Set up account when not living in HK yet

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    166

    Set up account when not living in HK yet

    Is it possible to create a standard current account in HK, when I'm not living there yet?
    I'm moving over in the summer and would like to have cash handy to be able to get money. So would want to send money over from my current bank in Japan, and from my home account in the UK.
    The main issue is that the account in Japan has to be closed when I leave, and I want to be able to move that money to Hong Kong. I don'e want to have to transfer it over to the UK and then over to HK, which would mean i would pay bank charges twice


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    504

    yes u can open with your passport as your primary identification. U have to check about the local address if u need one? we have friends who opened but gave our address as local address.


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    12,383

    If you want to open before you move, there is a small chance you might be able to do it with a bank that has locations in both Hong Kong and Japan (the japanese banks are the obvious choice).

    So, open something in HK while you're in Japan and shut it down when you get here and set up something more permanent.


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    37

    You need passport and proof of permanent address

    You can open a standard account with HSBC, you need to bring your passport, and some proof of your permanent address (in your home country). This can be a utilities bill - bring several examples cos they can be quite fussy! And the proof of address must be dated within 6 months of the date you want to open the account.


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    12,383

    I think the question is "how can I set an account in HK up, BEFORE I arrive"


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    23,205

    If you have the resources to meet the criterion (not sure what the Japanese one is - in HK it is HK$1M of total relationship balance, in the UK GBP60K) then one obvious way is to have an HSBC Premier account in Japan, and then your relationship manager can handle the opening of accounts in other countries for you.


  7. #7

    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    166

    Yes it is about setting up an account before i arrive. I took a look at the premier account however in the long run, i don't think i will be able to maintain the relationship value because I will not be working for about a year as the purpose of moving to Hong Kong is for education.