Certificate of Good Standing Hong Kong: How to Get One for a Vietnam Investment

Vinex Official

1 day ago

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A Hong Kong "certificate of good standing" is officially called a Certificate of Continuing Registration (CCR). The Companies Registry issues it for HK$170 for a live local company. For use in Vietnam, the certificate now normally needs an apostille from the Hong Kong High Court, because the Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026. In Vietnam, it then needs a notarised Vietnamese translation before it goes into an investment or enterprise registration file.

This guide explains what the certificate is, how to order it, how to apostille it, and where it fits in a Vietnam company set-up.

Key Takeaways

Official name: Hong Kong has no document formally titled "Certificate of Good Standing"; the Companies Registry issues a Certificate of Continuing Registration.
Fees: The Registry charges HK$170 for the CCR, and the High Court charges HK$125 per apostille application.
New route since September 2026: Vietnam joined the Apostille Convention, so an apostille generally replaces consular legalisation for eligible Hong Kong public documents.
Vietnam step: Foreign-language documents in a Vietnamese registration file need a notarised Vietnamese translation.

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What Is a Certificate of Good Standing in Hong Kong?

"Certificate of good standing" is the term most foreign authorities use. In Hong Kong, the matching document is the Certificate of Continuing Registration, issued by the Companies Registry.

The certificate shows that a company is still on the Hong Kong companies register. It is not a financial health check. It does not confirm that taxes are paid or that accounts are filed.

The Registry's fee schedule lists the CCR for "a live local company or a registered non-Hong Kong company". A company that has been struck off or dissolved should not expect to obtain one.

Foreign investors often confuse the CCR with other company documents. Keep them separate:

Certificate of Incorporation: Issued once, when the company is formed.
Certificate of Continuing Registration: Issued on request, confirming the company is still registered on the date of issue.
Business Registration Certificate: Issued by the Inland Revenue Department's Business Registration Office, not by the Companies Registry.

Hong Kong skyline across Victoria Harbour — Hong Kong companies investing in Vietnam usually need a Certificate of Continuing Registration with an apostille. Source: Unsplash.

Why Vietnam Asks for It

When a Hong Kong company invests in Vietnam, it is a corporate investor. Vietnamese authorities need proof that this investor legally exists.

An investment registration file must include documents proving the legal status of the investor. On the enterprise side, Article 45 of Decree 168/2025/ND-CP requires the legal documents of a foreign organisation joining a multi-member LLC to be legalised. A recent CCR, together with the Certificate of Incorporation, is a common way to show this status.

These documents typically go into two files:

Investment Registration Certificate (IRC): The investment licence for the project.
Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC): The licence that creates the Vietnamese company.

Our guide to IRC vs ERC in Vietnam explains how the two licences differ and which comes first. For a full step-by-step view, see our Vietnam incorporation guide.

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing Hong Kong Companies Use Abroad

The Companies Registry offers two ways to order a CCR:

Online: Through the e-Search Services on the Registry's e-Services Portal.
In person: At the Registry's e-Services Centre at Queensway Government Offices. Check the current address and opening hours on the Registry's website before you go.

Online orders can be collected at the e-Services Centre or sent by post or courier. Delivery carries an extra handling charge. Postal or courier time is not part of the Registry's processing time.

Before you order, check three things:

Company status: The company must be live on the register.
Company name: Use the exact registered English name. The Vietnamese file must match it.
Number of copies: Order enough originals for every authority and bank that will need one.

The Registry's information pamphlet PAM 29E, "Certificate of Continuing Registration", sets out the current ordering and dispatch details.

What It Costs in Hong Kong

These are the official government fees we could verify as of 13 November 2026:

Certificate of Continuing Registration: HK$170.
Certified copy of another Registry document: HK$130 certifying fee per copy, plus the fee for the hard copy itself.
High Court apostille: HK$125 per apostille application.
Return by registered air mail (overseas apostille applications): HK$15.50 extra.

Courier charges, notary fees and translation fees in Vietnam are not set by government and vary. Ask for quotes in advance.

Hong Kong Certificate of Good Standing Apostille: Step by Step

The Apostille Service Office of the High Court Registry handles apostilles in Hong Kong. Its rules say it accepts public documents that bear the true signature of a recognised officer. Certificates from the Registrar of Companies fall into this group.

Order the CCR. Get an original certificate from the Companies Registry.
Run a fresh company search. For incorporation-related certificates, the High Court requires a company search print-out made within 3 working days to be attached.
Submit to the Apostille Service Office. It is in the High Court Building. The document must be going to a place that is a member of the Apostille Convention. Vietnam is now one.
Pay the fee. Pay HK$125 at the High Court Accounts Office after the document is accepted.
Collect. Processing is normally two working days. A representative may collect with the collection receipt.

If you are outside Hong Kong, you can appoint a person in Hong Kong to apply for you. You can also apply by post with a Hong Kong dollar bank draft. The Judiciary says overseas applications generally take about two weeks after all documents arrive.

Documents signed by a Hong Kong notary public, such as a certified copy or a power of attorney, can also be apostilled.

Apostille or Consular Legalisation?

Until 11 September 2026, Hong Kong documents for Vietnam went through consular legalisation, which ended at the Vietnamese Consulate-General in Hong Kong. That changed when the Apostille Convention entered into force for Vietnam.

Vietnam's accession: Vietnam deposited its instrument of accession on 31 December 2025. The Convention entered into force for Vietnam on 11 September 2026.
Effect: Vietnamese missions abroad no longer legalise public documents covered by the Convention from states that apply it with Vietnam.
Hong Kong: The High Court is Hong Kong's apostille authority. Vietnamese consulates in China have told applicants to contact the authority of the territory where a document was issued.
Exceptions: The Convention does not cover administrative documents dealing directly with commercial or customs operations. Whether a document is in scope depends on the law of the place that issued it. Some states objected to Vietnam's accession; China is not among those named in published notices we reviewed.
Transition: Documents legalised before 11 September 2026, and apostilles issued before that date, are still accepted in Vietnam.

The new system is only a few weeks old. Before you file, confirm with the Vietnamese licensing authority, or with the Consulate-General in Hong Kong, that it will accept an apostilled CCR. Our guide to consular legalisation in Vietnam covers the older route, which still applies to out-of-scope documents.

Using the Certificate in Vietnam

Once the CCR carries an apostille, a few steps remain in Vietnam.

Translation: Decree 168/2025/ND-CP requires documents in a registration file to be in Vietnamese. A foreign-language document must come with a notarised Vietnamese translation.
Consistency: The company name, registration number and director names must match across the CCR, the charter documents and the application forms.
Validity: Vietnamese law does not set one fixed shelf life for a CCR that we could verify. In practice, authorities and banks expect a recent certificate. Ask the receiving office what date range it accepts before you order.
Other documents: Expect to supply the Certificate of Incorporation, Articles of Association, a board resolution and a power of attorney as well. Each foreign document needs the same apostille and translation treatment.

The same documents often reappear after licensing. Banks ask for them when you open the direct investment capital account. Our guide to the investment capital account under Circular 38 explains that step.

Planning the Timeline

Choose the structure. Decide between a single-member LLC, a multi-member LLC or a joint stock company. Our overview of types of companies in Vietnam compares them.
List every corporate document. Include each copy every authority and bank will need.
Order the CCR last. Order it close to filing so it is as recent as possible.
Apostille everything in one batch. This keeps courier trips and fees down.
Translate and notarise in Vietnam. Then file the IRC and ERC applications.

For a structure-specific walk-through, read our guide to forming an LLC in Vietnam for Hong Kong investors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Certificate of Continuing Registration the same as a certificate of good standing?

In practice, yes. Hong Kong does not issue a document titled "Certificate of Good Standing". The Certificate of Continuing Registration is the Companies Registry document that confirms a company remains on the register, and it is what foreign authorities usually accept.

How much does a Hong Kong certificate of good standing cost?

The Companies Registry fee is HK$170 for a live local company or a registered non-Hong Kong company. An apostille from the High Court costs HK$125 per application. Delivery, courier and translation costs are extra.

Do I still need consular legalisation for Vietnam?

For most public documents, no. Since 11 September 2026, an apostille generally replaces consular legalisation between Vietnam and states that apply the Convention with it. Documents outside the Convention's scope still need legalisation, so confirm with the receiving authority first.

How long does the apostille take in Hong Kong?

The Judiciary says in-person applications are normally processed in two working days. Postal applications from overseas generally take about two weeks after the office receives all documents. Allow extra time for the company search print-out and courier delivery.

How recent must the certificate be for Vietnam?

We could not find one fixed validity period in Vietnamese law for this certificate. Licensing offices and banks generally prefer recent documents, and practice can differ between offices. Ask the receiving office before you order, and order close to your filing date.

Our Services

Set Up Your Vietnam Company With VINEX

VINEX helps Hong Kong investors prepare corporate investor documents, check what each licensing office will accept, and file IRC and ERC applications in Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam. We also handle bank account opening, accounting and tax after licensing. See our Vietnam company incorporation service for what is included.

Contact VINEX for a free consultation on your Hong Kong company documents, apostille plan and Vietnam licensing timeline.

This article is general information as of 13 November 2026, not legal advice.