Hong Kong golden visa (New CIES)

The scheme is open to foreign nationals, Chinese nationals with permanent residence abroad, Macao SAR residents and Chinese residents of Taiwan aged 18 or over. Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the DPRK are excluded. You need net assets of at least HK$30 million (or the foreign-currency equivalent) held throughout the six months before you apply for the net asset assessment, a clean immigration record, and the ability to support and house yourself and your dependants without relying on investment returns, employment, business or public assistance in Hong Kong.

The guidebook of the New CIES Office splits the investment into two parts. At least HK$27 million goes into permissible financial assets (equities, debt securities, certificates of deposit, subordinated debt, eligible collective investment schemes and limited partnership funds) and/or real estate. Real estate counts up to an aggregate cap of HK$15 million, of which residential property may count for no more than HK$10 million; private open-ended fund companies and private limited partnership funds are together capped at HK$10 million. The remaining HK$3 million must be placed in the CIES Investment Portfolio.

For net asset assessment applications submitted on or after 1 November 2026, the New CIES Office states that committed investments must be transacted through designated accounts, and financial assets held in non-designated accounts will not count towards the investment requirement.

First you apply to the New CIES Office for a net asset assessment, supported by a fulfilment document from a practising Certified Public Accountant, and receive a certifying proof that you meet the net asset requirement. Within its validity you submit the entry application to ImmD. With approval-in-principle you receive a visa to enter as a visitor for up to 180 days to make the committed investment within the set timeframe.

After investing, you obtain a second certifying proof from the New CIES Office showing that the investment requirements are met, and submit it to ImmD. On formal approval you are normally granted permission to stay for up to 24 months. From then on, a CPA fulfilment document is due after each anniversary to show that the portfolio is maintained.

Extensions are applied for within the three months before your stay expires and at least six weeks before, and are normally granted for up to three years at a time while you continue to meet the portfolio maintenance requirements; extension applicants must be in Hong Kong when applying and when paying for and collecting the e-Visa. After seven years of continuous ordinary residence you may apply for the right of abode. If you kept the investment for at least seven years but do not meet the residence requirement, the guidebook allows an application for unconditional stay after the seventh year.

A legally recognised spouse or civil partner and unmarried dependent children under 18 can join you; their stay is normally linked to yours. Each applicant pays the non-refundable HK$600 application fee and, after approval, the HK$1,300 issuance fee for stays over 180 days. The New CIES Office can be contacted on (852) 3904 3001 or newcies@investhk.gov.hk.