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Hong Kong investment immigration
Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)
Invest HKD 30 million in permissible assets and live in Hong Kong with your family.
Reviewed by Oscar Yip · Updated October 2026
Programme overview
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) lets investors with the required net assets come to live in Hong Kong through investment. You invest a total of HKD 30 million: HKD 27 million in permissible investment assets and HKD 3 million in the CIES Investment Portfolio managed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation.
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Total investmentHKD 30,000,000
Permissible investment assetsHKD 27,000,000
CIES Investment PortfolioHKD 3,000,000
FamilySpouse and unmarried children under 18
Summary
CIES applicants must show net assets of at least HKD 30 million held continuously for the six months before applying, and invest a total of HKD 30 million: HKD 27 million in permissible investment assets (including shares, bonds, funds and real estate) and HKD 3 million in the CIES Investment Portfolio. Since September 2025, real estate counts for up to HKD 15 million in total, of which residential property counts for up to HKD 10 million and must be a single property bought for HKD 30 million or more (this applies to properties whose purchase was completed on or after 17 September 2025; earlier purchases follow the previous rules).
Key benefits of CIES
- No education or language testYou must be 18 or over and meet the asset and investment rules; you need not work or run a business in Hong Kong.
- Free to work or start a businessOnce admitted you may take a job, be self-employed or set up a business; dependants may also work or study.
- Bring your spouse and childrenYour spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 can join you – up to eight per online application, and more can apply later.
- No top-up if markets fallEven if the portfolio falls below HKD 30 million you need not top it up; you simply must not reduce the committed investment.
- Flexible asset choicesShares, bonds, funds and real estate all count (real estate capped at HKD 15 million), and assets can be held via an eligible wholly-owned private company.
- Permanent residence after 7 yearsAfter seven years of continuous ordinary residence you can apply for Hong Kong permanent residence with the right of abode.
- A route even without 7 years' residenceIf you keep the investment for seven years but do not meet the residence requirement, you can apply for unconditional stay.
- Free to sell once settledAfter permanent residence or unconditional stay, you may dispose of the investments, subject to their own terms.
- Simple, low taxesHong Kong has no capital gains tax, dividend tax or estate duty, and no withholding tax on dividends or interest.
Why Global Immigrate for CIES
- families approved
- 8+
- approval rate
- 100%
- offering this programme since
- 2024
GI Group property team
GI Group’s property team helps you find, negotiate and buy — and later manage lettings.
Clear, transparent fees
All service fees and third-party costs are set out in writing before you sign — no hidden charges — and our refund terms are explained clearly.
Planning beyond immigration
GI Group’s teams can handle pre-immigration tax, asset allocation, your children’s education and overseas property at the same time, so the arrangements never conflict.
Requirements
Applicants generally need to meet the following:
- Aged 18 or over
- A foreign national, a Chinese national with permanent residence in a foreign country, a Macao SAR resident or a Chinese resident of Taiwan (nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea are excluded); Mainland Chinese nationals must first hold permanent residence abroad
- Net assets of at least HKD 30 million held continuously for the six months before applying
- HKD 27 million invested in permissible investment assets
- HKD 3 million invested in the CIES Investment Portfolio
- Investments maintained throughout your stay
Investment rules
Investment requirements in detail
You must first pass the net asset assessment, then within a set deadline invest a total of HKD 30 million in your own name (or through an eligible wholly-owned private company): at least HKD 27 million in the permissible investment assets below and HKD 3 million in the CIES Investment Portfolio managed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC). The investment must be maintained throughout your stay, but you need not top it up if its market value falls.
Equities
CapNo cap
Requirements
Listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and traded in HKD or RMB
Debt securities
CapNo cap
Requirements
Denominated in HKD or RMB; SEHK-listed bonds, or bonds issued or fully guaranteed by the HKSAR Government, Exchange Fund, HKMC, MTR, Airport Authority, other specified bodies or listed companies
Certificates of deposit
CapHKD 3 million
Requirements
HKD or RMB, issued by authorised institutions; at least 12 months to maturity when bought, held to maturity and then reinvested in permissible assets
Subordinated debt
CapNo cap
Requirements
HKD or RMB, issued by authorised institutions
Eligible collective investment schemes
CapNo cap
Requirements
SFC-authorised unit trusts and mutual funds, REITs and investment-linked assurance schemes, and qualifying open-ended fund companies (private OFCs fall under the HKD 10 million private fund cap below)
Limited partnership fund interests
CapPrivate funds HKD 10 million combined
Requirements
Funds registered under the Limited Partnership Fund Ordinance; private LPFs and private OFCs share a HKD 10 million cap
Non-residential real estate
CapReal estate HKD 15 million combined
Requirements
Offices, shops, industrial property and similar, including off-plan; excludes land and partly residential property
Residential real estate
CapHKD 10 million (within the combined cap)
Requirements
One single property with a transaction price of HKD 30 million or more (completed on or after 17 September 2025; HKD 50 million before), completed on or after 16 October 2024
CIES Investment Portfolio
CapFixed HKD 3 million
Requirements
Paid into a designated account, then placed in the HKIC-managed portfolio by the deadline; subject to a lock-up, with operational arrangements as announced by HKIC
Net assets and investment deadlines
- You must have held net assets of at least HKD 30 million throughout the six months before the net asset assessment application (two years before 1 March 2025); only assets you are absolutely beneficially entitled to count, net of charges and liabilities
- Assets held jointly with family members count only for your share; assets held jointly with non-family members (such as business partners) are not accepted
- A practising CPA must issue the supporting document, which must be lodged within 14 days; assets not publicly traded need a valuation report
- The investment can be made within 180 days before the net asset assessment application, or within 180 days after approval-in-principle (when you may stay as a visitor for up to 180 days)
- If the HKD 3 million is not placed in the CIES Investment Portfolio by the deadline, the minimum investment threshold is treated as not met
How assets are held
- Assets must be held in your own name or, since 1 March 2025, through up to three eligible wholly-owned private companies
- Such a company must be incorporated in Hong Kong, wholly owned by you and hold only permissible investment assets, and be a family-owned investment holding vehicle (FIHV) or a family-owned special purpose entity under one; the FIHV must have at least two full-time staff and HKD 2 million of annual operating expenditure in Hong Kong, and be managed by an eligible single family office with at least HKD 240 million of aggregate net asset value (conditions updated on 1 March 2026)
- Financial assets must be held in designated accounts with up to three eligible financial intermediaries, no more than one of each type (authorised institution, Type 1 or Type 9 licensed corporation, Class C insurer)
- For net asset assessment applications lodged on or after 1 November 2026, financial assets counted towards the committed investment must be transacted through designated accounts; transfers from non-designated to designated accounts are no longer accepted
What does not count and restrictions
- Assets acquired before 1 March 2024 do not count
- Only the asset classes in the table count; ordinary bank deposits, shares not listed on SEHK and securities not denominated in HKD or RMB are excluded
- Real estate may be bought with a mortgage, but only your equity counts; the loan must come from a Hong Kong licensed lender and refinancing cannot increase it
- Permissible assets may not be pledged as security for any debt, and financial assets may not be bought with borrowing secured on them
- Land, unauthorised structures, boats, houseboats and cocklofts do not qualify; real estate completed before 17 September 2025 remains subject to the old HKD 10 million combined cap
Maintaining the investment
- You must not reduce the committed investment while you stay; if its market value falls below HKD 30 million, even to zero, no top-up is required
- Capital gains generally cannot be withdrawn; dividends, interest and rent may be kept
- Sale proceeds must be fully reinvested in permissible assets: within 14 days between financial assets, 3 months from property to property and 2 months between property and financial assets in either direction; in the meantime the money must sit in a Hong Kong bank deposit or an SFC-authorised money market fund
- Changes must be reported within 7 working days, and a CPA compliance document filed within one month of each anniversary of formal approval
- After seven years of continuous ordinary residence you can apply for permanent residence; if you do not meet the residence requirement but have complied with the scheme for seven years, you can apply for unconditional stay, after which you may dispose of the assets subject to their own terms
Based on the New CIES Scheme Rules (as amended 1 March 2026) and New CIES Office notices, as of November 2026; rules may change.
Our three guarantees
Full service-fee refund if refused
Guaranteed in your service agreement: if your application is refused, we refund the service fees you have paid in full — or you can switch to another suitable programme at no extra charge.
No extra charge for further documents or resubmission
If the authorities request further documents, or an application must be resubmitted, we handle it at no additional service fee.
Handled by professionals, fee fixed at signing
Every application is prepared and reviewed by our professional immigration team. Your service fee is fixed when you sign, with no additional charges afterwards.
Service fees exclude investment amounts, government fees and third-party costs. Refusals caused by false or incomplete information, or by the applicant not cooperating as required, are not eligible for a refund. Full terms are set out in the service agreement.
Free CIES brochure
Covers the requirements, process and timeline, a fee overview and FAQs. Leave your details and we’ll send it to you.
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If you can’t see it, please check your spam folder. A consultant may also contact you to answer any questions about the programme.
Application process
- Asset assessment2–4 weeksWe review your proof of net assets and investment plan.
- Net asset assessmentSeveral monthsSubmit the application and pass the net asset assessment.
- Make the investmentsWithin the required periodComplete the permissible investments as required.
- ResidenceAfter approvalReceive your visa and extend when the conditions are met.
Pathway to PR and citizenship
- Hong Kong residence visaDepends on the net asset and investment checks
Residence as an investor, with no need to work in Hong Kong; your spouse and children under 18 can join as dependants.
While on this statusTo renew you must show you still hold the permissible investments (no top-up if their value falls); Hong Kong must be your place of ordinary residence for the 7 years — there is no set number of days, but you must explain any absence of more than 6 months in a row when applying for PR
- Hong Kong permanent residenceAfter 7 years of continuous ordinary residence
Apply for a Hong Kong permanent identity card with the right of abode; no more visa renewals. If you do not meet the residence requirement for permanent residence, you can instead apply for unconditional stay after seven years of continuous compliance with the scheme. Hong Kong has no separate nationality: Chinese nationals with permanent residence can get an HKSAR passport, while others must first apply for Chinese nationality, which is strictly assessed.
Keeping permanent statusChinese nationals keep permanent residence regardless of absence; non-Chinese permanent residents who are away for 36 months in a row lose the right of abode and instead hold the right to land (they can still live and work in Hong Kong without a visa)
General information only; requirements follow each country’s latest rules and can vary with your circumstances.
CIES client stories
Client storyComparing permissible assets for a balanced CIES allocation
Ms Kung’s CIES experience. She wanted to come to Hong Kong through CIES while allocating her assets well.
Read the full storyClient storyGroup asset management alongside immigration, planned togetherMr Mak’s CIES experience. He wanted Hong Kong as a base for managing his assets.
Read the full storyClient storyPlanning family wealth through the New Capital Investment Entrant SchemeMr Tseng’s CIES experience. He wanted Hong Kong as the base for managing the family’s wealth.
Read the full storyCompared with other options: Hong Kong
See the Hong Kong overview| Programme | Investment | Status | Typical timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) | No investment or job offer needed | Residence (permanent residence after seven years) | Usually about 4 weeks | Annual income of HKD 2.5 million or more, or a degree from an eligible university |
| Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) | No investment or job offer needed | Residence (permanent residence after seven years) | Depends on selection; no official time published | Well-rounded professionals who do not qualify for TTPS |
| Hong Kong General Employment Policy (GEP) / Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents (ASMTP) | No investment; Hong Kong employer needed | Residence (employment visa) | Usually a few weeks | Professionals already hired by a Hong Kong employer |
| Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)This programme | HKD 30,000,000 | Residence (permanent residence after seven years) | Depends on net asset and investment review | High-net-worth individuals and families |
CIES FAQ
Can I invest in real estate?
Yes. Since September 2025, real estate counts for up to HKD 15 million in total; residential property counts for up to HKD 10 million and must be a single property bought for HKD 30 million or more (this applies to properties whose purchase was completed on or after 17 September 2025; earlier purchases follow the previous rules).
Can I hold the investments through a company?
Yes. Since 1 March 2025 (with conditions updated on 1 March 2026), applicants can hold permissible investment assets through an eligible Hong Kong private holding company that they wholly own.
Do I need to live in Hong Kong?
CIES mainly requires you to maintain your investments; how long you live in Hong Kong affects your later eligibility for permanent residence.
When can I apply for Hong Kong permanent residence?
After ordinarily residing in Hong Kong for a continuous period of seven years in a recognised status, and making Hong Kong your permanent home, you can apply for Hong Kong permanent residence. If you do not meet the residence requirement, you can instead apply for unconditional stay after seven years of continuous compliance with the scheme.
Sources
- InvestHK: New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
- Hong Kong Immigration Department
- New CIES: Rules for the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
- New CIES: Guidebook (simplified version)
- HKSAR Government press release: LCQ9: New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (26 March 2025, on the enhancements effective 1 March 2025)
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