Global capital and family offices targeted as Hong Kong reinstates Capital Investment Entrant Scheme for attraction
The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) is set to return to Hong Kong on March 1, 2024, offering a pathway to residency through capital investment. To qualify, applicants must invest a minimum of HK$30 million (approximately US$3.8 million) in eligible assets.
The specific requirements and process for the New CIES are as follows:
- Net Asset Requirement: Applicants must first prove they meet the net asset threshold by submitting their documentation to the dedicated New CIES Office. Upon verification, they will receive a certifying proof needed to apply for an entry visa.
- Investment Threshold: A committed investment of at least HK$30 million must be made in approved financial instruments. These include funds (around 40% of investments), stocks (30%), bonds (10%), and other eligible options such as investment-linked assurance schemes, open-ended fund companies, real estate investment trusts, real estate, and specific New CIES investment portfolios.
- Verification and Timeline: Applicants receive an entry visa valid for up to 180 days to complete their investment. Once the investment is made, the New CIES Office verifies compliance with investment requirements and subsequently grants approval for residence status.
The investment options are primarily focused on financial assets regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Fund managers have been appointed for key investment portfolios dedicated to sectors like low-altitude economy, gerontechnology, smart lifestyle, and technology-driven culture and entertainment.
There is ongoing discussion about potentially allowing more property purchases to contribute towards the investment requirement, with the aim of supporting Hong Kong’s sluggish real estate market. However, the current framework emphasizes diversified asset classes rather than direct property acquisition alone.
The New CIES is expected to attract global asset owners and high-net-worth individuals to settle in Hong Kong, bringing in substantial capital injections and boosting wealth management and asset allocation activities in the city. As of mid-2025, over 1,500 applications and HK$46 billion in investment potential were reported, with more than 670 approvals representing HK$21 billion invested.
This influx significantly supports Hong Kong’s ambitions to remain a leading international asset and wealth management hub by increasing the diversity and volume of investable assets within the city, promoting innovation in emerging sectors through targeted fund investments, and strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a gateway for global capital into Asia. The New CIES is a strategic move to bolster Hong Kong's economic and financial ecosystem by leveraging investment migration to enhance its status as a premier global financial center.
- Applicants for the New CIES must invest a minimum of HK$30 million in eligible assets to qualify, with 40% of investments allocated to funds.
- The New CIES Office will verify the investment made in approved financial instruments, which include funds, stocks, bonds, investment-linked assurance schemes, open-ended fund companies, real estate investment trusts, real estate, and certain New CIES investment portfolios.
- Upon verification, the New CIES Office will grant approval for residence status to applicants who have met all requirements, including the investment threshold and net asset requirement.
- Key investment portfolios dedicated to sectors like low-altitude economy, gerontechnology, smart lifestyle, and technology-driven culture and entertainment are managed by appointed fund managers under the New CIES.
- While there are ongoing discussions to potentially allow property purchases to contribute towards the investment requirement, the current framework encourages diversified asset classes rather than direct property acquisition.
- The New CIES is anticipated to bring in substantial capital injections from global asset owners and high-net-worth individuals, boosting wealth management and asset allocation activities in Hong Kong.
