As Practising Certified Public Accountants in Hong Kong, Ken So & Co. provides professional document verification and CPA signing services required by financial institutions, banks, and legal advisors for corporate compliance, account opening, and business verification

What is a Certified True Copy?

A certified true copy is an official copy of an original document that a qualified professional has verified as a true, complete, and accurate replica. In Hong Kong, financial institutions, government agencies, and banks frequently require these verified documents to fulfill their anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance obligations.

To prepare an official copy, a Practising CPA stamps, signs, and dates the document to confirm its authenticity. If you require assistance with other corporate compliance tasks, you can also explore our Company Registration and Hong Kong Tax Filing services.

What is the Purpose of Document Certification?

Obtaining certified true copies is a practical and secure way to share important documentation without risking the loss or damage of your original files. For example, individuals and businesses routinely use certified duplicates for identity documents, proofs of address, and corporate banking records when submitting filings to third parties.

We provide CPA verification and signing services for corporate documents, financial statements, commercial contracts, utility bills, and bank submission files.

How Long is a Certified Copy Valid For?

Legally, certified true copies do not have a fixed expiration date. However, most financial institutions, banks, and government bodies usually prefer documents certified within the past 3 months. Therefore, if you are unsure about specific timeline requirements, we recommend verifying directly with the requesting party before submitting your paperwork.

Our Certification Format

Our CPA firm ensures that every certified document contains all necessary verification details required by authorities in Hong Kong and internationally. Each copy includes:
  • A formal certification statement: “CERTIFIED TRUE COPY BY”;
  • The Practising CPA’s full legal name;
  • The CPA’s official signature;
  • The CPA’s Practising Certificate Number;
  • The CPA’s HKICPA Membership Number;
  • The exact date on which the certification was completed; and
  • Full contact details of our firm (including firm name, office address, telephone number, and fax number).

Below is a sample of our standard certification chop that appears on every certified page:


CERTIFIED TRUE COPY BY: ……………………………………………….
CPA NAME IN BLOCK
Certified Public Accountant
Practising Certificate Number:
HKICPA Number:
Date

KEN SO & CO.
Certified Public Accountants
25/F., Progress Commercial Building,
9 Irving Street,
Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong
Tel: 2838 2870 Fax: 2838 2830

In Hong Kong, authorities expect the certification statement to be written in English or Chinese. Consequently, government departments and banks will generally reject endorsement statements written in other languages.

Custom Format Options

If the requesting institution or government department requires specific endorsement wording, please inform our team in advance. We will customize the statement to ensure full compliance with their requirements.

Service Fees & Turnaround Time

We offer transparent and immediate certification services at our Causeway Bay office. Our standard fee structure includes:

  • Professional CPA Document Signing / Verification: HK$250 per document (Note)
  • Custom Endorsement Wording: Additional HK$100 per copy
  • Form Completion Service: HK$300 per form
  • Commercial Document Witnessing & Attestation:: HK$500

Note: Our base fee of HK$250 includes our CPA’s signature on the first page of the document. If your requesting party requires our CPA to sign every page, each additional signature costs HK$100.

We prepare all documents immediately during your appointment. Simply visit our office with your original files, and our practicing accountant will complete the certification on the spot with zero waiting period.

Schedule an Appointment for Document Certification

If you have additional questions or would like to schedule a same-day appointment, please contact our team today:

FAQ

What original documents do I need to bring for certification?

You must bring the original document (e.g., Passport, Identity Card, Proof of Address, Bank Statement, or Business Registration) along with a valid photo ID for identity verification. We cannot certify a document based on a photocopy or digital file without viewing the physical original.

How long does the certified true copy process take?

Our certification service is completed on the spot during your appointment. The process typically takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on the volume of documents.

Will your Certified True Copy be accepted by foreign authorities or overseas banks?

Yes. Our certifications are signed by a Practising CPA registered with the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC) and the HKICPA, which is widely recognized by local and international banks, financial institutions, courts, and government bodies.

What if my bank or institution requires specific certification wording?

Please provide us with the specific wording or template required by your institution prior to or during your appointment. We offer custom endorsement wording to ensure your documents meet their exact compliance standards.

Can you certify documents that are not in English or Chinese?

Certified True Copy endorsement stamps in Hong Kong must be written in English or Chinese. If your original document is in another language, we can certify the copy, but some banks may also require an official certified translation.