OPEN AN ACCOUNT

Start experiencing the benefits of investing in the U.S. market at Schwab.

Upbeat music plays throughout

Video Introduction Plays

Narrator: For investors who live in Hong Kong or those who are non-US-residents who live in a qualifying country, you can open a Schwab Hong Kong U.S. Dollar account through Schwab Hong Kong. Before you begin, make sure you have electronic copies or scans of the documents you'll need to upload to open an account, including a valid passport or government ID, proof of residence. 

Required documents are listed on the screen

Narrator: Proof of residence can be a recent utility bill, bank statement, or recent home mortgage. We can only accept proof of residence that is issued within 3 months of account application. The document must show your full name, current home address and the date. If you're employed, have your employer's name and mailing address ready.

Proof of residence requirements spoken are listed on the screen

Narrator: The account application process should take 15 to 20 minutes. If you leave your computer idle before creating your login credentials, you will need to restart the process using a different email address later.

The information above is listed on the screen

Narrator: To begin, select what type of account you would like to open. For this example, we'll continue with an individual account. Closely review the statements about opening an international account if you agree select I agree.

The Let's open your Schwab Hong Kong U.S. Dollar Account page is shown with the opening statement; the cursor arrow selects the I agree button

Narrator: The next page will request personal and contact information. Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport or your other government ID that you will upload. Be sure to enter your date of birth using the prescribed month/day/year format. Provide your telephone number and email address then carefully review the disclaimers, and select Continue.

The Who's opening this account page is shown and sample info appears in the fields, the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: Enter your passport information or government ID information, copying the passport or ID number exactly as it appears and the expiration date in the format prescribed in the form, and select Continue.  A reminder to all Hong Kong resident that you must use your Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card as your identity proof, and if you're not yet a permanent resident, your Hong Kong Identity Card and current passport.

The Enter your Hong Kong ID number and passport information page is shown and sample info appears in the fields, the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: Enter your current home address, which is the address where you live most of the year. Please make sure this address matches the proof of residence document you'll be asked to upload later.

The Where do you live? page is shown and sample info appears in the fields, an additional note appears on screen "Note: Make sure your address matches the documents you'll upload later" – a blue transitional wipe crosses the screen

Narrator: Next, you'll be asked a few regulatory questions. These will include your investing purpose and source of wealth and funds, your employment status, and how, if at all, you're involved in a publicly traded company.

The above pages are briefly shown with blue transitions between each

Narrator: Next, a page will open where you can review all the information you've entered so far. If you'd like to make a change to any entry, click its corresponding link to Edit the information. Once you have completed your review, you can confirm your information is correct by selecting Continue.

The Let's review your information page is shown; the Edit links are highlighted then the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: Next, you'll be presented with a page of terms and conditions. Carefully review each disclosure and, if you agree, select the checkbox indicating that you acknowledge and agree. As you check each box, the following section will open with a new statement for you to review and agree to.

The Agree to our terms and conditions page is shown the cursor arrow selects the checkboxes indicating agreement then the cursor arrow selects Continue 

Narrator: Finally, upload electronic copies of your passport or government ID and proof of residence. Be sure to first open your files and verify that they are the correct documents before you upload them. Make sure they are clear and legible and your name and address matches the information you previously entered during the application. Once you've confirmed your files, you can drag them onto the upload screen or click browse your files to find them. When you're done, select the Continue button.

The Upload your documents page is shown and the instructions to verify your documents before uploading are shown on screen. The cursor arrow drags a document to the upload field to demonstrate, and the browse your files links are highlighted, then the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: The application will be submitted and reviewed by Schwab. Review and approval can take anywhere between 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the completeness of the information we receive. You'll receive an email if your account is approved and activated. Schwab may reach out to you if any questions arise or information needs clarification. Please do not fund your account until you are notified that your account has been activated. 

The Your application is currently being reviewed page is shown and bullets are shown on screen for each point spoken about review and approval

Video outro plays
Video Transcript

How to open an account

Upbeat music plays throughout

Video Introduction Plays

Narrator: For investors who live in Hong Kong or those who are non-US-residents who live in a qualifying country, you can open a Schwab Hong Kong U.S. Dollar account through Schwab Hong Kong. Before you begin, make sure you have electronic copies or scans of the documents you'll need to upload to open an account, including a valid passport or government ID, proof of residence. 

Required documents are listed on the screen

Narrator: Proof of residence can be a recent utility bill, bank statement, or recent home mortgage. We can only accept proof of residence that is issued within 3 months of account application. The document must show your full name, current home address and the date. If you're employed, have your employer's name and mailing address ready.

Proof of residence requirements spoken are listed on the screen

Narrator: The account application process should take 15 to 20 minutes. If you leave your computer idle before creating your login credentials, you will need to restart the process using a different email address later.

The information above is listed on the screen

Narrator: To begin, select what type of account you would like to open. For this example, we'll continue with an individual account. Closely review the statements about opening an international account if you agree select I agree.

The Let's open your Schwab Hong Kong U.S. Dollar Account page is shown with the opening statement; the cursor arrow selects the I agree button

Narrator: The next page will request personal and contact information. Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport or your other government ID that you will upload. Be sure to enter your date of birth using the prescribed month/day/year format. Provide your telephone number and email address then carefully review the disclaimers, and select Continue.

The Who's opening this account page is shown and sample info appears in the fields, the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: Enter your passport information or government ID information, copying the passport or ID number exactly as it appears and the expiration date in the format prescribed in the form, and select Continue.  A reminder to all Hong Kong resident that you must use your Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card as your identity proof, and if you're not yet a permanent resident, your Hong Kong Identity Card and current passport.

The Enter your Hong Kong ID number and passport information page is shown and sample info appears in the fields, the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: Enter your current home address, which is the address where you live most of the year. Please make sure this address matches the proof of residence document you'll be asked to upload later.

The Where do you live? page is shown and sample info appears in the fields, an additional note appears on screen "Note: Make sure your address matches the documents you'll upload later" – a blue transitional wipe crosses the screen

Narrator: Next, you'll be asked a few regulatory questions. These will include your investing purpose and source of wealth and funds, your employment status, and how, if at all, you're involved in a publicly traded company.

The above pages are briefly shown with blue transitions between each

Narrator: Next, a page will open where you can review all the information you've entered so far. If you'd like to make a change to any entry, click its corresponding link to Edit the information. Once you have completed your review, you can confirm your information is correct by selecting Continue.

The Let's review your information page is shown; the Edit links are highlighted then the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: Next, you'll be presented with a page of terms and conditions. Carefully review each disclosure and, if you agree, select the checkbox indicating that you acknowledge and agree. As you check each box, the following section will open with a new statement for you to review and agree to.

The Agree to our terms and conditions page is shown the cursor arrow selects the checkboxes indicating agreement then the cursor arrow selects Continue 

Narrator: Finally, upload electronic copies of your passport or government ID and proof of residence. Be sure to first open your files and verify that they are the correct documents before you upload them. Make sure they are clear and legible and your name and address matches the information you previously entered during the application. Once you've confirmed your files, you can drag them onto the upload screen or click browse your files to find them. When you're done, select the Continue button.

The Upload your documents page is shown and the instructions to verify your documents before uploading are shown on screen. The cursor arrow drags a document to the upload field to demonstrate, and the browse your files links are highlighted, then the cursor arrow selects Continue

Narrator: The application will be submitted and reviewed by Schwab. Review and approval can take anywhere between 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the completeness of the information we receive. You'll receive an email if your account is approved and activated. Schwab may reach out to you if any questions arise or information needs clarification. Please do not fund your account until you are notified that your account has been activated. 

The Your application is currently being reviewed page is shown and bullets are shown on screen for each point spoken about review and approval

Video outro plays

Read PDF: How to open a Schwab Hong Kong U.S. Dollar account

Choose an account type.

To get started, choose an account type from the options below. For additional information on the application process, review important things to know and the list of required documents.

Individual Account

Minimum to open: US$0

Continue

Joint Account

Minimum to open: US$0

You can use our online application process if the joint account will have two account holders. Please contact us if you plan to open an account with more than two account holders.

Joint tenants with right of survivorship Tenants in common

If you're interested in opening a corporate account with Schwab, please contact us to learn more.

Important things to know.

  • The application process from start to finish will take at least 15 minutes.
  • Leaving the application process or attempting to complete the process later may result in having to start the process over.
  • Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government ID or passport, including hyphens and spaces where applicable.
  • Residents of most foreign countries are required to provide either their Foreign Taxpayer Identification Number (FTIN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Gather your required documents and information.

If you haven't already, please gather the required documents below to ensure a smooth application process. Remember, you will need to upload these documents during the final step, so please ensure they're accessible on your device.

You will need:

  • Your tax ID Number or Social Security Number. Learn about tax IDs.
  • Your passport or Government ID. Tooltip
  • A recent utility bill (gas, electric, water, cable) or proof of residency. Tooltip
  • Your employer's name and mailing address, if applicable.
  • A printer and scanner to print, sign, and upload required documents.

Want to learn more?

Common questions

There is no minimum to open an account and no monthly service fees. Schwab believes in transparent pricing and is proud to offer US$0 online listed equity trade commissions and our satisfaction guarantee1. Please see our pricing page for more details on fees and commissions.

If you cannot finish the application after starting or leave the page idle for more than 15 minutes, you will be timed out and need to restart the process using a different email address. However, the "save and resume" function will be activated after you've set up your account login credentials. In this case, you can return to where you left off to resume the application process.

The postal code field only accommodates 5-10 digits. If the postal code in your country is more than 10 digits, please simply leave the field blank. 

Some countries' phone number have a "0" before the local phone number. You should not include the 0 as part of the phone number. Please simply enter the country code (such as +44 for UK) follow by the local phone number.

The name you enter on the application must match how it shows on your government ID or passport. It's very important for you to enter your first name (given name) and last name (surname/family name) correctly and completely. Otherwise, we'll need to request additional documents or reject your application.

The FTIN is the tax identification number you use to file taxes in your country of residence. It is similar to a Social Security Number in the United States. Please provide your foreign tax identification number (FTIN) or an explanation of why you don't have one. You can find the FTIN in your country here.

Form W-8BEN allows you to certify your foreign status and avoid U.S. backup withholding. If you live in a country with which the U.S. has a tax treaty, you may also use Form W-8BEN to claim a reduced rate of withholding on certain payments or distributions under the terms of the treaty. 

Your completed W-8BEN will be valid for the year in which it is signed plus three years. 

For example: If you opened an account and signed a W-8BEN form on July 30, 2024, the form will be valid until Dec. 31, 2027. 

If there are any changes in your circumstances that result in any information on the form to be no longer correct or valid, you will need to complete a new W-8BEN form with updated information.

Yes, you will be able to log in to your account after submitting the online application. However, you will not be able to fund your account and make any transactions until the account is fully approved.

You can fund your account once it is approved. You will receive email communications when your account is ready for funding.

It can take anywhere between three days to two weeks, depending on the completeness of your application and whether all required documents are uploaded properly and legible. We strive to process every account application as quickly as possible.

We're here to help.

  • Call

    New customers
    +852-2101-0511
    Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (HK Time)

    Existing customers
    +852-2101-0500
    Monday 5:30 am – Saturday 1:00 pm (HK Time)

  • Email

    Write to us

  • Visit us

    Charles Schwab, Hong Kong, Ltd.
    Room 3401, 34th Floor, Gloucester Tower,
    The Landmark, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

    Office hours
    Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (HK Time)