Hong KongActiveInvestor Programs

New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

HK$30 million total qualifying investment for high-net-worth individuals. This is a passive investor scheme, not an entrepreneur route.

Official program name

New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

Program category

Investing in a qualifying business, fund, or approved asset

Current status

Active and accepting applications

Best suited for

High-net-worth individuals with HK$30M+ net assets seeking passive-investment residency — not active founders

Overview

The New CIES requires a total qualifying investment of HK$30 million: HK$27 million in permissible financial assets or real estate (real estate capped at HK$10M, with a HK$50M+ threshold for a single property) plus HK$3 million into the CIES Investment Portfolio. This is fundamentally a passive investment scheme, not a founder or entrepreneur route — no active business operation is required. Enhanced measures effective March 1, 2025 shortened the net-asset holding period to 6 months and now allow jointly-owned and company/fund-held assets to count toward the threshold.

Minimum investment

HK$30,000,000 total (HK$27M permissible assets + HK$3M CIES Investment Portfolio)

Active involvement required

No — passive investment scheme

Residence status granted

Entry/stay permit, renewable; pathway to unconditional stay

Family inclusion

Yes

Spouse work rights

Yes

Permanent residence pathway

Conditional — permanent residence after 7 years of ordinary residence under general Hong Kong rules

Official source

newcies.gov.hk; info.gov.hk; familyofficehk.gov.hk

Directional guidance only, not investment or immigration advice. Confirm current asset-qualification rules directly with InvestHK. Last verified September 15, 2026.