License positioning and regulatory framework
Hong Kong Precious Metals and Gemstones Dealer Class A RegistrationA statutory registration system managed by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department，Should not be confused with financial license。
Precious metals and gemstone business in Hong Kong，and one or more items are connected or appear to be connected、Designated transactions or designated cash transactions with a total payment of HKD 120,000 or equivalent currency，Registration is usually required。Category A only applies to designated non-cash transactions；Operators who are expected to carry out designated cash transactions must apply for Class B registration。
Non-cash methods include bank transfer、credit card、Checks and e-wallets。Transaction splitting does not automatically avoid thresholds，Customs will make a judgment based on the total number of operations that are connected or appear to be connected.。
Core Comparison of Class A and Class B Licenses
| project | Class A registration | Class B registration |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable transactions | Only conduct designated non-cash transactions that meet the HKD120,000 threshold，No designated cash transactions。 | Carrying out or anticipating carrying out designated cash transactions reaching the threshold of HK$120,000。 |
| fit and proper test | Simplify registration，Category B fit and proper test not applicable。 | Application involves fit and proper test，and must have the ability to fulfill Schedule 2 AML/CFT obligations。 |
| Fees and validity period | Registration fee HK$260，Thereafter, you need to pay HK$195 every year to maintain your registered status.。 | Registration fee HK$1,970、The assessment fee for each fit and proper candidate is HK$650；Generally valid for 3 years，Renewal fee HK$1,060。 |
Which businesses must be compulsorily licensed?
- physical dealer： engaged in gold、silver、Platinum (including finished products and raw materials) or diamonds、Jade import, export and trading companies。
- Production and processing side： Provide precious metal refining、Factory or studio providing value-added services such as gem cutting and setting。
- Intermediaries and agents： Provide matchmaking for the above-mentioned high-value precious metal/gem transactions、Agency service intermediary agency。
- Financial certificate issuer： Issuance or trading of asset certificates backed by precious metals/gems (excluding virtual assets and securities derivatives)。
- Cross-border non-resident traders： Mainland companies exhibiting or trading in Hong Kong (residing in Hong Kong for ≤60 days per year)，If cash transactions are involved，Must report to customs within 24 hours。
For relevant extended licenses, please refer to：Hong Kong Gold and Silver Trading Center License、Hong Kong VASP License。
Application threshold and eligibility review
Enterprises should focus on completing four types of reviews before applying：1) Transparent relationship between company structure and actual control；2) Management’s integrity record and professional capabilities；3) Sources of funds and business purposes are clear；4) Implementation of anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance mechanisms。
Commonly requested materials for reinforcement include：Organization chart、Beneficial Owner Statement、business process diagram、risk assessment report、Internal Control Manual、Employee training records and outsourcing management agreement。It is recommended to combineCustomized compliance documentsPrepare a one-time package。
Application process and time planning
Confirm transaction mode、Whether customer type and cross-border capital link trigger Class A registration requirements。
Complete company structure organization、Resume verification and eligibility risk screening of key personnel。
Export AML/KYC、Transaction monitoring、record keeping、Exception reporting and other core documents。
After delivery, please ask for additional parts upon request.，Make sure the caliber is consistent、The evidence is complete。
Complete internal training、System online、Position authorization and audit trace settings。
Regularly update risk assessments、Customer stratification rules and suspicious transaction identification parameters。
in time，It is recommended that enterprises reserve three stages: "preparation period + regulatory communication period + online rectification period"，Avoid simply interpreting evidence collection time as a single approval time。For those who haveCross-border payment、digital assetsor business of customers in high-risk areas，Regulatory inquiries are often more in-depth，Can be introduced in advancefinancial risk assessment systemandeDon TM Transaction Monitoring SystemImprove auditability。
Hong Kong Precious Metals and Gemstones Dealer Class A Registration Official Fees
| Fund accounting level | Expense items | Estimated/Official Amount (HKD) | Legal and Compliance Practice Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| one、Hong Kong Customs Official Fees | First application registration fee | $260 | A one-time payment is required when submitting the application form.，No refund will be given regardless of whether the application is approved or not.。 |
| Official annual maintenance fee | $195 / Year | After approval, pay every year according to law，to maintainClass A registrant(i.e. only non-cash transactions of HK$120,000 or above) status。 | |
| Branch certificate fee | $180 / each room | Other than the principal place of business，Each new branch for business operations、Registration is required for offices or booths。 | |
| two、Practical implementation and compliance establishment | Hong Kong corporate establishment andsecretarial services | about $4,000 – $8,000 | Prerequisites for compliance。You must hold a valid Hong Kong local business registration certificate (BR) and basic company documents before submitting the application。 |
| physical business premises (Office/Store) | Actual reimbursement depends on location | statutory substantive requirements。Proof of local entity address (such as utility bills for the past 3 months) must be provided、bank letter)，Pure virtual anchor addresses are not accepted。 | |
| Legal and agency consulting fees | about $3,000 – $8,000 | Covers customs DRS system account opening、Corporate structure document compliance review、Submit forms and respond to customs follow-up inquiries about replacement documents。 |
Continuous compliance and risk control system after licensing
Getting cards is just the starting point。Supervision focuses on whether companies can continue to perform：Customer identification、Beneficiary identification、Sanctions Screening、Transaction monitoring、Statutory requirements for suspicious transaction reporting、Record keeping and employee training。It is recommended to complete an internal compliance physical examination at least once a year，And update the system simultaneously as the business expands。
For growing organizations，Configurable "system + system + audit" three-tier architecture：The institutional layer defines rules through compliance documents，At the system level, the monitoring engine performs early warning，The audit layer is responsible for sampling review and rectification tracking。
Supporting services available：Hong Kong Xintong AML/CRM Compliance System、Personal information protection、Ongoing compliance support。
by region、industry、Trading behavior creates dynamic ratings，Not one size fits all。
Targeting high-frequency order splitting、Exception path、Automatic identification of patterns such as short-term surges。
Ensure that the entire “customer-transaction-fund-approval” link can be traced when making inquiries。
Establish on-the-job training plan and keep sign-ins、Test and refresher training records。
Precious Metal Class A：Check payment method and registration category
The service abbreviation "Precious Metal Class A" is retained.，But it corresponds to the Hong Kong Customs Precious Metals and Gemstones Trader Category A registration。The key to category judgment is the actual transaction and payment method，Don’t just look at business operations for gold、Jewelry or import business。
| Check the situation | Customs system description | Check before operation |
|---|---|---|
| specified transaction | Non-cash payment reaches HK$120,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency；Should be judged based on the definition of single and related transactions | Check payer、Amount、Payment instruments and related transactions |
| Specified cash transaction | Cash payment reaches HK$120,000 or equivalent in foreign currency，Contains multiple related payments | If such transactions are contemplated，Category B should be assessed，Not replaced by Category A |
| Category A and Category B | Carrying out only specified transactions without conducting specified cash transactions，Can apply for Category A；Category B also has suitable candidates and related AML requirements | Do not write all the legal obligations and review conditions of Category B as Category A requirements |
| Business premises and changes | Business location information should be provided，and display certificates and process data changes as required. | Online business、branch、Check the filing location and registration information together |
Qualifications for membership or participation in gold exchanges，The competent entity and scope of application are different from those of Customs Class A/B registration.，cannot replace each other。involving securities、Derivatives or virtual asset products，Nor can the business authority of a precious metal dealer be summarized solely based on its registration.。
When preparing information, you can organize the products first、Transaction object、Payment method、Amount and location list of single and related transactions。If the business model changes to accepting specified cash transactions，Categories should be re-judged before implementation，Instead of just changing the website name afterwards。Data organization and process control can be combinedCustomized Compliance Document Services。
Check the information in this section：2026October 22。Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department：Precious metals and gemstone dealer registration system FAQ。The following are suggestions for preparation，Specific requirements should be determined according to the applicant、Check business model and applicable rules。
Frequently Asked Questions about Category A Registration for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers in Hong Kong
The official name is Precious Metals and Gemstones Dealer Class A Registration，Managed by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department in accordance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance。it does not authorize banks、securities、Payment or virtual asset business，Nor can it replace other business licenses。 SeeHong Kong Customs Precious Metals Dealer Registration System and Application Form。
Category A applies to designated non-cash transactions，and do not conduct designated cash transactions；If you plan to conduct designated cash transactions, you must apply for Category B。The specified threshold is HK$120,000 or equivalent in foreign currency，Cash and non-cash are judged separately according to the system。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
no。Single operation or connection、It seems that multiple connected operations must be included in the judgment；Cannot be circumvented by splitting orders or paying in installments。Calculate non-cash payments for specified transactions，Calculate cash payments for specified cash transactions，should be checked separately。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Customs lists these as examples of non-cash payments；Different non-cash methods may still constitute designated transactions if the total amount reaches the designated threshold.。The cash portion is also checked according to the designated cash transaction rules.，All payments cannot be lumped together。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Unavoidable。Physical stores that do not deal face-to-face with customers may also be required to register，Can apply based on valid business registration certificate or hawker license。Whether it is triggered depends on the business、Transactions and Thresholds，Rather than whether there is a physical store。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
no。Official qualifications include individuals or companies holding a valid business registration certificate or a license under the Hawker Regulations。The corresponding application form should be selected according to the main form.，Special arrangements for non-Hong Kong traders that meet statutory definitions are also distinguished。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
including gold、silver、Platinum and other listed precious metals，diamond、sapphire、ruby、Jade、Pearl etc.，and jewelry and timepieces containing precious metals or gemstones。medical、industry、Products such as electronics that contain only a small amount of related materials are not necessarily valuable products.。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
possible。The system covers commercial transactions、import and export、manufacture、refine、value-added processing、Valuable asset support tools and related intermediaries。There are specific exceptions for pure logistics companies that only import and export related products in general logistics business.。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
no。Valuable asset support tools have specific definitions，and excludes securities listed in the Securities and Futures Ordinance、futures、collective investment、Structured and OTC derivatives，and virtual assets。Determine the legal attributes of the product first，Category A registration cannot cover all financial products。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Customs FAQ as of October 2026，Class A registration fee is HK$260，HKD 195 per year thereafter；Class B registration fee is HK$1,970、Renewal fee HK$1,060，Fit and proper test costs HK$650 per person in addition。Consultancy or corporate service fees must be presented separately。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Class B certificates are generally valid for three years；Application and related fees paid will not be refunded regardless of the outcome.。Category A maintains status through annual payments，The three-year validity period of Category B cannot be directly applied to Category A。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Customs considers the legally fit and proper person test as a condition for Category B applications，Not the same set of tests for Category A。Category A must still submit the true information required by its application form；It cannot be claimed without any source that all Category A directors and employees are required to submit the same police certificate。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
The same legal entity is usually registered once，Declare all business premises；Customs can issue branch certificates for face-to-face trading branches。New branches or temporary stalls should apply accordingly、Notification table processing，You should not copy the certificate yourself。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Face-to-face transactions must be provided、Administration、All business premises such as transaction processing or document and data record storage。Usually disclosed are the main business address and the address of the branch for face-to-face transactions.，It does not mean that every backend processing location is exposed to the public.。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
The certificate must be displayed in a conspicuous place at the principal business premises and applicable branches；Operator via website or electronic means，You must also provide the registration identity verification method specified by the customs。Merely stating that you are licensed in the introduction is not a sufficient substitute for the requirement。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Changes in registration information must be notified to the Customs in writing within one month from the date of occurrence.；Plan to cease business or related designated transactions，Written notice must be given before the proposed cessation date。There is a separate approval form for some matters such as Category B key personnel.，Should be checked first。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Customs current system page description，Conduct designated transactions or designated cash transactions without registration、Claiming authority to conduct these transactions or impersonating the registrant，Maximum fine of HK$100,000 and six months' imprisonment。Other AML violations have their own provisions，It cannot be written together as 1 million yuan and five years.。 SeeHong Kong Customs Precious Metals Dealer Registration System and Application Form。
uncertain。Legal non-Hong Kong traders must meet overseas status、No business premises in Hong Kong and operating in Hong Kong for no more than 60 days in a year, etc.，The relevant legal person definition also excludes the registration of non-Hong Kong companies and re-domiciled companies.。Specified cash transactions must be reported within one day after completion or earlier before departure from Hong Kong。 SeeHong Kong Customs Precious Metals Dealer Registration System and Application Form。
cannot be directly substituted for each other。Must be based on actual precious metal activities、Transaction method、Thresholds and Statutory Exemptions Judgment Customs Registration。Subsidiaries of exempt financial institutions also do not automatically inherit the exemption.，Don’t just look at the name of the group or exchange。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
should not do this。When opening an account, the product should be described truthfully、counterparty、Funding and business model，and provide applicable registration and trade materials；Do not mislead banks by changing names or concealing activities。Customs registration does not guarantee account opening.，Category B must also implement AML obligations such as customer due diligence and record keeping.。 SeeHong Kong Customs Frequently Asked Questions for Precious Metals and Gemstone Dealers。
Hong Kong precious metals and gemstone dealer registration cases and official verification
Online store and multiple branches
Purely online、Door-to-door sales or no face-to-face stores are not automatically exempt from registration；As long as you operate relevant businesses and conduct designated transactions in Hong Kong，You should still apply for the corresponding category according to the transaction method。Multiple branches of the same legal entity often use one registration，And declare all business premises and display corresponding branch certificates。
Three threshold judgment examples
- A bank transfer of HK$130,000 to purchase jewelry：Belongs to designated non-cash transactions，Can be evaluated according to Class A path。
- A cash purchase of 120,000 Hong Kong dollars for gold：Belongs to designated cash transactions，Should be evaluated as a Class B path。
- The same customer split the connected transaction into two payments of HK$70,000：May still add up to connected transactions that meet the threshold。
Information basis and last verification date：2026August。Hong Kong Customs DPMS Frequently Asked Questions；DPMS registration system。
