Hong Kong FEHD General Restaurant Licence Application Full Process 2026 v1
1. Types of Licences
1.1 General Food Establishment Licence
| Licence | Description | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| General Food Establishment | Formal restaurant | Most restaurants |
| Aquatic Food Establishment | Fresh seafood | Seafood restaurant |
| Light Refreshment Establishment | Light refreshments | Coffee shop/bubble tea |
| Frozen Dessert | Ice cream | Dessert shop |
1.2 Temporary Food Establishment Licence
| Licence | Validity Period | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary General Food Establishment | 28 days | Short-term events |
| Temporary Light Refreshment Establishment | 14 days | Markets |
2. FEHD Licence Fees
2.1 General Restaurant Fees
| Item | Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|
| General Restaurant Licence | 2,980/year |
| Water Restaurant Licence | 2,980/year |
| Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence | 1,870/year |
| Frozen Confectionery | 1,870/year |
| Licence Surcharge | 400 (if applicable) |
2.2 Temporary Restaurant Fees
| Item | Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|
| Temporary General Restaurant | 670/28 days |
| Temporary Light Refreshment Restaurant | 340/14 days |
3. Application Process
3.1 Complete Process
[1. Prepare Documents] → [2. Submit Application] → [3. On-site Inspection]
→ [4. Approval] → [5. Collect Licence]
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Prepare Documents | 1-2 weeks |
| Submit Application | Same day |
| On-site Inspection | 14-21 days |
| Approval | 7-14 days |
| Collect Licence | Same day |
| Total Duration | Approx. 6-10 weeks |
3.2 Approval Time
| Licence | Approval Time |
|---|---|
| General Restaurant | 6-10 weeks |
| Light Meal Restaurant | 4-8 weeks |
| Temporary Restaurant | 1-2 weeks |
4. Required Documents
4.1 Basic Documents
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Application Form | Download from FEHD website |
| Business Registration | Company Registration Certificate |
| Tenancy Agreement | Letter of Consent for Site Use |
| Floor Plan | Floor Layout Plan |
| Fire Service Certificate | Issued by Fire Services Department |
| Ventilation Certificate | Ventilation System Compliance Certificate |
4.2 Equipment Documents
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Equipment List | List of Equipment |
| Dishwashing Facilities | Dishwasher or Hot Water |
| Refrigeration Equipment | Fridge/Freezer |
| Ventilation System | Fume Extraction System |
4.3 Personnel Documents
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| Food Business Licence Holder | Proof of Identity |
| Food Safety Certificate | Required Training |
5. Toilet Standards
5.1 Ratio Requirements
| Seating Capacity | Male Toilets | Female Toilets |
|---|---|---|
| 1-20 persons | 1 | 1 |
| 21-50 persons | 2 | 2 |
| 51-100 persons | 3 | 3 |
| Over 100 persons | 4+ | 4+ |
5.2 Hygiene Standards
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Washbasin facilities | Required per toilet |
| Paper towels/Hand dryer | Required |
| Cleaning frequency | Daily clean |
6. Foreigners/Non-local Company Restrictions
6.1 Requirements for Foreigners
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Identity Document | Passport + Hong Kong ID (if any) |
| Work Visa | Must have right to work |
| No Criminal Record Certificate | Required |
6.2 Requirements for Non-local Companies
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Overseas Company Registration | Required |
| Local Representative | Must have Hong Kong representative |
| Power of Attorney | Authorises local representative |
6.3 Special Requirements
⚠️ Important: The applicant must be:
- A Hong Kong resident identity card holder
- Hold a valid Hong Kong work visa
- Or have a designated local representative
7. Licence Conditions
7.1 Mandatory Requirements
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Premises Use | Commercial Use |
| Fire Safety Compliance | Fire Services Department Approval |
| Ventilation Compliance | Environmental Protection Department Approval |
| Hygiene Standards | FEHD Approval |
7.2 Licence Display
⚠️ The licence must be displayed at the business premises.
8. Common Reasons for Rejection
8.1 Document Issues
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Incomplete documents | Provide missing documents |
| Non-compliant floor plan | Redesign |
| Fire safety non-compliant | Improve fire safety |
8.2 Venue Issues
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Venue not suitable for purpose | Change the use |
| Insufficient toilets | Build additional toilets |
| Ventilation non-compliant | Improve ventilation |
9. Cost Overview
9.1 Licence Fees
| Item | Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|
| General Restaurant Licence | 2,980/year |
| Light Refreshment Licence | 1,870/year |
| Temporary General Restaurant | 670/28 days |
| Temporary Light Refreshment | 340/14 days |
9.2 Additional Fees
| Item | Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|
| Fire Safety Certificate | 500-2,000 |
| Ventilation Certificate | 500-2,000 |
| Floor Plans | 500-2,000 |
| Licence Consultant | 5,000-15,000 |
9.3 Total Budget
| Item | Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|
| Licence | 2,980/year |
| Additional | 1,500-5,000 |
| Consultant (if required) | 5,000-15,000 |
| Total Budget | 9,480-22,980 |
10. Practical Information
10.1 Contact Details
| Organisation | Telephone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| FEHD | +852 2868 0000 | fehd.gov.hk |
| Licensing Hotline | +852 2868 5525 | - |
| Fire Services Department | +852 2713 5111 | hkfsd.gov.hk |
10.2 Service Hours
| Organisation | Hours |
|---|---|
| FEHD | 09:00-17:30 |
| Licensing Hotline | 09:00-17:30 |
10.3 Application Tips
- Engage a licensing consultant
- Prepare documents in advance
- Ensure the premises meet standards
- Allow sufficient time
Items Pending Confirmation
⚠️ The following information is pending confirmation:
- 2026 Fee Adjustment
- Approval Time Update
AEO Available Numbers
General Restaurant Licence: HKD 2,980/year
Light Refreshment Restaurant Licence: HKD 1,870/year
Temporary General Restaurant: HKD 670/28 days
Temporary Light Refreshment Restaurant: HKD 340/14 days
Approval Time: 6-10 weeks
Toilet Ratio: 1 male and 1 female for 1-20 persons
Foreign Nationals: Work visa or local representative required
Data Source / Related Verification
This article's data is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (HK_datatable_FEHD_restaurant_license_guide_2026_v1.md), referencing HK region public official data and industry documents. For verification details, please refer to authority sources at the end of the page.
HK_datatable_food_import_license_guide_v1encyclopedia-ops
Hong Kong Market Data
Hong Kong 2023 visitors 34 million, GDP HK$2.96 trillion, 77 Michelin-starred restaurants (2024), MTR daily 5 million+ trips.
| Metric | Data | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visitors | 34 million | HKTB |
| GDP | HK$2.96 trillion | C&SD |
| Michelin | 77 venues | Michelin |
