Hong Kong SAR China and the Netherlands at a glance
- Stamp
- Apostille, Hague Convention in force for Hong Kong SAR China since 25 April 1965
- Issued by
- Apostille Service Office of the High Court Registry (LG1/F, High Court Building)
- Language
- English, accepted as it is
- Register
- Companies Registry (online)
- Tax treaty
- Signed 2010, in force 2011 (Rijksoverheid, 1 October 2026)
- EU trade
- General EU tariff
- In the Netherlands
- 90 companies controlled from Hong Kong SAR China in 2024, 120 in 2021 (-25%), about 24,000 jobs, €5.9 billion turnover (CBS, 9 October 2026)
- Moving here
- Residence permit needed
Documents from Hong Kong SAR China
Passport copy, certified by a notary in Hong Kong SAR China.
Proof of address in Hong Kong SAR China, at most three months old.
Power of attorney. Sign the power of attorney before a Hong Kong notary public.
Ownership statement, one page from us.
The apostille. Apostille Service Office of the High Court Registry (LG1/F, High Court Building). The apostille costs 125 Hong Kong dollars and usually takes 2 to 4 working days.
Good to know. Documents signed by the Companies Registry can be apostilled directly. Attach a company search printout made within 3 working days. Some documents must first be signed before a Hong Kong notary public. This applies to a Certificate of Incumbency (who manages and owns the company), a board resolution and a power of attorney. Keep every step in Hong Kong, and skip Beijing.
If a company from Hong Kong SAR China becomes a shareholder
Register extract, at most three months old: Companies Registry. Order the Certificate of Incorporation, latest Annual Return (NAR1) and a company particulars search via the online registry (e-Registry). Plus articles, signing authority and ownership chart.
Trade between Hong Kong SAR China and the EU
In 2024, EU exports to Hong Kong amounted to €23.3 billion and imports from Hong Kong to €4.4 billion, an EU surplus of €18.9 billion. Hong Kong was the EU's 33rd largest trading partner in goods in 2025.
In 2025, machinery and transport equipment made up 34.2% of EU exports to Hong Kong, and miscellaneous manufactured articles 34%. Machinery and transport equipment also led EU imports from Hong Kong in 2025, with 52.4%.
In 2024, Hong Kong was the EU's tenth-biggest trading partner in commercial services, mainly telecommunications, computer and information services, transport, and business and financial services. The EU's investment stock in Hong Kong was €93 billion in 2024.
From 2007, the European Commission and the Hong Kong authorities discussed trade in an annual Structured Dialogue. For political and practical reasons, this dialogue has been on hold since December 2019.
Import duties: Access2Markets.
Sources: European Commission [1].
Your next step from Hong Kong SAR China
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