MPF(S)-W(SD2) Statutory Declaration for Hong Kong MPF Withdrawal
Left Hong Kong for good? Have your MPF(S)-W(SD2) statutory declaration sworn before a qualified London notary so your trustee can release your accrued benefits — done properly, sealed correctly, and accepted first time.
Why claim your MPF now you’ve left Hong Kong?
Your Mandatory Provident Fund is your money — contributions you and your employers built up over your working life in Hong Kong. If you have permanently relocated to the UK, that pot does not have to sit untouched in a Hong Kong scheme until you turn 65. Permanent departure is one of the recognised grounds for early withdrawal, and it lets you bring your retirement savings with you.
There are good reasons to deal with it sooner rather than later:
- It is your money to move. Rather than leaving a forgotten pot behind, you can consolidate your savings into your UK pension or ISA planning where you can actually see and manage it.
- Permanent departure is a one-time right. You can only make a successful claim on this ground once, so it pays to do it properly — a rejected declaration means going back to square one.
- The paperwork is straightforward with the right help. The one part you cannot do yourself is the statutory declaration — that must be sworn before a notary. That is where we come in.
This is not tax or investment advice — what you do with the funds once released is your decision, and you may wish to take independent financial advice. Our role is the notarial step that unlocks the claim.
Why do you need a notary for the MPF(S)-W(SD2) form?
If you have permanently relocated from Hong Kong to the UK — very often on the BN(O) visa route — you do not have to wait until age 65 to touch your Mandatory Provident Fund. You can apply to withdraw your MPF accrued benefits early on the ground of permanent departure from Hong Kong. The key document the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) requires is the MPF(S)-W(SD2): a statutory declaration confirming you have left, or are leaving, Hong Kong with no intention of returning for employment or to resettle.
Because you are now outside Hong Kong, that declaration cannot simply be signed at home. The MPFA rules require it to be made before, and signed and sealed by, a notary public — or another person authorised under local law to administer an oath or statutory declaration. A UK notary verifies your identity, formally administers the declaration and applies an official notarial seal that MPF trustees recognise. A notary is not the same as a commissioner for oaths — for a document going overseas, the trustee needs a notary’s internationally recognised seal. Get the wrong person to witness it, or miss the seal, and the trustee will reject your claim.
That is exactly what we do every week for Hongkongers now living in London and across the UK. As a notarisation service regulated by the Faculty Office, we make sure your declaration meets MPF compliance standards the first time — so your benefits are released without delay.
How much does it cost?
One simple fixed fee to administer and notarise your MPF(S)-W(SD2) declaration. Confirmed before your appointment — never a surprise.
MPF(S)-W(SD2) Declaration
Identity check, administration of the statutory declaration, notarial signature and seal.
Couples & Families
Each scheme member makes their own declaration. We can see you together in a single appointment — ask about a reduced fee for a second declaration.
Apostille (if required)
Most trustees accept a notarised declaration without one. If yours asks for further authentication, we arrange an apostille.
Book Your MPF(S)-W(SD2) Appointment
Tell us your preferred date and we’ll confirm your fixed-fee appointment — usually within the hour. Same-day slots often available. Prefer to speak Chinese? Just let us know and we’ll have a Chinese-speaking colleague assist you.
How does the notarisation process work?
Three simple steps from booking to a sealed declaration ready for your MPF trustee.
Book & prepare
Book online or by phone. Download the MPF(S)-W(SD2) form and bring it unsigned, with your ID and proof you can reside in the UK.
Swear before the notary
At our Wigmore Street office we verify your identity, you sign the declaration in front of the notary, and we administer the oath or affirmation.
Sealed & ready to submit
We sign and apply our notarial seal. You take the original away the same day to submit to your MPF trustee via the eMPF Platform.
How do you claim your MPF from the UK?
Claiming your MPF on the ground of permanent departure is a five-step process. The notarised statutory declaration sits at the heart of it — here is the whole journey so you know what to expect.
- Find your MPF trustee. Your MPF is held by a trustee such as Manulife, HSBC, Sun Life, AIA, Principal or BCT. Check an old MPF statement or annual benefit statement for the scheme name and your member/account number.
- Get the MPF(S)-W(SD2) form. Download the “Claim for Payment of Accrued Benefits on Ground of Permanent Departure from Hong Kong” form (which includes the MPF(S)-W(SD2) statutory declaration) from your trustee or the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) website.
- Gather your supporting documents. Your photo ID (passport or HKID) and documentary proof you can reside outside Hong Kong — most commonly a BN(O) visa, indefinite leave to remain or a residence permit.
- Have the declaration notarised. Bring the unsigned form and your documents to us. We verify your identity, you sign in front of the notary, and we seal the declaration — a fixed £125 plus VAT, usually in under 20 minutes.
- Submit the original and get paid. Send the original notarised declaration and supporting documents to your trustee through the eMPF Platform (or your trustee’s process). Once your application is complete, benefits are typically paid within 30 days.
The only step you cannot complete on your own is step four — and that is exactly the part we handle for you.
How do you complete the MPF(S)-W(SD2) form?
The form is short, but a few small mistakes are the usual reason a claim bounces back. Follow these do’s and don’ts and it will go through cleanly.
Do
- Fill in your personal details, HKID number and your MPF scheme/member account number so everything matches your trustee’s records.
- Tick “permanent departure from Hong Kong” as the ground for withdrawal.
- Bring your supporting documents — the notary and your trustee both need to see proof you can reside abroad.
- Bring the form complete but unsigned — you must sign the declaration in front of the notary.
- After notarisation, submit the original sealed declaration to your trustee, and keep a copy for your own records.
Don’t
- Don’t sign or date the declaration before your appointment — a pre-signed declaration cannot be notarised and will be rejected.
- Don’t have it witnessed by a friend, employer or ordinary solicitor — outside Hong Kong it must be a notary (or someone locally authorised to take a statutory declaration).
- Don’t send a photocopy or scan to your trustee when an original is required — the eMPF Platform expects the original sealed document.
- Don’t leave the ground for withdrawal or your account number blank — missing details are the most common cause of delay.
Not sure whether your form is the right version or how to fill a particular box? Bring it to your appointment and we’ll check it with you before you sign.
Why choose Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers?
We know the MPF process
We regularly notarise MPF(S)-W(SD2) declarations for clients who have moved from Hong Kong, so we know exactly what trustees expect.
Faculty Office regulated
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers is regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a member of the Notaries Society.
Fixed fee, no surprises
£125 plus VAT per declaration, confirmed up front. No hourly billing, no hidden extras.
Central London, same day
A short walk from Oxford Circus and Bond Street at 19 Wigmore Street. See our full range of notary public services — same-day and next-day appointments are usually available.
Chinese speaker available
Would you prefer to talk through your MPF claim in Chinese? We have a Chinese-speaking colleague on the team — just let us know when you book and we’ll arrange it.
Trusted by clients across London
“I moved to London on the BN(O) visa and needed my MPF declaration notarised. Quick, clearly explained and my trustee accepted it without any issue.”
— Verified Google review
“Professional and efficient. They knew the Hong Kong MPF paperwork straight away and had me in and out in twenty minutes with everything sealed.”
— Verified Google review
Rated 5 stars by clients on Google. Search “Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers” to read our reviews.
What documents do you need to bring?
Bring the following to your appointment so we can complete your declaration in one visit:
The MPF(S)-W(SD2) form — completed but unsigned. You must sign it in front of the notary. Download it from your trustee or the MPFA website.
Photo identity — a valid passport or Hong Kong identity card. See our guide to acceptable forms of ID for a notary.
Proof you can reside outside Hong Kong — for example your BN(O) visa, indefinite leave to remain, residence permit or similar.
MPF account details — your scheme member or account number, so the declaration matches your trustee’s records.
Not sure a statutory declaration is what you need? Read more about statutory declarations and how they differ from an affidavit, or learn what a notary public does. We also handle other statutory declaration services and a full range of notarised documents for use abroad. If you speak Chinese or have connections in mainland China, we also offer dedicated Chinese notary services and document authentication for China, with a Chinese-speaking notary available.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MPF(S)-W(SD2) form?+
The MPF(S)-W(SD2) is the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority’s statutory declaration form. It is used by MPF scheme members who have permanently left Hong Kong to declare that they have departed, or will depart, with no intention of returning for employment or resettlement — which is one of the grounds on which you can withdraw your MPF accrued benefits early.
Why does the MPF(S)-W(SD2) need to be notarised?+
Because you are outside Hong Kong, the MPFA requires the declaration to be made before, signed and sealed by a notary public, or another person authorised under local law to administer an oath or statutory declaration. A UK notary confirms your identity, administers the declaration and applies an official notarial seal that MPF trustees recognise. Using the wrong witness is a common reason claims are rejected.
Can I claim MPF on permanent departure more than once?+
No. Withdrawal on the ground of permanent departure from Hong Kong is a one-time claim. If you have previously withdrawn MPF on this ground, trustees will not pay again on the same ground with a later departure date. It is worth making sure you are ready to claim your full entitlement before you swear the declaration.
What do I need to bring to the appointment?+
Bring the completed but unsigned MPF(S)-W(SD2) form, a valid photo identity document such as your passport or Hong Kong identity card, and documentary proof that you are permitted to reside outside Hong Kong — for example your BN(O) visa, indefinite leave to remain or a residence permit. Your MPF account details are useful too.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?+
The fixed fee is £125 plus VAT per declaration, confirmed before your appointment. A single declaration usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes at our Wigmore Street office, and same-day appointments are often available. Once your trustee has a complete application, MPF benefits are typically paid within 30 days.
Does the notarised declaration need an apostille?+
In most cases MPF trustees accept a declaration notarised by a UK notary public without an apostille. Some trustees may ask for further authentication, so it is best to check your trustee’s requirements first. If an apostille is needed, we can arrange FCDO legalisation for you.
How do I submit the notarised declaration to my trustee?+
Send the original sealed MPF(S)-W(SD2) declaration, together with your supporting documents, to your MPF trustee — such as Manulife, HSBC, Sun Life or AIA — through the eMPF Platform or your trustee’s own process. Keep a copy for your records. Once your application is complete, benefits are usually paid within 30 days.
My spouse and I both have MPF — can we come together?+
Yes. Each scheme member must make their own MPF(S)-W(SD2) declaration, but we can see you in the same appointment. Ask us about a reduced fee for a second declaration made at the same visit.
Edward Young Notaries & Lawyers is a firm of notaries public based in central London, regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury and a member of the Notaries Society. Our notaries are also members of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners). We notarise statutory declarations, powers of attorney and documents for use overseas for individuals and businesses across the UK and internationally.
Address: 19 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1PH
Phone: +44 20 7499 2605
Email: notary@notarypubliclondon.co.uk
Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:30
Regulated by: The Faculty Office · Member of: The Notaries Society · STEP Qualified
Ready to release your MPF benefits?
Book your fixed-fee MPF(S)-W(SD2) statutory declaration with a Faculty Office–regulated London notary. Same-day appointments available — most declarations take under 20 minutes.