SFC licensed corporation applications
Advisory on Types 1 to 10 regulated activities, and SEHK／HKFE trading rights applications and similar.
Licensing and professional services
Licensing and professional services:Applications, transfers and ongoing compliance,plannable alongside payments and systems
UpayAsia provides diversified compliance advisory for financial institutions and near-licensed clients: help apply for and maintain financial operating licences, provide ongoing compliance support and internal reviews, and offer one-stop arrangements for licence buy/sell matching, talent recruitment (such as responsible officers) and compliance technology. Services can be planned in parallel with payments, AML／customer management systems and Fintech projects (subject to case review and applicable law).
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LICENSING
Onboarding, compliance and licensing can be planned as one
The team has multi-year relationships with multiple banks and is familiar with due-diligence requirements, document standards and compliance framing for cross-border merchant account opening — helping clients advance onboarding and licence preparation within regulatory expectations.
- Match suitable onboarding paths by merchant background, licence status and fund-flow purpose.
- Beyond new licence applications and buy/sell matching, licence rental arrangements can be assessed by business pace (subject to contract and regulatory requirements).
- Bank onboarding can be planned in parallel with MSO／VASP and similar licence preparation, AML policies and AML systems.
Compliance advisory services at a glance
Actual scope, timelines and outcomes depend on regulator review, client background and applicable law.
Money Service Operator (MSO)
New licence applications, renewals and AML policies aligned with licensing guidelines.
Other financial licences
Insurance intermediaries, dealers in precious metals and stones (DPMS), money lenders, TCSP, trusts and similar.
Ongoing compliance (licensed corporations)
Outsourced compliance advisory, routine reviews, FRR filings and regulatory inspection support.
Financial business (with licence) buy/sell
Advisory on due diligence, shareholding structures, regulatory applications and closing processes.
Compliance technology applications
Introduce AML／customer management systems supporting screening, record keeping and transaction monitoring.
SFC regulated activities
Help prepare application documents, compliance policies, organisational structures and regulator engagement.
| Type | Regulated activity |
|---|---|
| Type 1 | Dealing in securities |
| Type 2 | Dealing in futures contracts |
| Type 3 | Leveraged foreign exchange trading |
| Type 4 | Advising on securities |
| Type 5 | Advising on futures contracts |
| Type 6 | Advising on corporate finance |
| Type 7 | Providing automated trading services |
| Type 8 | Securities margin financing |
| Type 9 | Asset management |
| Type 10 | Providing credit rating services |
| Other | SEHK／HKFE trading rights; virtual-asset related licence combinations (under current regulatory frameworks and case assessment) |
Licence categories
MSO, VASP and other licences
Help new applicants and renewal clients build compliant policies and operating processes that meet requirements.
- MSO: new／renewal documents, AML/CFT policy, KYC／CDD and transaction-monitoring arrangements.
- VASP: licence planning under the target jurisdiction’s framework (case by case).
- Insurance intermediaries, DPMS, money lenders, TCSP, SVF and similar can be assessed by category.
- No promise of “guaranteed approval”; outcomes depend on regulator review and document completeness.
Ongoing compliance and annual follow-up
Outsourced compliance advisory for licensed corporations and insurance intermediary companies, with cost-effective and flexible terms.
Day-to-day compliance support
Real-time consultation, KYC services, document and policy review, regulatory updates, AML screening, FRR review and inspection support.
Continuous training (CPT)
Online CPT platform covering AML, codes of conduct, due diligence, financial resources rules, internal controls and related topics.
Annual follow-up
AML/CFT policy updates, CDD process optimisation, system introduction and maintenance, regulatory reporting and staff training recommendations.
Coordination with full-stack solutions
Can be planned with AML systems, collection／settlement／bill payout and Fintech projects — avoiding a licence without systems.
FAQCommon questions
Understand first, then start.
On scope, settlement vs payout, and what to prepare before onboarding.
Do you provide ongoing outsourced compliance?
Yes. Licensed corporations and insurance intermediary companies can obtain compliance consultation, document review, inspection support, CPT arrangements and similar.
Why have MSO renewals become harder?
Regulators have tightened expectations on AML policies, operating records and licensing-guideline execution. We can help review existing frameworks and strengthen documents and processes (case by case).
Do you guarantee successful licence applications?
No such commitment. Licence outcomes depend on regulator review, applicant background, document completeness and applicable law; we provide advisory and preparation support.
How do licence buy/sell transactions work?
Assess target licence type, jurisdiction and deal structure case by case, and assist with due diligence and process arrangements under applicable law and regulatory requirements.
Must annual services be purchased with systems?
No. Advisory can be purchased alone, or combined with AML systems, payment products and Fintech projects.
Merchant enquiry
Ready to enquire? Bring the basics in one go
Company, region, use case and expected scale — clearer notes get faster replies.IDs can follow the review checklist later; copies are not needed on first contact.
Start a merchant enquiry