Hong Kong’s New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) was launched on 1 March 2024. InvestHK assesses applicants’ assets and investments, and the Immigration Department decides on visas. Two requirements sit at the centre of the scheme: net assets of at least HK$30 million held throughout the six months before the net asset assessment application, and an investment of at least HK$30 million in permissible investment assets. This guide follows the public information from the Immigration Department and InvestHK as at 11 October 2026, with a link to the official page for each requirement.

1. Who can apply

According to the Immigration Department’s scheme page, an applicant must meet these criteria:

  • Age: 18 or above when applying to InvestHK for the net asset assessment.
  • Coverage: foreign nationals; Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country; Macao Special Administrative Region residents; and Chinese residents of Taiwan. Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are excluded.
  • Net assets: absolute beneficial ownership of net assets or net equity with a market value of not less than HK$30 million (or equivalent in foreign currencies) throughout the six months before the net asset assessment application. The applicant’s share of assets jointly owned with family members can be counted.
  • Investment: not less than HK$30 million (or equivalent in foreign currencies) invested in permissible investment assets that the applicant absolutely beneficially owns.
  • No adverse immigration record, and normal immigration and security requirements are met.
  • Ability to support and accommodate himself or herself and any dependants without relying on the permissible investment assets, on income from employment or business in Hong Kong, or on public assistance.

Mainland Chinese residents who have not obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country are not covered.

2. How the HK$30 million is allocated

InvestHK’s investment requirements page splits the HK$30 million into two parts: at least HK$27 million in permissible financial assets and/or real estate, plus HK$3 million placed into the CIES Investment Portfolio. Assets bought before the scheme’s launch date (1 March 2024) are not counted.

Permissible financial assets

  • Equities of companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and traded in Hong Kong dollars or Renminbi.
  • Debt securities: those listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and traded in Hong Kong dollars or Renminbi, and Hong Kong dollar or Renminbi denominated debt securities issued or fully guaranteed by the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Exchange Fund, the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation, MTR Corporation, the Airport Authority Hong Kong and similar bodies, or by listed companies.
  • Certificates of deposit issued by authorized institutions and denominated in Hong Kong dollars or Renminbi, with at least 12 months to maturity when bought. The amount counted is capped at HK$3 million, and they must be bought after approval-in-principle is given.
  • Subordinated debt issued by authorized institutions.
  • Eligible collective investment schemes: SFC-authorised funds, SFC-authorised real estate investment trusts, SFC-authorised investment-linked assurance schemes, open-ended fund companies, and ownership interest in limited partnership funds. Private open-ended fund companies and private limited partnership funds are together capped at HK$10 million.

Real estate

Real estate can be counted, subject to caps: the total amount of real estate counted towards the minimum investment threshold is capped at HK$15 million, of which residential real estate is capped at HK$10 million.

  • Non-residential real estate: commercial and industrial properties in Hong Kong, including offices, commercial buildings, retail units and factory buildings (including pre-completion properties), but not land or multi-purpose properties partly used for residential purposes.
  • Residential real estate: the transaction price of the single property must be HK$30 million or above, and the purchase must be completed on or after 16 October 2024.
  • Transitional rule: for real estate with a completion date before 17 September 2025, the cap remains HK$10 million; for a residential property completed before that date, the transaction price must still be HK$50 million or above.

The HK$3 million portfolio

The CIES Investment Portfolio is set up and overseen by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited, with capital expected to go to innovation and technology and related areas. The HK$3 million is subject to a lock-up period, and InvestHK states that the portfolio does not guarantee capital preservation or dividend distribution. The lock-up and exit arrangements follow the operating details published by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation.

3. Application steps

InvestHK’s overview of procedures sets out these stages:

  1. Net asset assessment: apply to the New CIES Office of InvestHK to verify net assets, and receive a certificate once the requirement is met.
  2. Entry application and approval-in-principle: apply to the Immigration Department within the validity of the certificate. With approval-in-principle, the applicant may enter Hong Kong as a visitor for not more than 180 days to make the committed investment.
  3. Investment requirement assessment: after investing, engage a certified public accountant (practising) at the applicant’s own cost to help demonstrate compliance, and apply to InvestHK for verification.
  4. Formal approval: the Immigration Department continues to process the application and grants formal approval to eligible applicants.
  5. Anniversary reporting: within one month after each anniversary of formal approval, submit documents through a certified public accountant showing that the portfolio maintenance requirements are met.

4. Length of stay and extensions

  • On formal approval, the applicant and dependants are normally permitted to stay for not more than 24 months.
  • Extension: not earlier than three months before the limit of stay expires, apply to InvestHK to verify continued compliance with the portfolio maintenance requirements, and apply to the Immigration Department for an extension. Eligible applicants are normally granted an extension of not more than three years, and each later extension is also for not more than three years.
  • Dependants: a spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 can apply under the dependant policy.
  • After seven years: a person who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in accordance with the law. A person who cannot meet the ordinary residence requirement but has met the portfolio maintenance requirements for not less than seven continuous years may apply for unconditional stay.

Extension applications should be made within three months before the limit of stay expires and in any case at least six weeks before expiry. The Immigration Department notes that not all extension applications will be approved.

5. Two updates in 2026

  • From 1 March 2026, an applicant may hold the investment through a wholly owned private company, provided the company is a family-owned investment holding vehicle or a family-owned special purpose entity under it and is managed by an eligible single family office, among other conditions. See InvestHK’s new measures page.
  • InvestHK’s website announces that, for net asset assessment applications submitted on or after 1 November 2026, financial assets bought through non-designated accounts will no longer meet the investment requirements. Financial assets counted towards the committed investment must be transacted through a designated account.

FAQ

Can a residential property count towards the HK$30 million?

Yes, with conditions. The transaction price of the single residential property must be HK$30 million or above, and the amount counted is capped at HK$10 million. Together with non-residential real estate, no more than HK$15 million of real estate can be counted.

How long must the net assets be held?

Under the current rules, throughout the six months before the date of the net asset assessment application.

Does an extension require proof of working in Hong Kong?

The extension assessment looks at continued compliance with the portfolio maintenance requirements and normal immigration requirements. Anyone planning to apply for the right of abode later must separately meet the statutory requirement of ordinarily residing in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years.

Can the HK$3 million in the portfolio be withdrawn at any time?

No. It is subject to a lock-up period, and the timing of any exit afterwards depends on market liquidity and the fund managers’ realisation strategy. The portfolio does not guarantee capital preservation.

Official sources

This article summarises published rules only and is not investment or legal advice. For scheme details, refer to InvestHK’s New CIES website and the Immigration Department’s official pages.