Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China · investor · Leads to settlement
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 13 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Investment-migration route relaunched in 2024 for people who place a substantial sum in permissible Hong Kong assets.
- Processing time
- Processing involves both eligibility (net-asset) assessment and investment verification; refer to the official page for current arrangements and timing.
- Government fees
- A visa/entry permit fee applies on issuance, separate from the required investment. Refer to the Immigration Department fee schedule on the official page.
- Typical duration
- Initial stay granted under the scheme, renewable while the investment and asset requirements continue to be met.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 12 July 2026, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China is an unsponsored Hong Kong immigration route. Sources: official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China government pages, reviewed 12 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/hong-kong/capital-investment-entrant-scheme#answer
What is the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China?
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) is an unsponsored Hong Kong route. Indicative government fees are A visa/entry permit fee applies on issuance, separate from the required investment. Refer to the Immigration Department fee schedule on the official page; indicative processing time is Processing involves both eligibility (net-asset) assessment and investment verification; refer to the official page for current arrangements and timing; typical duration is Initial stay granted under the scheme, renewable while the investment and asset requirements continue to be met. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was launched on 1 March 2024, reviving an investor-migration route that had been suspended since January 2015. Eligible applicants must demonstrate substantial net assets and invest a minimum sum in permissible investment assets denominated in Hong Kong dollars, such as listed equities, debt securities, certificates of deposit and eligible collective investment schemes, while keeping the investment in place. The route is open to defined categories of foreign nationals and certain Chinese nationals with permanent residency elsewhere.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓At least 18 years of age at the time of application.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓Falls within an eligible applicant category, such as foreign nationals or Chinese nationals with permanent residency in a foreign country.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓Demonstrates net assets at or above the threshold set by the scheme over the required period before applying.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓Invests at least the minimum required sum in permissible investment assets denominated in Hong Kong dollars.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ✓No security objection and no known record of serious crime.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
Common blockers
- !Net assets below the scheme threshold over the required look-back period.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- !Investing in assets that are not on the permissible list or not Hong Kong-dollar denominated.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- !Failing to maintain the required investment throughout the qualifying period.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- !Falling outside the defined eligible applicant categories.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Passport and personal particulars and proof of eligible applicant category.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ·Audited or professionally verified evidence of net assets over the required period.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ·Records of the qualifying investment in permissible assets.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
- ·Source-of-funds documentation for the invested sum.Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm you fall within an eligible category and can meet the net-asset and investment thresholds.
Build the evidence pack
Assemble net-asset evidence and plan the qualifying investment in permissible assets.
Submit through the official channel
Apply to the Immigration Department and complete the investment within the scheme framework.
After approval
Maintain the investment, renew as required and build toward seven-year residence.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Hong Kong. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES).
Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR) · verified
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Frequently asked questions
When was the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme relaunched?+
The original scheme was suspended from 15 January 2015. The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was launched on 1 March 2024, with an updated minimum investment requirement and an updated list of permissible investment assets denominated in Hong Kong dollars.
What can the investment be placed in?+
Permissible investment assets include defined categories such as Hong Kong-listed equities, debt securities, certificates of deposit, subordinated debt and eligible collective investment schemes, all denominated in Hong Kong dollars. The exact permissible-asset list and the minimum investment sum are set out on the official scheme page, which you should check before committing funds.
What's the difference between the entrepreneur route and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme?+
The entrepreneur route under the General Employment Policy has no single fixed minimum figure and assesses whether your business makes a substantial contribution to the economy, while the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme is built around a minimum investment in permissible Hong Kong-dollar assets and does not require running a business. Check both official pages before committing funds.
Can a Chinese national use the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme?+
The scheme is open to defined categories, which include certain Chinese nationals who hold permanent residency in another country, alongside eligible foreign nationals. Verify whether your specific status falls within the eligible categories on the official scheme page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Hong KongHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR)
Last checked: 1 June 2026