Online Functions for Money Service Operators (MSOs)
- Create User Account
- User Login
- Apply for MSO Licence
- Apply for renewal MSO Licence
- Apply for Approval in respect of Persons Proposing to become Licensee's Partners / Directors / Ultimate Owners
- Apply to add New Premises for Money Service
- Periodic Return for Statement of Transactions
- Enquire about application status
- Re-submit supporting documents
Online Licensee Register
Guidelines
- Licensing Guide
- AMLO Guideline
- Disciplinary Action Guideline on Imposition of Pecuniary Penalty
- Disciplinary Fining Guideline
- Guideline on Criteria for Determining Fitness and Propriety
- Supplementary Guideline on Criteria for Determining Fitness and Propriety
- Guidelines for Submission of Business Plan by Applicant for Money Service Operator Licence/Licensee
- Guidelines for Submission of AML/CFT Policy by Applicant for Money Service Operator Licence/Licensee
Forms
- Form 1 MSO Licence Application
- Form 2 MSO Licence Renewal
- Annex to Form 1 and Form 2
- Form 3A Fit and Proper Person Declaration for Individual
- Form 3B Fit and Proper Person Declaration for Corporation
- Form 4 Application for adding Licensee's Partners / Directors / Ultimate Owners
- Form 5 Application for adding new premises for money service
- Form 6 Notification of Changes in Particulars
- Form 7 Notification of cessation of operating money service
- Periodic Return for Statement of Transactions
- Supplementary Information Sheet for Licensed MSO
- Application Form for Certified or Uncertified Copy of Licensee Register / Entry / Extract
- Application Form for Certification of Licensee from the Register
Licensing Issues
- User Manual
- Criteria of a Fit and Proper Person
- Application Fees
- Guidance Notes on Form 1
- Guidance Notes on Form 2
- Guidance Notes on Form 3A
- Guidance Notes on Form 3B
- Guidance Notes on Form 4
- Guidance Notes on Form 5
- Guidance Notes on Form 6
- Guidance Notes on the Competence Assessment for Money Service Operators
Latest News
- 30/01/2024“Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended between 00:00 to 03:00 on 5 February 2024 (Monday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
20/11/2023"Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended from 09:00 to 23:30 hrs on 26 November 2023 (Sunday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
04/09/2023"Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended from 19:00 to 21:00 hrs on 5 September 2023 (Tuesday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
12/06/2023“Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended between 00:00 to 03:00 on 19 June 2023 (Monday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
05/06/2023"Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended from 19:00 to 23:25 hrs on 9 June 2023 (Friday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
25/05/2023The revised "AML/CFT Guideline for MSOs" has been gazetted on 25 May 2023 and will come into effective on 1 June 2023. MSOs should read the Guideline carefully and make necessary preparation for its implementation.
30/03/2023With effective from 1 April 2023, the maximum penalty of operating a money service without obtaining a money service operator licence from the CCE will be increased to a fine of $1,000,000 and imprisonment for two years upon conviction. Relevant provisions of the “Licensing Guide”, “Guidance Notes on Form 1” and “Guidance Notes on Form 2” will be amended accordingly.
20/03/2023"Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended from 19:00 to 21:00 hrs on 21 March 2023 (Tuesday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
06/12/2022Money Service Operators Licensing System" service will be suspended from 23:30 on 7 December 2022 (Wednesday) to 06:30 hrs on 8 December 2022 (Thursday) for system maintenance. Online users, who may experience service interruption during the suspension, are advised to save all information in advance, and log out the system during the aforesaid period.
01/12/2022On 12 December 2022, the Money Service Supervision Bureau (MSSB) of Customs and Excise Department will be relocated to Units 402-403, 4/F, Centre Parc, 11 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon. For enquiries, please call the MSSB at (852) 3742 7742 or fax to (852) 3742 7758.
01/11/2022A presentation video for the "Competence Assessment" requirements applicable to MSO licence applicants has been uploaded to “Publications” of this System for access by MSOs and licence applicants.
23/09/2022On 25 August 2022, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has organized a Webinar on “Proliferation Financing - Risk Assessment and Mitigation”. The bilingual presentation slides of the Webinar have been uploaded to “Publications” of this System for access by MSOs.
22/03/2022The Money Service Operator (MSO) iPass system - a quick online self-assessment tool on applicants' eligibility and readiness for an MSO licence has been launched on 28 February 2022. Any person who wishes to engage in money service business (i.e. money changing or remittance service) can access iPass on C&ED's website: https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/trade_controls/msos/mso/ipass/index.html.
02/03/2022The Money Service Operator (MSO) iPass system - a quick online self-assessment tool on applicants' eligibility and readiness for an MSO licence has been launched on 28 February 2022. Any person who wishes to engage in money service business (i.e. money changing or remittance service) can access iPass on C&ED's website: https://www.customs.gov.hk/en/trade_facilitation/mso/ipass/index.html
29/12/2021A circular was published on 22/12/2021 to remind all MSOs to conduct Institutional Risk Assessment on Proliferation Financing as soon as practicable.
03/12/2021A circular on the arrangement of Competence Assessment for MSOs Applying for Licence Renewal was published. MSOs are advised to read the circular to get prepared for the Assessment.
17/09/2021On 19 August 2021, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has organized a Webinar on “Proliferation Financing Risk Assessment and Mitigation”. The bilingual presentation slides of the Webinar have been uploaded to “Publications” of this System for access by MSOs.
06/09/2021The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) has promulgated a revised Licensing Guide. The summary of major changes can be found from the Circular issued on 26/08/2021 at C&ED website at https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/downloadFile?id=310307
24/06/2021To strengthen IT security, this system will require all users to reset their password on 28-Jun-2021 (Mon) at noon while users are signing in.
02/06/2021The Money Service Supervision Bureau of the Customs and Excise Department will hold the seminar for Money Service Operators on 7 and 9 July 2021. The details of the seminar and enrolment can be found on the C&ED website at https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/common/notices?request_locale=en
13/05/2021To tie in with the implementation of the Competence Assessment for money service operators, the Customs and Excise Department compiled a set of sample questions for reference by the licence applicants and licensees. The sample questions can be found on the C&ED Website at https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/common/notices?request_locale=en
30/04/202130 April 2021 The Webinar co-organized by Customs and Excise Department and InvestHK concluded on 28 April 2021. The presentation slides of the Webinar are now available on the C&ED’s website at https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/common/notices?request_locale=en
01/04/2021The Customs and Excise Department (“C&ED”) is conducting a thematic review of the delivery channels used by Money Service Operators (“MSOs”) in processing the money service transaction with a focus on the use of bank account in the sector. The questionnaire in this regard has been sent to MSOs by email, and it is also available on the C&ED website at https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/common/otherInfo?request_locale=en . Upon receipt of the questionnaire, please complete and return it to the C&ED within 21 days.
31/03/2021The Customs and Excise Department and the Invest Hong Kong will jointly organize a webinar on the highlights and latest development of Money Service operator (MSO) licensing regime. The Webinar will be held on 28 April 2021, and the details of the Webinar have been sent to MSOs by email. For more information, please call the Money Service Supervision Bureau at (852) 2707 7820 or by fax (852) 2707 7838.
04/03/2021The Customs and Excise Department ("C&ED") will commence the implementation of Competence Assessment ("Assessment") for Money Service Operators within this year. For the implementation schedule and the details of the Assessment, please refer to the corresponding circular, Guidance Notes and updated Licensing Guide published by the C&ED on 4 March 2021 available at the C&ED’s website.
31/12/2019The Customs & Excise Department (“C&ED”) published the Frequently Asked Questions applicable to all Money Service Operators (“FAQ”) in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism on 31 December 2019. This new FAQ supersedes the previous version published on 28 March 2019 and it can be found on the C&ED’s website. https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/common/faqs?request_locale=en
25/10/2019The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) will revoke/suspend the Money Service Operator (MSO) licence of non-compliant MSOs and update the register of MSO licensees in a timely manner. Members of the public are advised to instantly inspect the online register of licensees on C&ED website before patronising MSOs.
28/03/2019The Customs & Excise Department ("C&ED") published the Frequently Asked Questions applicable to all Money Service Operators ("FAQ") in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism on 28 March 2019. The FAQ supersedes the FAQ applicable to all Financial Institutions published in March 2012 and it can be found on the C&ED’s website. https://eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/common/faqs?request_locale=en
05/11/2018The revised Guideline on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (“the Guideline”) has been published in the Gazette on 19 October 2018 and it comes into operation on 1 November 2018. The Gazette notice can be found on the Government’s website and the Guideline can be downloaded at the Customs & Excise Department’s website. Money Service Operators should review their existing policies and procedures in light of the changes in the Guideline and take any necessary steps to ensure continued compliance with all applicable requirements of the Guideline.
01/03/2018The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (“AMLO”), Cap. 615 Laws of Hong Kong, came into operation on 1 March 2018. Consequently, the Guideline on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (For Money Service Operators) has been amended and uploaded onto this website. Under the newly-added provision of Section 39A in the AMLO, a money service operator (“MSO”) must display the original of its MSO licence in a conspicuous place at the premises specified in the licence. To dovetail with the amendment Ordinance, the Customs and Excise Department shall issue revised licences to all the MSOs’ licensed companies and their branch(es). Individual licensee will be notified by letter about the detailed arrangement of replacement and collection of the MSO licence(s) at office of the Money Service Supervision Bureau of this department.
29/05/2017On 5 June 2017, the Money Service Supervision Bureau (MSSB) of Customs and Excise Department will be moved to Units 1218 – 1222, 12/F, Nan Fung Commercial Centre, 19 Lam Lok Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon. For enquiry, please call the MSSB at (852) 2707 7837 or by fax (852) 2707 7838.
01/03/2017With effect from 21 March 2017, computers with operating system version Windows XP will no longer be supported for accessing the Money Service Operators Licensing System.
26/08/2015On 28 August 2015, the Customs and Excise Department will introduce a mobile version of the Online Register of Licensees which enables the public to check information of the Money Service Operator Licensees through their mobile devices.
30/09/2012On 30 September 2012, the Money Service Operators Licensing System commences to provide comprehensive electronic services. The features include user-friendly online applications for the grant/renewal of money service operator licence, addition of directors/ultimate owners/partners or new business premises, submission of periodic returns; online enquiry of application result/progress and inspection of the register of licensees.
10/09/2012The CCE has authorized officers in this department to process MSO licence applications, conduct compliance inspection and investigation on the MSOs in connection with requirements under the AMLO.
01/04/2012The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing (Financial Institutions) Ordinance, Chapter 615 (AMLO) came into operation on 1 April 2012. Under the AMLO, a person who wishes to operate a remittance and / or money changing service (i.e. money service as defined under the AMLO) is required to apply for a licence from the Commissioner of Customs & Excise (CCE). Operating a money service without obtaining a money service operator licence from the CCE is an offence and liable to conviction of a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for six months. Under the AMLO, the CCE is the relevant authority to regulate Money Service Operators (MSOs) (i.e. Remittance Agents and Money Changers) and supervise licensed MSOs' compliance with the customer due diligence and record-keeping obligations and other licensing requirements, as well as combating unlicensed operation of money service.
Online Demonstration