Estate Agent License in Hong Kong

By Easy Biz Team at Easy Solution (HK) Limited · Published 13 July 2026 · 5 min read

What Is an Estate Agent License?

An Estate Agent License is issued by the Estate Agents Authority (EAA) under the Estate Agents Ordinance (Cap. 511). It is required by any person or company that, for reward, carries on the business of estate agency work — including the sale, purchase, or leasing of residential or commercial properties in Hong Kong.

Operating as an estate agent without a valid license is a criminal offence under Section 35 of Cap. 511, punishable by a fine of up to HKD 300,000 and imprisonment for up to 2 years.

Types of Estate Agent Licenses

The EAA issues several types of licenses depending on your role:

• Estate Agent (Individual) — for frontline agents who handle property transactions
• Estate Agency (Company) — for companies operating an estate agency business
• Estate Agency Director — for directors/partners of estate agency companies
• Branch License — required for each branch office of an estate agency
• Salesperson — for staff who only introduce clients but do not negotiate

The EAA Qualifying Examination

To obtain an individual estate agent license, you must pass the EAA Qualifying Examination (QE):

• SQE (Single Qualifying Examination) — for estate agents: covers property law, conveyancing, ethics, and practice
• AE (Administrator Examination) — for estate agency directors
• The exam is conducted by the EAA in English and Chinese
• Pass mark: 60% per paper
• Exam fee: HKD 800 (SQE) / HKD 1,200 (AE)
• Held 3-4 times per year

After passing the exam, you must apply for the license within 12 months and meet the fit and proper person requirements.

License Requirements

• A registered Hong Kong company with a physical office
• At least one licensed estate agent as a director or manager
• Compliance with the Estate Agents Practice (General Duties and Hong Kong Residential Properties) Circular
• Proper record-keeping: transaction records, trust accounts, commission receipts
• Annual license renewal (12-month cycle)
• License fee: HKD 1,280 per year (individual) / HKD 3,650 (company)

How to Acquire an Existing Estate Agency

Acquiring an existing licensed estate agency through share transfer is faster than exam + new application:

Step 1: Find a suitable licensed estate agency (browse our marketplace).

Step 2: Due diligence — verify the EAA license is current, check the EAA public register, review compliance records.

Step 3: Sign Sale & Purchase Agreement, pay deposit.

Step 4: Complete share transfer — file with Companies Registry and pay stamp duty (0.2% under Cap. 117).

Step 5: Notify the EAA of changes in directors within 31 days. New directors must hold an estate agent license.

Step 6: The license continues under the new ownership subject to annual renewal.

New Application vs Acquisition

Factor	Buy Existing	Apply New
Timeline	2-3 weeks	3-6 months (including exam)
Cost	HKD 80K-200K	HKD 5K-10K (exam + license)
Client base	May include existing clients	Start from zero
Exam required?	No (license already held)	Yes — must pass QE

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I operate multiple branch offices under one estate agency license?

The company license covers the registered office. Each additional branch requires a separate branch license from the EAA, and each branch must be supervised by a licensed estate agent.

How often must an estate agent license be renewed?

Every 12 months. The renewal application should be submitted before expiry. Late renewal may require re-taking the exam.

Can I transfer my estate agent license to another person?

The license is attached to the individual. To transfer a company, you acquire the shares and notify the EAA of changes in directors. The company license continues, but the new directors must hold individual estate agent licenses.