Setting up a company in Hainan requires completing company establishment registration with the market regulation authority and obtaining a Chinese business licence.

This guide uses the Haikou company establishment registration procedure as a practical reference. Other cities in Hainan follow the same general registration framework but may have different service windows and local contact arrangements.

For foreign investors, company registration follows China’s standard market entity registration process. The same registration application form is used for both domestic and foreign-invested companies, with additional sections for foreign investment information where applicable.

This guide explains the main steps, documents and practical requirements for overseas companies and individuals planning to establish a business in Hainan.

When is this procedure required?

Company establishment registration is required when you want to create a new legal business entity in Hainan.

After successful registration, the company receives a Chinese business licence.

The registration process records key company information, including:

• Company name
• Company type
• Registered address
• Registered capital
• Legal representative
• Shareholders or investors
• Business scope

The registration application is handled through the market regulation registration system.

Who can register a company in Hainan?

Foreign investors may establish companies in Hainan where permitted under China’s foreign investment rules.

Common structures include:

• Foreign-invested limited liability companies
• Foreign-invested joint-stock companies
• Joint ventures involving foreign and Chinese investors

The company registration application form includes options for:

• Limited liability company
• Joint-stock company
• Foreign-invested limited liability company
• Foreign-invested joint-stock company

Some business activities require additional approval before they can be registered or operated. Examples include businesses involving areas such as financial services, healthcare, food production, education, pharmaceuticals, hazardous materials or other regulated industries.

If your planned business activity requires approval, check the relevant requirements before submitting your company registration application.

Do foreign investors use a different registration process?

Foreign investors use the same company establishment registration process as other companies.

The official application form states that it applies to both domestic and foreign-invested companies applying for:

• Establishment registration
• Changes
• Filing
• Information disclosure

However, foreign-invested companies must provide additional investment-related information, including:

• Foreign investor details
• Investment contribution information
• Foreign-invested enterprise legal document delivery arrangements

The registration form includes dedicated sections for shareholders, foreign investors and investment contributions, as well as a Foreign-Invested Enterprise Legal Document Delivery Authorisation Form.

Who submits the application?

The application may be submitted by:

• The company applicant
• A designated representative
• An authorised representative
• A registration agency

The registration application includes a section for a designated representative or authorised agent.

The authorised agent may be permitted to:

• Check copies of registration materials
• Correct errors in company-prepared documents
• Correct errors in application forms
• Collect the business licence and related documents

Where documents are signed by an authorised person on behalf of another party, an original power of attorney with the authoriser’s handwritten signature is required.

Documents required

The company establishment application is built around two core documents:

1. Company Registration (Filing) Application Form

(公司登记（备案）申请书)

2. Articles of Association

(公司章程)

However, additional supporting information and identity documents must also be provided depending on the company structure and investor circumstances.

The application form contains the main information required to register the company, including:

• Company name
• Registered address
• Company type
• Legal representative
• Registered capital
• Investment amount for foreign-invested companies
• Operating period
• Business scope

The application form also contains supporting sections covering:

• Legal representative information
• Directors, supervisors and senior management
• Shareholders and foreign investor contribution information
• Registration liaison officer
• Foreign-invested enterprise legal document delivery recipient
• Registered address declaration
• Market entity registration undertaking (市场主体登记承诺书)

Documents required from foreign investors

Foreign investors must prepare documents proving their identity or corporate qualification.

Requirements depend on the type of investor.

Foreign companies

Overseas corporate investors need to provide documents proving their company qualification according to the applicable requirements.

Foreign individuals

Foreign individual investors may provide accepted identity documents, including:

• Passport
• PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证), where applicable

The permanent residence document referred to in the registration guidance is the Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, not a permanent residence document issued by another country.

Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan investors

Special identification rules apply for investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Accepted documents may include:

• Relevant resident identity documents
• Permits issued by mainland authorities

Identity documents for company officers and representatives

Applicants should also prepare identity documents for relevant personnel, including:

• Legal representative
• Directors
• Supervisors
• Senior management
• Registration liaison officer
• Designated representative or authorised agent

For foreign nationals, acceptable documents include:

• Foreign passport
• PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card

Notarisation, authentication and document verification

Foreign investor documents may require notarisation and authentication depending on the investor type and circumstances.

The standard process requires foreign investor qualification documents or identity documents to be:

1. Notarised by a notary authority in the investor’s home country.
2. Authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in that country.

Exceptions apply in certain situations.

Examples include:

• Investors from countries covered by the Apostille Convention may use an apostille issued by the competent authority instead of Chinese consular authentication.
• Foreign individuals submitting a valid PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (中华人民共和国外国人永久居留身份证) may not need notarisation or authentication. The guidance refers specifically to new or current versions of this card.
• Foreign individuals submitting passports with Chinese visas and confirmed entry procedures may not need notarisation after original document verification.
• Certain Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan identity documents may be accepted without notarisation or authentication.

Hainan has introduced simplified foreign-investment registration measures that may allow eligible foreign investors to submit certain qualification or identity documents without traditional notarisation and authentication requirements. Before preparing overseas documents, investors should check whether they qualify for these simplified procedures.

Translation requirements for foreign documents

Foreign-language documents must be submitted together with accurate Chinese translations.

The requirements include:

• The Chinese translation and original foreign-language document must both be provided.
• The translation should include the wording “translation accurate” (翻译准确).
• Translation companies should provide company identification, such as an official seal or supporting qualification documents.
• Translator information and contact details should be included.
• Individual translators should provide their name, contact details and relevant qualification or identity information.

Registered address requirements

Every company must declare a registered address.

The registration form requires applicants to provide:

• Registered address details
• Source of use:
  • Owned property
  • Leased property
  • Free-use premises
  • Other permitted arrangements

Applicants generally do not submit separate address-use documents during registration. Instead, they declare the address information and must retain supporting documents for inspection if required.

The applicant must confirm that:

• They have lawful use rights for the premises.
• The information provided is accurate.
• The premises comply with safety and legal requirements.

Certain premises cannot be used as registered business locations, including:

• Illegal or unsafe buildings
• Certain residential premises used without required approval
• Locations restricted for specific activities

How to apply

Applications are submitted through:

Hainan Market Entity Registration Platform
(海南市场主体登记平台 / 海南e登记2.0)

Applications submitted through the electronic registration platform are handled electronically, and paper registration applications are no longer accepted for those applications.

Step 1: Prepare company information

Decide:

• Company structure
• Company name
• Registered address
• Registered capital
• Business scope
• Shareholder structure

Step 2: Prepare registration materials

The company registration application uses official registration forms provided through the Hainan Government Services Portal.

Applicants can download the latest forms and guidance from the Haikou Company Establishment Registration service record and submit applications through 海南e登记2.0.

Prepare the following:

1. Company Registration (Filing) Application Form

(公司登记（备案）申请书)

This is the main registration form.

Applicants complete the official template provided by the registration authority. It includes information such as:

Company name

Company type

Registered address

Legal representative

Shareholders

Registered capital

Business scope

Directors, supervisors and senior management

The form can be downloaded from the company establishment registration service page (link above) or completed through the electronic registration system.

2. Articles of Association

(公司章程)

This is the company’s internal governance document.

The applicant prepares the Articles of Association based on the company structure and shareholder arrangements.

It normally includes:

Company name and address

Business scope

Registered capital

Shareholder information

Shareholding arrangements

Management structure

Decision-making procedures

3. Investor information

Investors provide supporting documents showing their identity or legal qualification.

Examples:

Foreign corporate investor:

Company registration documents or qualification documents from the investor’s home country

Required notarisation, authentication or apostille documents where applicable

Foreign individual investor:

Passport or PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card where applicable

4. Foreign investor documents where applicable

Foreign-invested companies may also need:

Foreign investor contribution information

Foreign-Invested Enterprise Legal Document Delivery Authorisation Form
(外商投资企业法律文件送达授权委托书)

This form authorises a China-based recipient to receive official legal documents on behalf of the foreign investor.

5. Chinese translations

Foreign-language documents must be submitted together with accurate Chinese translations.

The translation should:

Match the original document

Include the wording “translation accurate” (翻译准确)

Include translator or translation company information

Include required seals or supporting qualification documents where applicable

Step 3: Submit the application online

Upload the required information and documents through Hainan e-Registration.

Formatted information is automatically checked by the registration platform. Non-standard electronic documents are reviewed by randomly assigned registration specialists.

Step 4: Complete identity verification and signatures

Applicants must complete real-name verification procedures.

Verification may include facial recognition.

If identity verification cannot be completed electronically, applicants may:

• Submit a notarised identity document, or
• Attend in person with their identity document

Step 5: Registration review

The published process consists of:

Acceptance → Decision

(受理 → 决定)

The service record divides the process into two stages:

• Acceptance: 0.1 working day
• Decision: 1 working day

Applications may be delayed if information is incomplete, documents require correction or additional verification is needed.

Step 6: Receive the business licence

After approval, the company receives its business licence.

Prepare company information → Complete application → Upload documents → Identity verification → Registration review → Receive business licence

Is an in-person visit required?

The Haikou service record states:

Number of visits required: 0

The procedure can be completed through electronic channels.

However, if electronic identity verification cannot be completed, an in-person visit may still be required in specific cases.

The service record also indicates that logistics and express delivery services are supported.

Processing time

The Haikou service record lists:

• Statutory processing time: 20 working days
• Government committed processing time: Immediate handling / within 1 working day

The statutory processing time is the maximum period published for completing the procedure.

The 1-working-day commitment applies to applications that meet all registration requirements, contain complete and accurate information, and do not require corrections or additional review.

In practice, straightforward applications submitted through Hainan e-Registration may be completed faster than the statutory limit. However, the actual processing time depends on factors such as document accuracy, identity verification, foreign investor document review and whether additional approvals are required.

Applicants should therefore prepare complete and accurate materials before submission to avoid delays.

Application fee

The Haikou service record states:

• No government fee
• No fee items

Applicants should still consider possible private costs, including:

• Translation
• Professional advice
• Registration agency services
• Address-related services

Responsible authority

The registration authority is:

Haikou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation
(海口市市场监督管理局)

The authority handles company establishment registration and the issuing of business licences.

Haikou service centre

Commercial Registration Comprehensive Service Window, Area A
Haikou Government Service Hall

Address:
No. 1 Binhai Park Road, Longhua District, Haikou City, Hainan Province

Opening hours:
Monday–Friday
08:30–12:00
14:00–17:30

Consultation hotline:
0898-66712375

Complaints hotline:
0898-12345

What the applicant receives

After approval, the company receives a business licence.

The licence includes key registered information, including:

• Unified Social Credit Code (统一社会信用代码)
• Company name
• Company type
• Legal representative
• Registered capital
• Date of establishment
• Operating period
• Registered address
• Business scope

Example of a Chinese business licence format (sample).

Applicants should note that the licence format is standardised. The information displayed depends on the registered company type and circumstances.

The electronic business licence is generated automatically. Applicants may choose whether to request paper copies and select the number of paper copies required.

The Haikou service FAQ states that applicants do not need to visit a service window specifically to print the business licence. A self-service terminal can be used to print the licence.

After registration: important follow-up requirements

After establishment, companies should complete necessary operational steps, including:

• Opening company bank accounts
• Completing tax-related procedures
• Preparing company seals where required
• Registering employees if hiring staff

Companies must also complete required information disclosure through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (Hainan).

This includes:

• Directors, supervisors and senior management
• Registration liaison officer
• General business scope information

Foreign-invested companies must additionally disclose the foreign-invested enterprise legal document delivery recipient.

The information should be disclosed within 20 working days after establishment or relevant changes.

Important points before applying

Prepare foreign documents early

Foreign investor documents can require additional preparation.

Check:

• Whether notarisation or authentication applies
• Whether apostille procedures apply
• Whether translations meet requirements

Choose your business scope carefully

Some activities require approval before registration or separate operating licences afterwards.

Check requirements before submitting your application.

Check your registered address

Before applying, confirm:

• The address can legally be used for registration.
• Supporting documents are available if required for inspection.
• The premises are suitable for the intended business activity.

Check all signatures and documents

Before submission:

• Complete all required fields.
• Check dates.
• Ensure signatures and company seals are clear.
• Make sure documents are valid.
• Ensure names and identity information match across documents.
• Upload clear scans.

Official service record

Hainan Government Services Portal
Company Establishment Registration (公司设立登记)

Responsible authority:
Haikou Municipal Administration for Market Regulation
(海口市市场监督管理局)

Basic code: 000131003000
Implementation code: 11460100MB1580086M000131003000

Direct service record:

Accessed: September 2026

Requirements and local handling arrangements may change. Applicants should check the linked service record and confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before applying.

If you have questions about registering a company in Hainan or practical experience completing the procedure, you are welcome to post below.