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I recently gave a talk at Campfire Collaborative Space on the topic of how to start a business in Hong Kong as a foreigner, which in essence is the journey of getting a Business Investment Visa as an Entrepreneur after the implementation of the Enhancement Measures in 2015 and the Audit Commission Report Number 66 from 2016.

PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy:

Historically, this presentation segment examined the so-called “Startup Visa”—the enhancement measures introduced by the Hong Kong government to facilitate entrepreneur visas for founders admitted into recognized incubation and accelerator programs. The Geeza framed this pathway as a welcome, formal endorsement of the innovation ecosystem, contrasting it with the mainstream entrepreneur route. However, the Geeza noted that while government accreditation offered a helpful statutory nod, the mainstream entrepreneur visa historically remained so flexible and accessible that founders rarely needed to jump through the administrative hoops of an official incubator just to secure immigration approval; a standard, bootstrapped commercial venture with modest seed capital, serviced office space, and a credible business plan could easily win approval on its own merits.

The game has changed from an optional fast-track into the only remaining lifeline for early-stage and seed-level founders. Following the post-April 2026 administrative shift, the mainstream investment as entrepreneur pathway has hardened into a rigid corporate audit aligned with TTPS Category A operational substance (~HKD 2.5M enterprise scale), strictly requiring HKD 1.5M–2.0M in deployed corporate bank liquidity, an executed commercial lease for exclusive physical premises (“four walls”), and active MPF payroll for 2–3 local permanent residents. Consequently, admission into an officially accredited government incubator (such as Cyberport, HKSTP, or Design Incubation Programme) is no longer merely an alternative—it is the sole viable mechanism under which ImmD will waive these brutal corporate hardware requirements. Without verified endorsement from an accredited government incubation program, an uncapitalized startup filing under the entrepreneur stream will face swift and summary refusal.

In this segment I explain what a Startup Visa is and how it is actually not a visa at all.

The Rest of the Talk

Introduction

How We Got Here

Must Have Resources

The Startup Visa

Business Investment As An Entrepreneur (Visa)

Three Elements To Approval

Have You Got Enough Money?

Is Your Business Sustainable?

A Properly Set Up Office

How About Local Jobs?

Economic Sector Advantages

Hiring Yourself

D-I-Y Application

Important Materials Referenced In The Presentation

10 Must-Have Resources for Any Hong Kong Investment Visa Application

Accredited Startup Programmes in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Visa Handbook Free Kits

Your Questions Answered

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What’s the situation about the need for business premises as part of your Hong Kong investment visa application?

What’s the minimum capital required for a Hong Kong investment visa?