Uber Files for Hong Kong Licence Ahead of Tomorrow’s Deadline, With 10,000-Vehicle Cap
Key Facts
Uber said on October 29, 2026, that it had formally applied to Hong Kong’s Transport Department for a licence to provide taxi-hailing services, submitting the required form and documents. The company said it supports the creation of a clear regulatory framework and would work with the authorities while the application is reviewed. The filing comes ahead of the noon October 30 deadline, Hong Kong time, after the department opened applications on August 28. Filing an application does not mean the platform has secured a licence; the system requires valid licences or permits for the platform, vehicles and drivers. Uber said in a statement: "We fully support the government in establishing a clear and formal framework, and will continue working closely with the authorities throughout the application process."
The application is a step under a legal framework passed in October 2025, most of which took effect on August 3, 2026, while the remaining provisions are expected to take effect on August 22, 2027. Under the system, a platform licence alone is not enough to provide the service; vehicles and drivers must also meet licensing and permit requirements. Driver rules require applicants to be at least 21 years old, to have held a private car driving licence for at least one year, and to have no serious traffic conviction in the previous five years. They must also pass a test and complete a training course before starting service. These requirements define the compliance scope the platform will face after filing its application.
Eligibility rules for applicant companies set specific operational and financial requirements. Companies must demonstrate that they legally operate ride-hailing services in a city with a population of 7.5 million or more, and that they average at least 100,000 bookings a day in each of at least two cities. They must also submit audited financial reports for the past three years. Solvency requirements include paid-up capital of at least HK$50 million, and bank deposits and credit facilities of at least HK$30 million each. If approved, licences are set to run for a maximum of five years, with an annual fee of HK$1.2 million.
The licensing requirements also include a proposed cap of 10,000 vehicle permits at this stage. The government said the limit aims to balance use of road resources with the needs of the public transport system. A smart mobility alliance had proposed allocating 20,500 permits in the first phase, while the government described a cap of 10,000 as appropriate and prudent. Uber said it had more than 30,000 active drivers in Hong Kong during the previous year and that the proposed quota would not meet passenger demand. Setting a limit on permits means that granting a platform licence alone will not determine how many vehicles can operate, as that will still depend on separate permit procedures.
The Transport Department says it is developing a data management system for ride-hailing vehicles to receive real-time operating data in support of oversight and future policy reviews. The government is expected to begin issuing platform licences in phases as early as late November 2026, while applications for vehicle permits could open in the fourth quarter of the year at the earliest. After the platform application deadline, attention will shift to licensing decisions and then to rules for allocating permits. Uber began operating in Hong Kong in 2014 and has faced legal and regulatory challenges as it expanded into overseas markets. In the stock market, the company’s shares closed at $65.27 on October 28, according to EL7 data, with the source not linking the price to the licence application.