[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/HK Import & Export Licensing Hong KongTrade guide # Hong Kong Import and Export Licenses: Strategic Goods, Controlled Items and Trade Declarations Most goods, including most consumer electronics, need no import or export licence in Hong Kong, but every shipment needs a trade declaration lodged with Customs within 14 days. Licences are needed for controlled categories. For electronics, the one that matters most is strategic commodities: dual-use items such as some encryption, semiconductor, RF and sensor products. These need a Trade and Industry Department (TID) licence for each import, export or transhipment. This guide covers which goods are controlled, how TID licensing works, and what the declarations cost. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fhong-kong-import-export-licensing) At a glance Legislation Cap 60 + Strategic Commodities Regs Authority Trade and Industry Dept (TID) Declarations Within 14 days, all shipments Re-export Needs an export licence if controlled ## How Hong Kong import and export licensing works ### Free port, with targeted licensing Hong Kong is a free port: it charges no customs tariff on imports or exports. Licensing applies only to specific goods, for reasons of international obligations, public health, safety or security. The main law is the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60) and its regulations. The Trade and Industry Department (TID) issues licences for strategic commodities and several other goods, other departments license their own categories (see the table below), and the Customs and Excise Department enforces at the border. ### Strategic commodities: the control that catches electronics The Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations (Cap. 60G) control the import, export and transhipment of munitions and dual-use goods. The dual-use list follows the international regimes (Wassenaar Arrangement, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Australia Group, Missile Technology Control Regime) and is organised in ten categories, including Electronics, Computers, Telecommunications and Information Security, and Sensors and Lasers. Electronics commonly caught include some encryption-capable equipment, high-performance semiconductors and test equipment, certain RF and microwave parts, and thermal imaging components. Check every product against the current control list, which TID publishes. ### Licences and supporting documents Controlled goods need an individual import licence and/or export licence from TID for each shipment. An approved import licence is valid for six months and an export licence for three months. Import licences allow part shipments; export licences do not. TID does not charge for processing, and straightforward cases take no more than 2.5 clear working days. Depending on the goods and the destination, TID may ask for end-user and end-use information. TID also issues Delivery Verification Certificates and International Import Certificates for importers whose overseas supplier's government requires them. ### Re-exports, transhipment and transit Hong Kong has no separate re-export licence. A re-export is an export, so controlled goods leaving Hong Kong need an export licence even if they arrived under an import licence. Transhipment cargo is treated as an import plus an export, so both licences are needed. Goods in transit that stay on the same vessel or aircraft throughout are normally exempt. The exemption does not cover items in Schedule 2 of Cap. 60G, or goods that are or may be used for weapons of mass destruction. ### Import and export declarations: the rule that applies to everyone Even goods that need no licence need a trade declaration. Under the Import and Export (Registration) Regulations, anyone who imports or exports goods (other than exempted articles) must lodge an accurate and complete import or export declaration with Customs within 14 days of the import or export. Declarations are filed electronically through a government-appointed service provider, and a declaration charge is payable. Late lodgement attracts a penalty charge. ### Dutiable commodities Hong Kong charges excise duty on only four groups of goods under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109): liquor with more than 30% alcohol by volume, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol. Importing, exporting, storing or manufacturing them needs a licence and permit from Customs. Wine, beer and other drinks at 30% alcohol or below are duty-free but still need declarations. Electronics are not dutiable. ## Which goods need an import or export licence? Goods Legislation Licensing authority Strategic commodities (dual-use electronics, munitions) Cap. 60; Cap. 60G Trade and Industry Department Radio transmitting apparatus Telecommunications Ordinance (Cap. 106) Office of the Communications Authority (OFCA) Ozone depleting substances and HFCs Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (Cap. 403) Environmental Protection Department Hazardous chemicals Cap. 595; Cap. 60 Environmental Protection Department Waste, including used electronics for disposal Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap. 354) Environmental Protection Department Mercury and mercury-added products Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) Environmental Protection Department Radioactive substances Cap. 60K Department of Health Pharmaceutical products and medicines Cap. 60A Department of Health Optical disc mastering and replication equipment Cap. 60A Customs and Excise Department Rough diamonds Cap. 60; Cap. 60A Trade and Industry Department Rice Cap. 296A Trade and Industry Department Dutiable commodities (spirits >30%, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil, methyl alcohol) Cap. 109 Customs and Excise Department Selected categories relevant to hardware and electronics traders. Customs publishes the full list of prohibited and controlled articles, which also covers food, animals, plants, drugs, firearms and others. ## Import and export declaration charges Item Current rule Imports (non-food) and exports HK$0.20 for the first HK$46,000 of value, plus HK$0.125 for each additional HK$1,000 or part Food imports HK$0.20 per declaration, regardless of value Cap per declaration HK$200 Deadline Within 14 days after import or export Late penalty, value up to HK$20,000 HK$20 / HK$40 / HK$100 (within 1 month 14 days / within 2 months 14 days / later) Late penalty, value over HK$20,000 HK$40 / HK$80 / HK$200 Exports of Hong Kong-made clothing also carry the Clothing Industry Training Levy. Check the Customs and Excise Department's declaration page for current figures before budgeting. ## Licensing process 01 Classify each product against the Hong Kong Strategic Commodities Control List. Use the manufacturer's export control classification (for example US ECCN or EU dual-use entry) as a starting point, but confirm the Hong Kong entry yourself. 02 Check the other controls in the table above. Radio transmitters (OFCA), refrigerant-containing equipment (EPD), used electronics shipped for disposal (EPD) and mercury-added products (EPD) are the ones that most often catch electronics traders. 03 Map the transaction: import only, export only, import then re-export, transhipment, or transit on the same vessel or aircraft. Each leg that crosses the Hong Kong border may need its own licence. 04 Apply to TID for controlled goods through its electronic services (Trade Single Window). Include consignor, consignee, end-user, end-use, technical specifications and quantities. Apply early for sensitive destinations. 05 Make sure the licence goes with the consignment and that the shipped goods, quantities and parties match it exactly. Export licences do not allow part shipments. 06 Lodge the import or export declaration within 14 days through a government-appointed electronic service provider, and pay the declaration charge. 07 Keep commercial invoices, packing lists, transport documents, licences and classification records. TID and Customs can ask for them during checks and investigations. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need an import license to import goods into Hong Kong? For most goods, no. Hong Kong is a free port and most products, including most consumer electronics, need no import licence and pay no import duty. A licence or permit is needed only for controlled categories such as strategic commodities, radio transmitting apparatus, pharmaceuticals, ozone depleting substances, hazardous chemicals, radioactive substances, rice and dutiable commodities. Every import still needs an import declaration lodged with Customs within 14 days. ### Do I need an export license from Hong Kong? Only for controlled goods. Exports and re-exports of strategic commodities, including dual-use electronics on the control list, need a TID export licence for each shipment, valid for three months. Some other categories need permits from their own authorities. All exports, licensed or not, need an export declaration within 14 days. ### Does Hong Kong's free port status mean no export controls apply? No. Free port status means no tariffs or quotas. It does not exempt goods from strategic trade controls. Import, export and transhipment of strategic commodities all need licences under Cap. 60 and Cap. 60G, regardless of whether any duty is payable. Companies using Hong Kong as a distribution or transhipment hub should classify their products before goods arrive. ### What are the import and export declaration charges in Hong Kong? For non-food imports and for exports, the charge is HK$0.20 for the first HK$46,000 of value plus HK$0.125 for each additional HK$1,000 or part, capped at HK$200 per declaration. Food imports pay HK$0.20 per declaration. Declarations are due within 14 days of import or export. Late lodgement adds a penalty of HK$20 to HK$200 depending on the goods' value and how late the declaration is. ### What is the penalty for shipping strategic goods without a licence? Importing or exporting strategic commodities without a licence is a criminal offence under the Import and Export Ordinance. The maximum penalty is a fine of HK$500,000 and two years' imprisonment on summary conviction, or an unlimited fine and seven years' imprisonment on conviction on indictment. The goods are also forfeited. ### How do Hong Kong's controls relate to US EAR or EU dual-use controls? Hong Kong's list follows the same international regimes, so goods controlled under the EU dual-use list are usually controlled in Hong Kong too. The regimes are still separate. Hong Kong licensing does not satisfy US EAR re-export rules, and US-specific controls do not automatically appear on the Hong Kong list. Classify each product under each regime that applies to the transaction. ### Is there an exemption for goods passing through Hong Kong? Only narrowly. Goods that stay on the same vessel or aircraft throughout their passage are normally exempt. Transhipped goods, which are unloaded and reloaded, are treated as imports and exports and need licences. The transit exemption does not apply to Schedule 2 items or goods that are or may be used for weapons of mass destruction. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Export control classifications are product- and transaction-specific. Consult a licensed customs broker or trade compliance specialist before shipping strategic goods through or from Hong Kong. 🇭🇰 Hong Kong roadmap for your product Every standard, document, and test that applies — free, no account required. See your free roadmap[ Want an expert to take your product through 🇭🇰 Hong Kong compliance for you? One consultant from Krono's compliance team takes your product from requirements to legal sale, with a fixed quote before any work starts. See compliance services](/services) Learn this properly In-depth course that teaches the full process, not just this one answer. [Start the course — $149](/courses/62-hong-kong-ofca-radio-equipment-certification)[Prefer to read? 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