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Confirm eligibility.
Check ownership, market access, scope and licensing before the application is drafted.
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Hainan company registration FAQ
Hainan company registration questions, answered for foreign founders.
Check whether you can register, what it may cost, which documents you need, what can be handled remotely and when Hainan Free Trade Port policies may be relevant to your operating plan.
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Most questions depend on your facts
Your activity, ownership, operations and timing change the answer.
01Business activity
02Shareholder setup
03Address and banking
04Licences and tax
Send these first, and we can usually tell whether the FAQ answer is enough or your case needs a closer review.
Yes, oftenForeigners can register in many sectors, subject to access and licensing checks
Quote carefullyFormation, address, banking and accounting should be separated
Remote variesSome steps can be remote, but banks or authorities may require attendance
Licence is not the endSeals, tax setup, banking and recurring compliance follow
Eligibility and structure
Can I set it up this way?
Can foreigners register a company in Hainan?
Yes, in many sectors. A foreign individual or overseas company can set up a foreign-invested enterprise in Hainan. The route still depends on the business activity, shareholder structure and whether the industry is restricted, prohibited or subject to special licensing. Read the foreign founder's registration guide.
Is a Hainan company always the best China setup?
Not always. Hainan can make sense for businesses that have a real reason to operate from the Free Trade Port, but the decision should match your customers, staffing, tax position, licensing needs and banking expectations. See when a Hainan setup may fit.
Can I own the company personally, or should an overseas company be the shareholder?
Both structures may be possible. Personal ownership can be more direct, while a corporate shareholder may fit a wider group structure. The choice affects document preparation, signing, bank review and future changes, so it should be decided before the application is drafted. Compare common foreign-investment structures.
Cost and capital
What am I actually paying for?
How much does it cost to register a company in Hainan?
The cost depends on ownership, address arrangements, document preparation, translations, licensing and whether banking or accounting support is included. A useful quote separates formation service, address support, bank coordination and recurring compliance. Review the main cost factors.
Is registered capital the same as the service fee?
No. Registered capital is the shareholders' investment commitment to the company. The service fee pays for professional work. The capital amount should be considered against your operating plan, licensing needs and first-year budget. Read the registered-capital guide.
Documents and timing
How long will this take?
What documents should I prepare?
Start with the proposed name, business activities, shareholder identity or incorporation documents, registered address details, articles of association and management appointments. Overseas documents may need notarisation, legalisation or translation. Open the document checklist.
How long does Hainan company registration take?
Plan separately for document preparation, licence issuance and operational setup. Overseas document handling, additional permits and bank identity checks can affect the overall schedule. A business licence alone does not mean the company is ready to trade. See the full registration sequence.
Remote setup, tax and operations
What happens after the licence?
Can I register without travelling to China?
Often, much of the process can be handled remotely. A bank, licensing authority or identity check may still require attendance depending on the shareholders and business activity. We confirm this before setting expectations. Read the China business bank account guide.
Does every Hainan company qualify for the 15% corporate income tax rate?
No. Registration alone is not enough. The company must fall within an eligible encouraged industry, derive the required share of revenue from that activity and maintain substantive operations in Hainan under the rules in force at the time. Check the 15% corporate income tax conditions.
What happens after the business licence is issued?
The company still needs official seals, tax setup, bookkeeping and recurring filings. Most businesses also need a corporate bank account, and regulated activities may require additional permits before trading. Review the annual compliance cycle.
Can your team support us in English?
Yes. We provide English-language communication for overseas founders and coordinate the Chinese-language filing, tax and local follow-up work required in Hainan.
Hainan Free Trade Port policies
Could a tax or customs policy apply to my business?
Treat these as eligibility questions, not automatic benefits of registration. Check the entity, activity, goods, tariff codes, operating evidence and rules in force before you price a transaction or commit to an import.
What does “substantive operation” mean for the 15% corporate income tax rate?
It means more than having a Hainan business licence or registered address. The assessment looks at whether the company's actual business, personnel, accounting, assets and day-to-day management are genuinely based in Hainan. Read the substantive-operation guide.
Are imported raw materials automatically zero-tariff in Hainan?
No. Eligibility depends on the current customs regime, the importer, the goods and tariff codes, the intended use and the required customs procedures. Confirm the treatment before relying on a landed-cost saving. Review the zero-tariff framework.
Can a Hainan company import production equipment without import taxes?
Qualifying enterprises may receive zero-tariff treatment for eligible production equipment imported for their own use. The equipment, importer, use and current taxable-goods rules all need checking before the purchase or shipment is arranged. Check the production-equipment conditions.
How does the 30% processing value-added rule work?
Eligible goods processed in Hainan with at least 30% local value added may enter the Chinese mainland without import duty. The enterprise, product, calculation method and customs-supervision conditions must all qualify, so review the bill of materials, tariff codes, processing steps and records before relying on the saving. Understand the island-wide customs framework.
Still unsure?
Bring the question back to your own setup.
A short case review is usually enough to identify the obvious risks before you spend money on paperwork.
What to send us
You do not need a full file to start a sensible conversation.
Tell us what the company will do, who will own it, whether you need staff or licences, and when you want the company operational. We will explain which answers are straightforward and which points need checking.
02
Separate the costs.
Understand formation, address, banking and accounting as separate pieces of work.
03
Plan beyond approval.
Prepare for seals, tax setup, bank KYC, bookkeeping and recurring compliance.