The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) published a service guide establishing a “one-stop” process that links Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) qualification approval with the subsequent account-opening steps, as a joint initiative with the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The guide aims to streamline market entry for foreign investors by reducing procedural steps, documentation requirements, processing time and in-person visits, and by integrating previously separate handling procedures and materials. In parallel, the CSRC revised its QFI qualification approval guidance to increase approval efficiency, including a committed processing timeframe of five working days and a “green channel” for QFI applications from overseas sovereign funds and other allocation-oriented investors. Next, the CSRC said it will continue to optimize QFI market access procedures while maintaining entry controls, improve service quality and support the expansion of onshore channels as part of broader efforts to standardize and simplify government services.
China Securities Regulatory Commission 2025-10-27
China Securities Regulatory Commission issues one-stop service guide for Qualified Foreign Investor approval and account opening
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), with the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, introduced a guide to streamline the Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) qualification and account-opening process. It reduces procedural steps and documentation to enhance market entry efficiency. The CSRC also revised its QFI approval guidance to expedite processing, including a five-day timeframe and a "green channel" for certain investors.