Certificate of Incumbency? What It Is & How to Get One

An incumbency certificate with a pen and stamp

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A Certificate of Incumbency (also known as incumbency certificate) is a document issued by an independent third party; usually a regulated professional such as a lawyer, public notary, or certified public accountant.

Obtaining a Certificate of Incumbency can be an easy process if you have the right business support, but don’t just let a secretary take care of it for you and forget it.

It’s still a crucial document in your company’s formation, and you should read on to know what goes behind a Certificate of Incumbency.

You’ll never know when you might need it.

In this article, we'll discuss the meaning of the certificate of incumbency, its importance, and how to get one!

What Is a Certificate of Incumbency?

A Certificate of Incumbency (sometimes referred to as a Secretary Certificate) is a legal document issued by a corporation or a limited liability company. It is also an official document that verifies the identities and current positions of the company directors and officers and confirms their authority to act on behalf of the organization.

There's no legal requirement for a third-party to issue the certificate. However, it's often issued by a trusted independent source, such as a lawyer, certified public accountant, or company registration service, to add credibility.

The purpose of a certificate of incumbency is to independently confirm certain information about your Hong Kong company.

This information usually includes:

  • Name of your company
  • Identity of its directors
  • Identity of its shareholders
  • Identity of its elected and acting secretary
  • Identity of its ultimate beneficial owners (also known as UBO)
  • Date of incorporation
  • Registered address
  • Business address (if different from your registered address)
  • Amount and currency of its share capital
  • Number of shares

There is no prescribed format or standard wording for a certificate of incumbency.

If there is some specific information that you need to see reflected in the certificate, it is better that you expressly inform the third party that will prepare it.

Why Do You Need a Certificate of Incumbency?

In many circumstances, such as opening financial accounts, a Certificate of Incumbency will be required by the institution to verify that you have the legal authority to perform such legally binding transactions on behalf of your Hong Kong company.

Here are some examples:

  • Opening of a bank account: when your company applies for the opening of a bank account in Hong Kong (with HSBCDBSBank of China, or Hang Seng Bank), the bank usually requires that you present an incumbency certificate in order to confirm the particulars of your company
  • Applying for a loan: a bank may also request that you provide a certificate of incumbency when your company applies for a loan as part of a background check
  • Applying for a public subsidy: the government may ask for a certificate of incumbency before a public subsidy can be awarded to your company
  • Visa application: certain jurisdictions may ask for a certificate of incumbency when your company applies for a business visa for some of your employees or legal representatives

Who Can Issue a Certificate of Incumbency?

Usually, the corporate secretary is responsible for drafting a certificate of incumbency. This document may include the corporate seal and is issued by the secretary.

However, there is no legal prescription on who can issue a certificate of incumbency for a Hong Kong company.

A person asking for a certificate of incumbency regarding your company will usually expect that it is issued by an independent third party (meaning by a person who is not a shareholder, director, or employee of your company).

It is usually expected that the independent third party is a regulated professional.

In Hong Kong, this includes corporate lawyers, public notaries, or certified public accountants.

You should also know that the Hong Kong Companies Registry can also issue a document equivalent to a certificate of incumbency which is known as a Hong Kong Company Particulars Report.

A Hong Kong Company Particulars Report issued by the Company Registry provides a summary of the key information about any HK company (i.e. registered office address, principal place of business, share capital, name of current directors).

You can obtain a Company Particulars Report on the Companies Registry website at a cost of HKD 22.

However, the Hong Kong Company Particulars Report does not include updated information about your company's shareholders or ultimate beneficial owners.

This is why you may still need the services of an independent professional third party when required to produce a Certificate of Incumbency for your HK company.

What Does a Certificate of Incumbency Show?

A Certificate of Incumbency differs depending on the local institutions your business is subscribed to, but generally, a certificate of incumbency shows a brief version of the company bylaws (Articles of Association).

That means you can expect to have the company name, legal vehicle, Shareholders, Directors, UBOs, and more.

Role of Minute Book in a Certificate of Incumbency

The Certificate of Incumbency can be seen as a reflection of the information recorded in the minute book.  The minute book would typically record all key company documents and the appointment or change of directors and officers reflected in the certificate.

Also, the company’s minute book provides context for the decisions made by the authorized individuals listed in the Certificate of Incumbency.

Does a Certificate of Incumbency Expire?

A Certificate of Incumbency does not expire.

However, you will be periodically requested to provide your Certificate of Incumbency not older than 3 months.

Does a Certificate of Incumbency Need to Be Notarized?

If your company's certificate of incumbency is issued by a regulated professional (lawyer or CPA), it is unusual to require the certificate to be notarized.

In case the certificate of incumbency is issued by a third party other than a regulated professional, you may still be required to have it notarized.

In this case, it is more efficient to arrange the preparation of the certificate by a public notary from the beginning.

Where Can You Get a Certificate of Incumbency?

At Air Corporate, we can help issue your Hong Kong company Certificate of Incumbency.

Some of our team members include regulated professionals such as lawyers and CPAs who can issue any type of certificate of incumbency.

We also provide our assistance if you need to obtain your Company Particulars Report with the Companies Registry.

If you set up your company with Air Corporate or appoint us as your Hong Kong company secretary, our service includes the preparation and issuance of 1 certificate of incumbency for your HK company each year.

Register your company today and get your incumbency needs sorted with the experts.

Focus on your business, we'll take care of the rest.

FAQs

A Certificate of Incumbency normally contains the company’s name and location as well as the titles, addresses, and signatures of the current officers and directors. It could also have details on the individuals who are permitted to sign documents on the company’s behalf as well as the officers’ and directors’ power to do so.

The time it takes to obtain a Certificate of Incumbency can vary depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of your company’s organizational structure. In some cases, it may be possible to obtain a certificate in a matter of days, while in others it may take several weeks or even months.

No, a Certificate of Incumbency is not the same as a Certificate of Good Standing.

An organization’s ability to conduct business in a certain state and compliance with all relevant state rules and regulations will both be certified by a Certificate of Good Standing. However, a Certificate of Incumbency, it is certified by the legitimacy of a company’s executives and directors as well as their positions and power.

Yes, a Certificate of Incumbency can be used for international business transactions. Many foreign banks and governments may require a Certificate of Incumbency as part of their due diligence process before engaging in business with a company.

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Vivian Au

For many years, I worked at big accounting and company secretary firms in Hong Kong. I started Air Corporate to make the life of entrepreneurs and SMEs easy.

Vivian Au

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