Application process

How licence applications actually come together

Use these jurisdiction maps to turn a business model into route decisions, people evidence, entity documents, official submission channels, bottlenecks, and public-register checks.

Hong Kong SFC licence application process

A practical application map for SFC licensed corporation, responsible officer, licensed representative, Type 1, Type 4, Type 6, Type 9, and related securities licence applications.

Start with the SFO regulated activity map, then decide whether the corporation needs Type 1, Type 4, Type 6, Type 9, Type 13, or a combination.The practical clock starts after the application pack is coherent, not when the first draft form exists.

Open process map

Singapore MAS CMS licence application process

A practical MAS application map for CMS licence applicants, fund managers, broker-dealers, corporate finance advisers, custodians, representatives, and Singapore capital markets teams.

Classify the regulated activity first: dealing in capital markets products, fund management, advising on corporate finance, REIT management, product financing, credit rating services, or custody.Practical timing depends heavily on route complexity, completeness, client type, product scope, and MAS follow-up questions.

Open process map

UK FCA authorisation application process

A practical FCA application map for investment managers, advisers, brokers, wealth firms, platforms, SM&CR accountable people, CASS models, and UK authorisation applicants.

Map the permissions, regulated activities, investment types, client types, and distribution routes before drafting application forms.FCA service standards distinguish complete and incomplete applications; practical timing often depends on how much evidence is ready at submission.

Open process map

US SEC adviser and FINRA broker-dealer application process

A practical US application map for SEC investment adviser registration, state adviser/IAR questions, FINRA broker-dealer membership, Form ADV, IARD, Form NMA, CRD, and hybrid models.

Decide whether the business gives investment advice, manages funds, solicits clients, receives transaction compensation, executes/introduces securities transactions, handles custody, or combines adviser and broker-dealer functions.The SEC generally has 45 days after receipt of Form ADV to declare an adviser registration effective if the filing is complete and proper.

Open process map

AUS

Australia AFSL application process

A practical ASIC application map for AFSL applicants, authorised representative choices, responsible managers, relevant providers, financial adviser registration, and AFSL variations.

Decide whether the business provides financial product advice, deals in financial products, makes a market, operates a scheme, provides custody, or performs another financial service in, into, or from Australia.Practical timing depends on authorisation breadth, proof quality, responsible manager evidence, retail-client scope, and ASIC follow-up notices.

Open process map

Evidence library

Build the evidence pack before drafting forms

The evidence library turns broad requirements into practical workstreams: people, ownership, governance, capital, AML/CFT, compliance, custody, outsourcing, cyber, complaints, reporting, forecasts, and wind-down.

Open evidence library

Deep application packs

High-friction routes to prepare carefully

These packs go one level deeper than the jurisdiction process map. They show route scope, pre-draft questions, evidence sections, people/governance notes, forms, timeline risks, and adviser questions.

Hong Kong SFC Type 9 asset management application packSFC Type 9 is usually the route for asset management, discretionary portfolio management, fund management, and managed account activity. The pack should prove the actual investment workflow, the people who control it, and the controls around client assets, valuation, conflicts, dealing, and reporting.Singapore MAS CMS fund management application packA Singapore fund manager application should prove that the applicant has selected the right CMS fund management route, understands its client/product limits, and can operate with credible people, compliance, financial resources, AML/CFT, risk, and representative controls.UK FCA investment manager authorisation packA UK investment manager application needs to prove the permissions and investment types, whether the business is individual or collective portfolio management, and whether the firm is ready, willing, and organised to operate with credible governance, prudential, CASS, outsourcing, conflicts, and redress arrangements.US SEC registered investment adviser Form ADV application packA US SEC adviser application should prove SEC eligibility, Form ADV completeness, brochure accuracy, custody/disclosure analysis, compliance ownership, state/IAR consequences, and post-effective amendment discipline.US FINRA broker-dealer New Member Application packA broker-dealer application should prove that the applicant can satisfy FINRA membership standards with a substantially complete Form NMA, credible supervisory procedures, registered-person readiness, capital, systems, clearing/custody, AML, and business-line controls.Australia AFSL responsible manager proofs packAn AFSL application must prove organisational competence through responsible managers and supporting evidence that matches the financial services, financial products, client type, and scale of the business.