[Sponsored Article]

Nowadays credit card has become an indispensable financial instrument of our daily life. Not only it is a must-have when it comes to online shopping, it is also increasingly used in the fintech world—all begins with linking your credit card to a digital wallet embedded in your smartphone. However, as you are not yet a permanent resident, you may need to provide a bit more documentation than a local permanent resident.

Basic requirements to get a credit card

Be at least 18 years old. Other than that, the applicant is required to submit his or her Hong Kong Identity Card or passport and income proof, ideally the immediate past month’s pay slip or bank statements showing your name, account number and salary entries.

For irregular income earners, you should provide the latest three months’ income proof. If you’re self-employed, a partner in a business or a shareholder of a company, your Business Registration Certificate and latest Tax Demand Note are also required. Alternatively, you may opt to provide asset proof to replace the Tax Demand Note to support your application.

The income or amount of assets you report is one of the many factors that the bank will use to judge if your application is approved, and how much credit limit it is willing to extend to you.

Residential address

Don’t forget to enclose a residential address proof. The most easily obtainable proof should be your utility bill, or a statement by another authorised financial institution in Hong Kong, such as a bank or an insurance company, issued within the past three months, etc.

Expat applicant additional requirements

If you are an expat, you may also need to provide a valid work visa or have deposits parked at Standard Chartered as a pledge on credits [1].