply for the following documents:

Certified copy (Certified Copy): for example, an official copy of an annual return
Certificate of continuing registration (Certificate of Continuing Registration): proves that the company is still validly in existence

New search arrangements

Because of personal privacy concerns, new search arrangements have applied to some information since 2021. Directors' residential addresses and full identity card numbers could previously be seen, but can no longer be found. Only the following are shown:

The director's correspondence address (in place of the usual residential address)
Partial identification numbers of directors and company secretaries (in place of full numbers, for public inspection)

This sensitive information is classed as “protected information”. The general public can no longer search it freely and must apply to inspect it.

The new arrangements are being implemented in three phases:

Phase 1 (from 23 August 2021): companies may choose to stop allowing the public to inspect protected information
Phase 2 (from 24 October 2022): the Companies Registry no longer allows the public to inspect protected information in newly filed documents
Phase 3 (from 27 December 2023): even for information in old documents, the data subject may apply for it not to be made public

Who can search? What is a “specified person”?

Although the new rules restrict access to some information, people with certain statuses can still look up this protected information. They are the so-called “Specified persons”.

The following persons or organisations are specified persons and may apply to the Registrar of Companies to inspect the full information:

Data subjects, or persons with their written authorisation
Members of the company concerned
Liquidators and trustees in bankruptcy
Public officers or public bodies
Scheduled persons
Solicitors and foreign lawyers
Practising certified public accountants
Financial institutions (such as banks) and designated non-financial businesses and professions (such as estate agents)

If you are not one of the above, you can only inspect the basic information after protection processing. This is nonetheless sufficient for ordinary purposes (such as verifying whether a company is legitimate).

How do you do a company search? A complete tutorial on the search procedure

The company search procedure in Hong Kong is not difficult. As long as you know how to use a computer or phone to go online, you can finish a search within minutes. Here is a step-by-step guide to searching online:

Step 1: Log in to the Companies Registry's online search platform

First open your browser and go to the Companies Registry's e-services website: https://www.e-services.cr.gov.hk/
If you are searching on your phone, you can go to the mobile platform: www.mobile-cr.gov.hk

Both systems support interfaces in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and English, so they are not too complicated to use.

Step 2: Click the “Search” function

After entering the home page, you will see a “Search” option on the toolbar. Click it and the screen will go to the search system interface, ready for you to enter your search details.

Step 3: Enter the searcher's details

Before you start searching for a company, you need to fill in some basic details, such as your name and email. This is to record who is using the search service. It is a normal procedure and nothing to worry about.

Step 4: Select the purpose of the search and enter the verification code

Next the system will ask you to select the purpose of the search, such as “verifying company information” or “business cooperation”. Just pick the one closest to your use. Then enter the verification code on the screen, to make sure it is not being operated by a machine.

Step 5: Select “Company Search” and enter the company name

In the last step, select the “Company Search” function, then enter the name or company number of the company you want to look up in the search box. The system will list the matching companies. Click through and you can see information such as the company's registration status, director details and filed documents.

You can use the whole process without applying for an account, but if you often look up different companies, applying for a user account is more convenient and gives you more features.

Further reading:[Company search guide] 5 simple steps to check whether a company name is available (with free feature tutorial)

2026 company search fees

You do not necessarily need a lawyer to check a company's background. You can also use the Companies Registry's search service yourself. Although searches are open to the public, not all information is free.

Some basic information can be searched for free, but if you want to see document images or apply for certificates, you must pay extra. Below we look at what can be searched for free, what is charged, and the most convenient way to pay.

Free search services

In fact, you can look up a lot of basic information for free, for example:

Company name: you can search by keyword. For example, entering “ABC” shows all company names beginning with ABC
Document index: shows which documents the company has filed, but not their content
Index of the Register of Disqualification Orders: shows the names of persons and corporate bodies disqualified by the court from acting as directors or in other specified positions
Index of the Register of Charges: shows whether the company has pledged assets. This is also only an index and does not contain detailed information

These free functions are enough for an initial look at a company's background. Checking whether a company name clashes with an existing one is especially useful for people starting a business.

Which services are charged?

If you want to see more in-depth content, such as the list of directors, historical documents or applications for formal certificates, you must pay. The main charges are as follows:

Searching company lists or report information

Document type	Fee (HK$)
Search company information (per company)	$ 22
Search director index by company name (per company)	$ 11
Search director information (per director or alternate director)	$ 11
Search director index by director name (per director or alternate director)	$ 22
Search disqualification order information (per disqualified person)	$ 11

Applying for certificates or certified copies

These are usually used for formal purposes such as legal use, bank account opening or overseas applications, and the fees are higher.

Document type	Fee (HK$)
Obtain a Certificate of Continuing Registration for a local company or registered non-Hong Kong company that is still registered	$ 170
Certification fee for obtaining a certified copy of a document (or an extract of it) or report (excluding the cost of providing a hard copy of the document or report)	$ 130

Search image records

Document type	Online search (download) registered / non-registered users	Online search (online viewing) registered / non-registered users	Search at the Registry to obtain hard copies
Prospectus, instrument creating a charge, accounts / financial statements, memorandum of association, articles of association, memorandum and articles of association, charter, statute or similar document	$ 21 / 23	$ 26 / 29	$ 35
Annual return, forms NNC1, NC1, NNC1G, NC1G, NN1 or N1	$ 16 / 18	$ 21 / 23	$ 30
Other documents	$ 9 / 10	$ 12 / 13	$ 20

For more detailed fees, see the Companies Registry's Schedule of main service fees

How do you pay? What methods are supported?

The company search platform distinguishes between “registered users” and “users without an account”, and payment methods differ slightly:

Users without an account (paying on the spot) can choose from the following payment methods:

Credit card: VISA, Mastercard, JCB or UnionPay
Electronic payment: Apple Pay, Google Pay (mobile version only)
PPS: for use at the Online Search Centre only

Note that since 2021 the extent of openness of search information has been adjusted, and not all personal data can be found. For details, see the “New search arrangements” section above.

FAQ

Can unlimited companies also be searched?

Many people assume that every company can be searched using the Companies Registry, but “unlimited companies” in fact use a different system.

This is because the registration of unlimited companies is handled by the Business Registration Office of the IRD, not the Companies Registry, so the Companies Registry cannot be used to search unlimited company information.

To search an unlimited company, use the “GovHK GovHK” website, through which you can find the business registration number, business name, registered address and electronic extract.

Can search results be downloaded or printed?

Yes. Most company search results can be viewed online and you can also choose to download or print them:

Information that can be viewed online: company name index, charge records, document list, list of directors, index of disqualification orders and so on
Image records can be downloaded (for example, PDF versions of annual returns and articles of association)

Note, however: if you order a “certified copy” of an image record, you can only collect the hard copy from the Companies Registry. If you search in person at the Public Search Centre, you can only obtain a hard copy of the search results.

Do you have to register an account to use the company search service?

No! You do not need to register an account. You can search directly as a “user without an account”, whether on a computer or a phone, and you can also go to the Companies Registry in person to inspect information.

However, if you search for companies often and want to manage orders or download records more easily, we recommend registering a user account, which saves time and is more useful.

Can I get a receipt for the company search service?

Yes! If you are a user without an account, as soon as you complete the online payment, the system immediately shows an electronic receipt, which lists the order number and the enquiry reference number.

Remember to save or print the receipt before you leave the electronic receipt page, because these numbers are your proof for looking up the order or downloading the documents later.

For registered users, the service fee is deducted automatically from your prepaid balance, and a transaction number is also shown after the transaction is completed so that you can track it.

Can users without an account look up items they have ordered?

Yes! Even if you have not registered an account, as long as you use the same computer or phone, you can still look up details of the 20 most recent orders in the last 72 hours in the system.

After entering the platform, click “Shopping” ➡ “My Transactions” and you can see the order number and the order enquiry reference number. With this information you can check the order status or download the purchased items again.

Set up your Hong Kong company with SetupHK

If you are starting a business for the first time, are not familiar with the company registration process, or want to focus on growing your business and save time, using a professional agent service is a more efficient and reassuring choice.

As a professional company service provider holding a TCSP licence, SetupHK provides one-stop registration and follow-up support, including:

Help prepare and submit the documents required for company registration
Provide a qualifying registered address and company secretarial services
Help open a corporate bank account and handle tax filing and audit arrangements
Reduce the risk of application errors and ensure the process is completed smoothly

Whether you are a local entrepreneur or an overseas person planning to enter the Hong Kong market, SetupHK can provide a tailor-made registration solution to suit your actual needs, so that you can set up your company without worry and get off to an easy start.

Summary

A company search is an important function that provides key information and documents about a specific company. If you have any questions about companies or business matters, please contact the SetupHK team. We provide one-stop professional business services, including Hong Kong company registration, bank account opening and company secretarial services, so that you can focus on growing your business!