Hong Kong Certified Copies: Ensuring Document Authenticity for Official Purposes

Do you need official copies of your Hong Kong company documents? Certified Copies are simply duplicates that have been officially confirmed as real and accurate.

Think of it like this: when you need to show important documents to someone official (like a bank or the government), they often don’t want your original papers in case they get lost. That’s where Certified Copies come in handy. They are like trustworthy photocopies.

Certified Copies are official duplicates of your important Hong Kong company documents, formally verified as true and accurate representations of the originals by an authorized professional. These official copies are very important for many official purposes. You might need them for legal situations, like court cases. They’re also used for financial applications, such as when you’re trying to get a loan or open a bank account. And you’ll often need them for government paperwork, both in Hong Kong and sometimes in other countries.

Basically, a certified true copy makes sure everyone knows that the copy is real and hasn’t been changed in any way. It gives third parties confidence that the information on the copy is exactly what’s on the original.

Importance of Certified Copies in Hong Kong

There are various institutions in Hong Kong that generally accept certified copies for official use, eliminating the need for you to store or file away original documents that may be sensitive to disclosure. However, an apostile provides a higher level of international legal recognition for international use outside of Hong Kong, particularly in countries that are signatories to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Who Can Certify Documents in Hong Kong?

To ensure their legal validity, documents in Hong Kong can be certified by one of the following qualified professionals:

• A Hong Kong Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• A Hong Kong Solicitor
• A Notary Public

They use their official stamp and signature to prove the copy is exactly the same as the original they checked.

Key Features and Validity of Certified Copies

A valid certified copy will always include the following elements:

• The date of certification
• The original signature of the certifying party (CPA, Solicitor, or Notary Public)
• An official statement explicitly confirming that the document is a “certified true copy” of the original.

It’s important to be aware that certified copies typically have a limited validity period, often ranging from 3 to 6 months from the date of certification. This is because the information contained within the original document could change over time. Therefore, it is generally recommended to obtain certified copies close to the time they are actually required for use, rather than procuring them far in advance.

How Startupr Can Assist You in Obtaining Certified Copies

Suppose your Hong Kong company requires certified copies of essential documents such as your Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate, Articles of Association, or other official filings. In that case, Startupr offers efficient and reliable document certification services.

We make getting your official document copies easy and suited just for what you need. If you also need to use them in other countries, we have packages with an extra stamp called an apostille, especially helpful when you’re setting up your company or keeping it compliant. Reach out today to learn how we can help you get the official papers you need for your business, both here and overseas. Startupr offers service packages that include both professionally certified copies and apostilled documents as part of our company incorporation and ongoing compliance services.

Contact us today

Last Update: April 2025