Hong Kong investor applications: who certifies translations and financial copies?
New CIES distinguishes certified translations, certification of specified financial copies and a CPA’s Fulfillment document. Each serves a different purpose.
Documents in neither Chinese nor English need a compliant translation. Applicant-certified copies concern evidence marked in the financial guide, not all immigration documents. None guarantees approval.
For Hong Kong’s New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, saying a document is “certified” leaves an important question unanswered: what has been certified? Translation accuracy, a copy’s fidelity to its original and compliance with financial requirements are separate matters.
When is a translation required?
Paragraph 4.1 of the Scheme Rules applies at every stage. A document written in neither Chinese nor English must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as true by a translator in one of the specified categories. A document already in either language does not need translation under that provision alone.[1][2]
The categories are sworn, court, authorised public, certified, expert and official translators. Establish the basis on which the translator will certify the work. Paragraph 4.1 does not impose a blanket requirement for notarisation or an apostille on every translation.[1]
Certifying a financial copy has a narrower purpose
The official guide for preparing Fulfillment documents uses footnote 3 for specified supporting financial evidence. It permits originals or photocopies certified as true by the applicant. The marked evidence includes proof of assets and related liabilities for net asset assessment.[3][4]
That is not permission to self-certify every immigration document. Nor does certifying a copy make the applicant qualified to certify a foreign-language translation. The applicable requirement must be checked for each document.
The CPA performs a different task
A practising CPA examines evidence against the relevant financial requirements and issues the Fulfillment document. For net assets, the guide describes checking the stated ownership, market value and liabilities against supporting records and issuing an agreed-upon procedures report.[3][4]
A foreign-language bank record may therefore raise 3 separate questions: its translation, the form of the copy supplied and the CPA’s examination of its financial content. A CPA report does not, by itself, establish that the translation requirement has been met. A certified translation does not establish that an asset qualifies.
Keep each document with its supporting certifications
A practical filing method is to keep each original or copy with its corresponding translation and certification, then organise the financial evidence as requested by the CPA. This is an organisational recommendation, not an additional official form. Follow any specific request for further documents rather than treating one footnote as a general exemption.
This article concerns New CIES, not its predecessor scheme, which is closed to new applications. The English Scheme Rules are authoritative; the Chinese version is for reference.[1][2]
Official sources
General policy information; individual circumstances and the competent authority’s requirements govern each application.