Money Lender License in Hong Kong

Last Update: 01.10.2026

Planning a money lending business? Gofaizen & Sherle provides licensing support, from checking your model and company setup to application preparation and compliance documentation. You receive an application package tailored to your operations and support throughout review. Approval remains the Licensing Court’s decision.

Service Snapshot

Authority

Licensing Court
Applicant

Company, individual or partnership route
Validity

12 months, with renewal required
Official fees

HK$10,710 for application and issuance combined
Timing

Normally 3–4 months after submission, excluding preparation
Premises

Suitable operating premises required
Compliance

Suitability checks and controls against money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT)
Service result

Prepared application and licensing coordination

Is This the Right Fit?

May fit: operators planning consumer lending, business lending or commercial credit as a regular activity.

May not fit: deposit-taking businesses and transactions qualifying for statutory exemptions.

Requires review: intragroup financing, cross-border lending and platforms matching borrowers with external funders. An exemption depends on the specific arrangement.

Who Handles the Application?

The three authorities have different responsibilities under the Money Lenders Ordinance.

Authority	Role	Applicant	Decision	Renewal
Licensing Court	Licensing authority	Company or individual, including partnership applications	Grants or refuses	Determines renewal
Registrar of Money Lenders	Processes filings, maintains register	All routes	May object	Processes filing
Commissioner of Police	Examines suitability, enforces law	All routes	May object	Examines application

Which Activities Are Covered?

The core activity is making loans. The product, borrower and security determine the required assessment.

Consumer loans
Credit for personal needs. Review affordability and borrower protections.

Business loans
Working capital and commercial lending. Review the borrower and any applicable exemption.

Secured lending
Credit backed by property or other assets. Review the security arrangements.

Unsecured lending
Credit without collateral. Review repayment capacity and applicable lending limits.

Trade finance, asset-backed financing and lending platforms need individual scope review. A lending license does not automatically authorize every financing structure.

What Will Gofaizen & Sherle Handle?

Legal review of the model and company setup requirements.
Business-plan review and preparation of the application package.
Suitability evidence for the fit and proper assessment of relevant owners and management.
AML/CFT framework and premises-readiness documentation.
Authority communications and agreed post-approval compliance support.

You provide accurate information, arrange premises and implement controls. Gofaizen & Sherle prepares and coordinates the agreed work. Court decisions and bank acceptance remain outside that scope.

What Does the Service Cost?

Professional fees depend on the work required. Government fees are separate.

Scope	Included	Excluded / separately budgeted
Application support	Agreed setup, documentation and coordination	Government charges, rent, external providers
Official application	HK$1,910 issuance	Professional fees
Renewal	Same two official charges	Renewal support and ongoing compliance
Operational support	Banking or compliance work if agreed	Bank charges, systems and premises costs

Experts Behind the Work

Maksim Gasanbekov

Partner, Head of Sales (Crypto and Blockchain)

+65 3159 3338 maksim@gofaizen-sherle.com

Hoa Tang Vicky

Senior Associate, Head of the Asian office

+84 938152976 hoa@gofaizen-sherle.com

How Does the Application Process Work?

Step 1 Assess. Gofaizen & Sherle reviews the model and identifies the applicable route.

Step 2 Prepare. The client supplies evidence. The team prepares corporate and compliance documents.

Step 3 Submit. Gofaizen & Sherle coordinates filings with the Companies Registry and Police, then responses to questions.

Step 4 Decision and launch. The Court determines the application. After approval, complete operational checks and establish the compliance calendar.

What Do We Need From You?

Ownership structure and details of owners, controllers and directors.
Experience evidence, qualifications and relevant background disclosures.
Source of funds, financial records and operating-capital plan.
Proposed premises, tenancy and permitted-use information.
Business plan, loan products, target borrowers and transaction flows.

How Long Does It Take?

The official normal timeframe is 3–4 months from delivery of the application, not from engagement.

Preparation: estimated after reviewing company and document readiness.
External examination: police review and document requests affect progress.
Hearing: court scheduling and objections can extend timing.
Issuance: follows approval and completion of required formalities.

What Legal Requirements Apply?

The Money Lenders Ordinance governs the regulated lending activity. Licensing conditions and guidance explain operational and suitability requirements.

Source	Authority	What It Governs	Update Check
Money Lenders Ordinance	Court and enforcement bodies	Licensing and lending transactions	Current framework
Licensing conditions	Court	Borrower protection and operations	August 2026 version
Application and AML/CFT guidelines	Registrar	Suitability, business plan, financial-crime controls	March 2025 guidelines

What Is the Current Regulatory Status?

Confirmed: licensing remains required unless an applicable exemption covers the activity.
Changed August 1, 2026: revised conditions cover advertising, prohibit use of loan-referee information and introduce repayment-to-income caps for low-income unsecured personal borrowers.
Before filing: check current forms and the official register. A further advertising-warning revision starts January 1, 2027.

What Must Operators Maintain After Approval?

Lenders must verify customers, monitor transactions, retain records and report suspicious activity under applicable AML/CFT requirements.
Explain repayment terms and keep evidence of borrower disclosures.
Follow advertising, complaints, affordability and appointed-third-party requirements.
Observe the 48% annual effective-interest cap. Rates above 36% may trigger court review as potentially extortionate.
Maintain current registered particulars and prepare renewal within the three-month window before expiry.

What Creates Regulatory Risk?

Unlicensed operation: carrying on the business without the required license is an offense.
Non-compliance: breaching licensing conditions can lead to prosecution and jeopardize continued licensing. Inaccurate application information can undermine suitability assessment.

How Can You Prepare for Banking?

A corporate bank account requires separate assessment. Licensing does not guarantee acceptance.

What Banks Assess	What Gofaizen & Sherle Helps Prepare
Ownership and source of funds	Ownership chart and funding evidence
Borrowers, loan flows and controls	Business explanation and compliance documentation

Which Other Routes Should You Compare?

Activity / Route	Authority	Typical Fit	Not Covered by This Route Alone
Lending / Money Lender License	Licensing Court	Non-bank credit	Deposit-taking
Remittance and FX / MSO License	Customs and Excise	Transfers, money changing	Lending
Trust or company services / TCSP License	Registrar of Companies	Corporate-service providers	Lending
Banking / authorized institution	Hong Kong Monetary Authority	Banking/deposits within authorized scope	Activities outside its authorization

Official Sources

Last reviewed 01.10.2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Does occasional lending qualify for an exemption?

Not automatically. Gofaizen & Sherle can assess the actual arrangement before recommending an application.

What if an authority raises questions or objections?

Gofaizen & Sherle can support responses. An objection needs legal assessment and may affect timing or approval.

Does an individual use the same application forms?

No. Individual or partnership applications use Forms 2 and 4, SIS-2 and SIS-2A.

Is a CV enough to prove experience?

No. Police guidance calls for supporting references or qualifications and does not accept resumes as experience evidence.

Which forms does a company use?

For a new application: Forms 3 and 5, SIS-1 and SIS-1A, plus supporting documents and a business plan.

What premises evidence should I prepare?

Expect a tenancy agreement, landlord consent, floor plan and evidence of permitted use. A registered address alone is insufficient.

Are official charges refundable?

No. The Registry’s fee guidance states that paid fees are non-refundable.

How can I reduce avoidable delays?

Provide consistent ownership, funding and premises records early so Gofaizen & Sherle can identify gaps before submission.

Which renewal forms does a company need?

Forms 7 and 9, SIS-3 and SIS-3A, plus supporting documents. Renewal support can be agreed separately.

Does operating online remove the need for a license?

No. A website does not itself create an exemption. The underlying lending and funding arrangements still need assessment.

Must an account already exist when applying?

Not invariably. Business-plan guidance requires an explanation of how operations would work without one.

Could I buy a ready-made company instead?

Any option depends on current availability and checks of the license, liabilities and ownership-change requirements.