Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the SFC decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a forex license in Hong Kong.
North Asia's institutional gateway licenses leveraged FX as its own regulated activity: the SFC Type 3 licence under the Securities and Futures Ordinance - HK$30,000,000 paid-up capital, HK$15,000,000 liquid capital, two responsible officers, and the credibility that banks Greater China's flow.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Hong Kong in brief
Leveraged FX as its own licence class.
Hong Kong is one of the few markets that carves leveraged foreign exchange trading out as its own regulated activity: Type 3 under the Securities and Futures Ordinance, licensed and supervised by the Securities and Futures Commission. The prudential bar is deliberately high - HK$30,000,000 minimum paid-up share capital and HK$15,000,000 required liquid capital for a full dealer, against HK$5,000,000 and HK$3,000,000 for an approved introducing agent, and the Financial Resources Rules are policed through monthly returns. Every licensed corporation appoints at least two responsible officers per regulated activity, individually vetted by the SFC, and the Type 3 application fee of HK$129,730 alone signals that this is not a casual permission.
What the bar buys: the licence that institutionalises Greater China FX flow. Hong Kong pairs a top-tier supervisor with an 8.25%/16.5% two-tier profits tax, no VAT and no withholding on dividends, and a Type 3 stamp converts into banking and prime relationships across North Asia the way few licences can. Note the boundary: banks (authorized financial institutions) run leveraged FX under HKMA registration instead, so the SFC route is the non-bank route. We build the corporation, the people and the file end to end.
SFC Type 3 licence under the SFO: leveraged FX as its own licence class - HK$30M paid-up + HK$15M liquid for dealers (HK$5M/HK$3M introducing agents), two vetted ROs, monthly FRR returns, HK$129,730 application fee.
The reward: the stamp that banks Greater China's FX flow - on an 8.25%/16.5% tax base. We build corporation, people and file end to end.
The two routes
Full Type 3 dealer - or approved introducing agent.
One regulated activity, two prudential realities: the full dealer at HK$30M paid-up / HK$15M liquid, or the approved introducing agent at HK$5M / HK$3M passing execution to a dealer. We fix the model first, then build once.
Full dealer at HK$30M/HK$15M - or introducing agent at HK$5M/HK$3M.
01 - FULL TYPE 3 DEALER
The dealing licence
The complete permission: conducting leveraged foreign exchange trading as principal. HK$30,000,000 paid-up, HK$15,000,000 liquid capital, monthly FRR reporting and the full SFC conduct stack.
The complete permission: conducting leveraged foreign exchange trading as principal. HK$30,000,000 paid-up, HK$15,000,000 liquid capital, monthly FRR reporting and the full SFC conduct stack.
- ✓Leveraged FX trading - full scope
- ✓HK$30,000,000 paid-up capital
- ✓HK$15,000,000 required liquid capital
- ✓Monthly financial resources returns
- ✓Two responsible officers, SFC-vetted
- ✓North Asia's institutional stamp
02 - APPROVED INTRODUCING AGENT
HK$5M paid-up · HK$3M liquidThe introducing model
Type 3 as an approved introducing agent: client-facing origination with execution passed to a full dealer. HK$5,000,000 paid-up and HK$3,000,000 liquid capital, the same SFC stamp at a fraction of the balance-sheet cost.
Client origination with execution passed to a dealer; HK$5M paid-up, HK$3M liquid; upgrade path to full dealing.
- ✓Introduction to a licensed dealer
- ✓HK$5,000,000 paid-up capital
- ✓HK$3,000,000 required liquid capital
- ✓No principal dealing risk
- ✓Same Type 3 licence class
- ✓Upgrade path to full dealing
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. SFC fees follow its schedule. The Type 3 application fee is HK$129,730; capital and substance costs are itemised in your quote.
Why Hong Kong
The gateway that banks Greater China.
Hong Kong trades a high capital bar for supervision, tax and market access few centres match.
✓
A dedicated FX licence class
Type 3 exists specifically for leveraged FX. A purpose-built regime rather than an awkward fit under securities rules, read instantly by counterparties.Type 3 - purpose-built.
✓
North Asia's institutional hub
Prime brokers, bank desks and liquidity for Greater China flow concentrate in Hong Kong. An SFC licence is the ticket to that table.Greater China's table.
✓
8.25% / 16.5% · no VAT
The two-tier profits tax, territorial sourcing, no capital gains tax and no dividend withholding. One of the cleanest major-market tax profiles.Cleanest major-market tax.
✓
Defined prudential maths
HK$30M/HK$15M for dealers, HK$5M/HK$3M for introducing agents. The Financial Resources Rules price both models explicitly, with monthly discipline.Both models priced.
✓
Common law, global standards
English-language common law, IOSCO-standard supervision and audit-grade infrastructure. Diligence other institutions can rely on without translation.Diligence others rely on.
✓
A clear non-bank lane
Banks run leveraged FX under HKMA registration; the SFC Type 3 lane is built for non-bank brokers. Your licence, not a bank's shadow.Banks go via HKMA.
How it compares
How Hong Kong differs from other routes.
Numbers next to numbers: the highest fixed capital bar in Asia's top tier, and the stamp that justifies it.
Hong Kong vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Hong Kong | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | SFO Cap. 571 - SFC Type 3 | MiFID desks or offshore |
| Capital | HK$30M paid-up + HK$15M liquid | US$0-2M spread |
| Credibility | North Asia's benchmark | Varies to none |
| Timeline | 8-14 months | Weeks offshore, months EU |
Regime
Hong KongSFO Cap. 571 - SFC Type 3
Other jurisdictionsMiFID desks or offshore
Capital
Hong KongHK$30M paid-up + HK$15M liquid
Other jurisdictionsUS$0-2M spread
Credibility
Hong KongNorth Asia's benchmark
Other jurisdictionsVaries to none
Timeline
Hong Kong8-14 months
Other jurisdictionsWeeks offshore, months EU
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | SFC Type 3 | 8.25% / 16.5% | HK$30M paid-up + HK$15M liquid |
 Singapore | MAS CMS licence | 17% · exemptions | S$1M-5M base capital |
 Japan | FSA Type I FIBO | ~30% effective | ¥50M · CAR 120% · 25:1 |
 Australia | ASIC AFSL | 30% · 25% base | NTA A$1M, CFD order |
Hong KongLicense typeSFC Type 3
Taxation8.25% / 16.5%
RequirementsHK$30M paid-up + HK$15M liquid
SingaporeLicense typeMAS CMS licence
Taxation17% · exemptions
RequirementsS$1M-5M base capital
JapanLicense typeFSA Type I FIBO
Taxation~30% effective
Requirements¥50M · CAR 120% · 25:1
AustraliaLicense typeASIC AFSL
Taxation30% · 25% base
RequirementsNTA A$1M, CFD order
Before you apply
Requirements for the SFC Type 3 licence.Requirements for the licence.
The SFC vets the corporation, the officers and the balance sheet with equal rigour. The checklist below is what a passing application contains.
01
Hong Kong corporation. Locally incorporated (or registered) with genuine management in Hong Kong.
02
Paid-up capital. HK$30,000,000 for the full dealer; HK$5,000,000 for an approved introducing agent.
03
Liquid capital. HK$15,000,000 (or HK$3,000,000) maintained continuously under the Financial Resources Rules.
04
Two responsible officers - per regulated activity, with demonstrable leveraged-FX experience, individually approved by the SFC.
05
Fit-and-proper controllers. Substantial shareholders disclosed and assessed to UBO level.
06
Managers-in-Charge. The MIC regime mapped: named owners for each core function, accountable to the SFC.
07
Business plan. The dealing or introducing model, flow economics and projections the SFC can interrogate.
08
Client money and risk disclosure. Segregation arrangements and the mandated risk-disclosure documentation in place.
09
Monthly FRR reporting. Systems able to compute and file liquid-capital returns from day one.
10
AML/CFT framework. KYC, screening and monitoring under the AMLO, with a resident compliance owner.
01
Hong Kong corporation, run locally.
02
HK$30M paid-up (HK$5M IA).
03
HK$15M liquid (HK$3M IA).
04
Two ROs, SFC-approved.
05
Controllers to UBO level.
06
MIC accountability map.
07
Interrogable business plan.
08
Client money + risk disclosure.
09
Monthly FRR reporting live.
10
AML under the AMLO.
Reflects the SFO, the Financial Resources Rules and the SFC Licensing Handbook as of 2026.SFO + FRR + Licensing Handbook, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the SFC register.
01
Model and strategy
Full dealer or introducing agent, capital plan and people map. Fixed in writing before any drafting.Dealer or IA - in writing.
02
Corporation and officers
Incorporation, capital evidence and the two responsible officers the SFC approves individually.Capital, people, approvals.
03
The application file
Business plan, FRR models, client-money and AML documentation. Complete before filing, because the SFC tests everything.Complete. The SFC tests everything.
04
SFC review
Question rounds and RO interviews answered - 8-14 months realistic end to end.8-14 months realistic.
05
Licence and launch
Register entry live, monthly FRR calendar running, banking and liquidity switched on.FRR calendar, banking on.
Quick facts
RegulatorSFC
Licence classType 3 - leveraged FX
Paid-up capitalHK$30,000,000
Liquid capitalHK$15,000,000
Introducing agentHK$5M / HK$3M
Application feeHK$129,730
Responsible officers2 minimum
Realistic timeline8-14 months
The SFC licenses corporations whose people and balance sheets it has tested. Being ready for both is the entire game, and our job.
On the ground in Hong Kong
Run from our Hong Kong office.
Prifinance - Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
01
Hong Kong incorporation
Company formation, capital structuring and the corporate layer the SFC expects. Built for the licence from day one.Built for the licence.
02
The SFC file
Business plan, FRR capital models, client-money architecture and conduct documentation. Drafted end to end and defended through the rounds.Drafted and defended.
03
Responsible officers
RO candidates sourced and prepared for SFC approval. Experience mapping, competence papers and interview readiness as a dedicated workstream.Sourced and prepared.
04
Banking and prime relationships
Introductions to the banks and liquidity providers that take Type 3 licensees seriously. Sequenced with the application.Introductions sequenced.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Good to know
Taxation of forex brokers in Hong Kong.
Two-tier profits tax, territorial sourcing, and none of the usual leakages. The cleanest major-market profile in Asia.
Profits tax 8.25% / 16.5%
The first HK$2 million of profits at 8.25%, the balance at 16.5% - no surcharges, no minimum taxes.Two-tier, no surcharges.
Territorial principle
Hong Kong taxes Hong Kong-sourced profits; properly documented offshore-sourced income can fall outside the net entirely.Offshore income can fall out.
No capital gains tax
Disposals and revaluations are not taxed. Exits and restructurings stay clean.Clean exits.
No VAT or GST
No indirect tax at any stage. Pricing, invoicing and margins stay gross.Margins stay gross.
No dividend withholding
Dividends flow to shareholders anywhere with no Hong Kong withholding. Structurally clean for international groups.Structurally clean.
Treaty network 50+
A growing treaty network centred on Asia. Group structures above the Hong Kong entity model cleanly.Asia-centred network.
Tax summary
Profits tax8.25% / 16.5%
Capital gains taxNone
VAT / GSTNone
Dividend withholdingNone
Tax treaties50+
*Figures as of 2026 per the IRD. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Hong Kong corporation, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed broker.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Hong Kong · SFC
Launch your forex project in Hong Kong with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from incorporation to the Type 3 licence, responsible officers and ongoing FRR compliance - run through our Hong Kong office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Hong Kong the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Hong Kong forex licence: the practical answers.
What licence does a forex broker need in Hong Kong?+
A Type 3 licence - leveraged foreign exchange trading - from the SFC under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. It is a dedicated licence class, separate from securities dealing (Type 1) and futures (Type 2).
What capital does the SFC require?+
For a full dealer: HK$30,000,000 minimum paid-up share capital and HK$15,000,000 required liquid capital, maintained continuously and reported monthly. An approved introducing agent needs HK$5,000,000 paid-up and HK$3,000,000 liquid.
What is an approved introducing agent?+
A Type 3 licensee that originates and introduces clients but passes execution to a full dealer - no principal risk, so the FRR sets capital at HK$5M/HK$3M. A common first step before upgrading to full dealing.
Who are responsible officers and how many do I need?+
At least two ROs per regulated activity - senior individuals with demonstrable leveraged-FX experience, approved personally by the SFC after competence review. Sourcing credible ROs early is the single best schedule protection.
How long does licensing take?+
Realistically 8-14 months end to end, including RO approvals and question rounds. The SFC also charges a Type 3 application fee of HK$129,730 - filing once, completely, matters.
How are Hong Kong brokers taxed?+
Two-tier profits tax of 8.25% on the first HK$2M and 16.5% above, territorial sourcing, no capital gains tax, no VAT and no dividend withholding.
Do banks need the same licence?+
No - authorized financial institutions run leveraged FX as registered institutions under HKMA oversight. The SFC Type 3 lane is the non-bank route; your competitors on it are brokers, not banks.
What ongoing obligations follow the licence?+
Monthly financial resources returns, continuous liquid-capital compliance, the Manager-in-Charge accountability map, client-money and risk-disclosure rules, AML under the AMLO and SFC inspections. We build the compliance calendar with the licence.
Hong Kong or Singapore for an Asian FX base?+
Hong Kong prices entry higher (HK$30M paid-up) but anchors Greater China; Singapore tiers capital to audience (S$1M-S$5M) and anchors ASEAN. Serious groups often hold both - we sequence the pair properly.
Why Prifinance for Hong Kong?+
A Hong Kong presence, RO sourcing as a dedicated workstream, FRR modelling done before filing, and 400+ licences of pattern recognition applied to a regulator that tests everything.
What licence?+
SFC Type 3 - leveraged FX.
Capital?+
HK$30M paid-up + HK$15M liquid.
Introducing agent?+
HK$5M/HK$3M, no principal risk.
ROs?+
Two minimum, SFC-vetted.
How long?+
8-14 months; fee HK$129,730.
Taxes?+
8.25%/16.5%; no VAT, no WHT.
Banks too?+
No - they register with HKMA.
Ongoing?+
Monthly FRR, MIC, AML.
Or Singapore?+
Both top-tier - we sequence.
Why you?+
ROs sourced, FRR modelled, 400+.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
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Google
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