[Home](/)/[Resources](/resources)/Hong Kong OFCA Type Approval Hong KongGlobalCertification guide # Hong Kong OFCA Radio Equipment Requirements Hong Kong doesn't treat all radio equipment the same way. OFCA splits products into three regimes — licence-exempt, Class Licence, and individually licensed — across seven named equipment categories, and certification against HKCA standards is generally voluntary rather than mandatory for the first two. Knowing which regime your product falls into avoids both unnecessary certification spend and missed licensing requirements. Copy Link[Share on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=https%3A%2F%2Fkrono-labs.com%2Fguides%2Fhong-kong-ofca-type-approval) At a glance Regulator OFCA Regimes Exempt / Class Licence / Individual Categories 7 named types Certification Generally voluntary ## The three licensing regimes ### Licence-exempt Bluetooth (2400–2483.5 MHz) and RFID (865–868 MHz, 920–925 MHz) are licence-exempt under the Telecommunications Apparatus Exemption Order. Wi-Fi in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands is licence-exempt under Cap. 106Z. These categories need no OFCA licence to sell or operate. ### Class Licence UWB (4.2–4.8 GHz, 6–8.5 GHz), generic short-range devices (433.00–434.79 MHz, e.g. remote car keys), and 6 GHz Wi-Fi fall under a Class Licence — a blanket authorization for the category rather than an individual per-product licence. ### Individually licensed/certified apparatus Equipment outside the licence-exempt and Class Licence categories — base stations and other licensed radiocommunications apparatus — needs individual OFCA licensing. ## OFCA's seven regulated categories 01 Data Transceivers 02 Industrial, Scientific and Medical Electronic Machines (ISMEM) 03 Short Range Devices 04 Unmanned Aircraft Systems / Drones 05 Walkie-Talkies 06 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) 07 Wireless Microphones ## Certification workflow (where applicable) 01 Identify which of OFCA's seven regulated radio-equipment categories your product falls into — Data Transceivers, ISMEM, Short Range Devices, UAS/Drones, Walkie-Talkies, WLAN, or Wireless Microphones. 02 Determine licensing status within that category: licence-exempt, Class Licence, or individually licensed — don't default to assuming a full OFCA licence is required. 03 If certification is needed or desired (voluntary for licence-exempt/Class Licence categories, but often expected commercially), test against the applicable HKCA standard. 04 Engage a named Local Certification Body (LCB) or Foreign Certification Body (FCB) under the HKTEC scheme, or a Recognised Testing Agency (RTA) — FCC-designated TCBs, EU Notified Bodies, and IEC CB Scheme labs are all accepted routes, not just Hong Kong-local labs. 05 Obtain the certificate or test report and retain it for market surveillance purposes. 06 Place the product on the market — for licence-exempt and Class Licence equipment, no further OFCA filing is required. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do I need OFCA certification for a standard 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi router? No individual licence or mandatory certification is required — 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi is licence-exempt under Cap. 106Z. Voluntary certification against HKCA standards is still available and often expected by distributors or retailers, but it isn't a legal prerequisite for market access. ### What's different about 6 GHz Wi-Fi devices? 6 GHz Wi-Fi is covered by a dedicated Class Licence rather than the licence-exempt status that applies to 2.4/5 GHz. This is a category to check specifically if you're launching Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 hardware in Hong Kong. ### Can I reuse my FCC or CE/ETSI test report for OFCA certification? Often yes. OFCA's Recognised Agencies framework accepts FCC-designated Telecommunication Certification Bodies, EU Notified Bodies, and IEC CB Scheme labs as recognized routes for equipment evaluation, in addition to Hong Kong-local Recognised Testing Agencies — confirm the test scope and standard match before assuming direct reuse. ### Is drone/UAS equipment treated differently from other radio products? Yes — Unmanned Aircraft Systems is one of OFCA's seven explicitly named regulated categories, separate from generic Short Range Devices or Data Transceivers, reflecting the distinct frequency and use-case profile of drone radio links and video transmission. **Disclaimer:** Educational resource only. Regulatory requirements change and vary by product category. Consult an accredited test laboratory or qualified compliance engineer before making certification decisions. 🇭🇰 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? Get the book — $34.99](/books/62-hong-kong-ofca-radio-equipment-certification) Related guides * [Hong Kong Compliance OverviewComplete guide to Hong Kong product compliance: OFCA radio licensing, EMSD electrical safety, medical device listing, and Cust…](/guides/hong-kong-compliance-overview) * [Hong Kong EMSD Electrical SafetyThe six mandatory prescribed products requiring EMSD certification in Hong Kong, plus supplier's declaration for everything el…](/guides/hong-kong-emsd-electrical-safety) * [UAE TDRA Type ApprovalHow TDRA type approval works for radio and telecom equipment in the UAE: supplier registration, risk tiers, and lab testing.](/guides/uae-tdra-type-approval) * [Japan TELEC Radio CertificationHow MIC's Technical Standards Conformity Mark works for radio equipment under Japan's Radio Act.](/guides/japan-telec-radio-certification)