This webpage sets out the entry arrangements for persons who wish to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for residence under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (hereafter “New CIES”).
The New CIES seeks to further enrich the talent pool and attract more new capital to Hong Kong. This will strengthen the development of our asset and wealth management business, financial services and related professional services.
The New CIES does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Individuals who apply to enter Hong Kong, and/or remain in Hong Kong, pursuant to the Scheme are subject to the Rules for the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (“the New Scheme Rules”).
Subject to the terms of the New Scheme Rules, an Applicant who satisfies the following criteria will be eligible for applying for admission into Hong Kong for residence under the New CIES:
Note 1:
Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, and Democratic People's Republic of Korea are to be excluded. The list of excluded countries/regions will be reviewed by the Security Bureau (“SB”)/Immigration Department (“ImmD”) from time to time. Stateless persons who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country with proven re-entry facilities will be eligible under the Scheme.
Note 2:
For more details on Net Asset Requirement, Investment Requirements and Portfolio Maintenance Requirements, please refer to the New Scheme Rules.
Persons seeking admission or admitted under the New CIES may apply, under their sponsorship, to bring their spouse or the other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union outside Hong Kong with an eligible sponsor in accordance with the local law in force of the place of celebration and with such status being legally and officially recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration Note3 and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to the HKSAR under the prevailing dependant policy. Persons admitted or applying for admission under the respective arrangements will be the sponsors of their accompanying dependants to the HKSAR. An application for admission of a dependant may be favourably considered if normal immigration requirements and the following criteria are met:
This entry arrangement does not apply to:
The length of stay of such dependants will normally be linked to that of their sponsors. Any subsequent applications for extension of stay will be considered only when the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria for entry for residence as dependants (including that there is no change in circumstances which would have otherwise resulted in loss of sponsorship for the applicant, e.g. change in marriage relationship between the dependent spouse and the sponsor, or death of sponsor) and the sponsor remains a bona fide Hong Kong resident living in the HKSAR. These dependants are not prohibited from taking up employment or studies in the HKSAR under the existing policy.
Note 3:
For the avoidance of doubt, the terms “civil partnership” and “civil union” above mean a legal institution of a nature which is akin to spousal relationship in a marriage. The same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, “same-sex marriage”, opposite-sex civil partnership and opposite-sex civil union entered into in accordance with laws outside Hong Kong are limited to only relationships which are legally and officially recognised in the places of celebration. Such relationships normally have the following features: (a) the entering into and dissolution of the relationship are governed by legislation of the place where it is entered into; (b) the relationship requires registration by the competent authority specified by the legislation of the place where it is entered into; (c) the registration is evidenced in a written instrument issued by the competent authority; and (d) parties to the relationship have a mutual commitment to a shared life akin to spouses to the exclusion of others on a permanent basis. Such relationships do not include de facto spouse, partners in cohabitation, fiancé/fiancée, etc.
Before an applicant submits an entry application for visa/ permit under the New CIES to Immigration Department (“ImmD”), he/she is required to first approach InvestHK for verifying whether he/she has fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement. After InvestHK has verified and notified the applicant that he/she has fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement, InvestHK will issue a Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Net Asset Requirement to the applicant. The applicant is then required to submit an entry application to ImmD within the validity period of the Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Net Asset Requirement. If Approval-in-Principle is given after assessment from the immigration perspectives, ImmD will grant a visa/entry permit to the applicant for entering Hong Kong on visitor status for not more than 180 days for making the committed investment within the period.
Upon the applicant’s completion of the committed investment within the specified investment timeframe, an applicant is required to approach InvestHK for verifying whether he/she has fulfilled the Investment Requirements. Upon InvestHK’s verification that the applicant has fulfilled the Investment Requirements, InvestHK will issue a Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Investment Requirements to the applicant. The applicant is required to provide the Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Investment Requirements within its validity period to ImmD, which will in turn resume making assessment on the applicant’s entry application. Upon formal approval, permission to stay will normally be granted to the applicant and his/her dependants (if any) for not more than 24 months on time limitation only, subject to the condition that the applicant continues to satisfy the requirements of the Scheme throughout this period.
Under the New CIES, InvestHK is responsible for the assessment of the applicant’s fulfillment for Net Asset Requirement, Investment Requirements and Portfolio Maintenance Requirements in compliance with the New Scheme Rules. For more details, please refer to the website of InvestHK.
Documents to be submitted by the applicant |
| Documents Required |
|---|
| Applicant’s recent photograph |
| Applicant's valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For an applicant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR. |
| Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Net Asset Requirement issued by InvestHK |
| Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Investment Requirements issued by InvestHK |
| Applicant’s Hong Kong identity card (if any) |
| Applicant's Macao identity card [for Macao residents only] |
| Applicant's household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only] |
| Proof of the applicant’s permanent resident status in a foreign country. Applicant should provide official documents showing the applicant's permanent residence endorsed by overseas authorities (e.g. an official letter issued by the immigration authority / consulate of the relevant foreign country). [for PRC passport holders who have obtained overseas permanent residence only] |
| Applicant’s "Certificate of No Criminal Conviction" issued by the Competent Authority (i.e. Police/Public Security Bureau) of the country / territory where he/she has habitually resided in the past 12 months. Documents issued beyond 6 months preceding to the date of application will not be accepted. |
Documents to be Uploaded by Each Accompanying Dependant of an Applicant for Entry under the New CIES |
| Documents Required |
|---|
| Dependant’s recent photograph |
| Dependant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For a dependant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR. |
| Evidence of the applicant’s relationship with the dependant e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, family photographs, family letters (with envelopes), census record book and Privilege Card for Single Child (if applicable) |
| Dependant’s Hong Kong identity card (if any) |
| Dependant's Macao identity card [for Macao residents only] |
| Dependant's household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only] |
| Proof of the dependant’s permanent resident status in a foreign country. Dependant should provide official documents showing the dependant's permanent residence endorsed by overseas authorities (e.g. an official letter issued by the immigration authority / consulate of the relevant foreign country) [for PRC passport holders who have obtained overseas permanent residence only] |
| Dependant (except dependant children)’s "Certificate of No Criminal Conviction" issued by the Competent Authority (i.e. Police/Public Security Bureau) of the country / territory where he/she has habitually resided in the past 12 months. Documents issued beyond 6 months preceding to the date of application will not be accepted. |
Notwithstanding that the documents and information required have been furnished, applicants and accompanying dependants may still be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with the application(s) when necessary.
Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.
It is an offence to make false statements or representations to an immigration officer. A person who knowingly and wilfully makes a statement or gives information which he/she knows to be false or does not believe to be true shall be guilty of an offence under the Laws of Hong Kong and any such visa/entry permit issued or permission to enter or remain in the HKSAR granted shall have no effect.
Persons who wish to apply to enter the HKSAR under the New CIES for residence may click here for online submission of application and uploading of supporting documents.
The Director of Immigration has absolute discretion to approve or disapprove an application for residence made under the Scheme. Any investment in the HKSAR is and remains the sole decision and responsibility of the entrant. The Director of Immigration and the HKSAR Government shall not be liable to the entrant for any loss on any investment pursuant to the Scheme howsoever arising.
Upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by the ImmD will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS). After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
If the applicant or his/her authorised representative attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay, the relevant fees could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. After payment, the applicant or his/her authorised representative will be issued with an “e-Visa” printed on a sheet of A4 white paper on the spot. The applicant can then download or print the “e-Visa” through the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application.
Once the receipt of application has been acknowledged, applicants can enquire the application status here or through the 24-hour telephone enquiry system at (852) 3160 8663.
Upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by ImmD will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS). After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
If the applicant or his/her authorised representative attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay, the relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. After payment, the applicant or his/her authorised representative will be issued with an “e-Visa” printed on a sheet of A4 white paper on the spot. The applicant can then download or print the “e-Visa” through the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application.
A visa/entry permit (in the form of “e-Visa”) will be issued upon successful application and payment of fees.
Upon immigration arrival clearance in the HKSAR, an “e-Visa” holder should present his/her valid travel document and the “e-Visa” saved on a personal mobile device or printed on a sheet of A4 white paper, and scan the encrypted QR code on the “e-Visa” with the optical reader at an immigration counter.
Mainland residents(only apply to Dependants)Successful applicant who is a Chinese resident of the Mainland should apply for an Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and a relevant exit endorsement from the relevant Mainland authorities. The applicant’s EEP bearing the relevant exit endorsement should be presented together with the "e-Visa" issued to him/her for immigration arrival clearance.
Upon formal approval, the applicant and his/her dependants (if any) will normally be granted permission to stay in Hong Kong for not more than 24 months on time limitation only.
The entrant and his/her dependants (if any) admitted under the New CIES is required to leave Hong Kong on the expiry of the limit of stay granted by ImmD or within two months after the Director of Immigration has determined that the entrant/the sponsor has breached the undertaking, whichever is earlier.
Subject to the condition that the entrant continuously meeting portfolio maintenance requirements stated under the New Scheme Rules and meeting the normal immigration requirements, upon approval, extension of stay will normally be granted for not more than three years. Further applications for extension of stay for not more than three years should follow the same application procedures.
Non-permanent residents of the HKSAR (including persons admitted under the New CIES and their dependants), irrespective of their nationality and type of travel document held, do not require a re-entry visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR provided that they return within the currency of their permitted limit of stay and that the circumstances upon which they have acquired their residential status remain unchanged.
Persons admitted under New CIES who have ordinarily resided in the HKSAR for a continuous period of not less than seven years may apply for the right of abode in the HKSAR in accordance with the law.
This webpage sets out information about applications for extension of stay for entrants admitted under the New CIES and their dependants (if any).
Entrants or their dependants (if any) admitted under the New CIES may apply for extension of stay within 3 months before their limit of stay expires.
To be eligible for an extension of stay, the entrant must continue to satisfy the requirements of the Scheme throughout the period after he/she has been granted permission to stay. As regards Portfolio Maintenance Requirements, the entrant must comply with the New Scheme Rules.
Forms and documents to be submitted by the entrant |
| Forms/ Documents Required |
|---|
| Applicant’s recent photograph |
| Applicant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable), and his/her previous travel document page showing the latest visa/entry permit label/arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label in the HKSAR and the latest issued “e-Visa” (if applicable). |
| Applicant’s Hong Kong identity card |
| Relevant certifying proof issued by InvestHK |
| Proof of the applicant’s permanent residence in a foreign country. Applicant should provide official documents showing the applicant's permanent residence endorsed by overseas authorities (e.g. an official letter issued by the immigration authority / consulate of the relevant foreign country). [for Chinese nationals who have obtained overseas permanent residence only] |
| Applicant’s "Certificate of No Criminal Conviction" issued by the Competent Authority (i.e. Police/Public Security Bureau) of the country / territory where he/she has habitually resided in the past 12 months. Documents issued beyond 6 months preceding to the date of application will not be accepted. |
Forms and documents to be submitted by the dependant |
| Forms/ Documents Required |
|---|
| Completed Application for an Extension of Stay (Form ID91) (to be completed by the dependant) |
| Dependant’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable). For a dependant who is currently staying in the HKSAR, his/her valid travel document page containing the latest arrival stamp/landing slip/extension of stay label/“e-Visa” (if applicable) in the HKSAR |
| Dependant’s Hong Kong identity card (for aged 11 or above) |
| Sponsor’s travel document and Hong Kong identity card (showing personal particulars and current condition of stay) |
| Completed Declaration of Sponsor (Form ID481A) (to be completed by the sponsor) |
| Completed Declaration of Dependant Applicant (Form ID481B) (to be completed by the dependant) |
| Proof of the dependant’s permanent resident status in a foreign country. Dependant should provide official documents showing the dependant's permanent residence endorsed by overseas authorities (e.g. an official letter issued by the immigration authority / consulate of the relevant foreign country). [for PRC passport holders who have obtained overseas permanent residence only] |
Notwithstanding that the documents and information required have been furnished, applicants or dependants may still be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with the application when necessary.
Where a document is not in Chinese or English, it must be accompanied by a Chinese or English translation certified as a true translation by a sworn translator, court translator, authorised public translator, certified translator, expert translator or official translator.
It is an offence to make false statements or representations to an immigration officer. A person who knowingly and wilfully makes a statement or gives information which he/she knows to be false or does not believe to be true shall be guilty of an offence under the Laws of Hong Kong and any such visa/entry permit issued or permission to enter or remain in the HKSAR granted shall have no effect.
Applicants should be physically present in Hong Kong at the time of application. Eligible applicants can submit their applications for extension of stay online.
Upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by ImmD will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS). After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
If the applicant or his/her authorised representative attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay, the relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. After payment, the applicant or his/her authorised representative will be issued with an “e-Visa” printed on a sheet of A4 white paper on the spot. The applicant can then download or print the “e-Visa” through the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application.
Applicants must be present in Hong Kong at the time of payment and collection of “e-Visa”.
After the receipt of application has been acknowledged, applicants can enquire the application status here or through the 24-hour telephone enquiry system at (852) 3160 8663.
Upon approval of the applications, the notification of the application result issued by ImmD will include a webpage link for payment. Payment of relevant fees could be made through the said webpage link or the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application by credit cards, Payment by Phone Service (PPS) or Faster Payment System (FPS). After payment, applicants could instantly download or print the “e-Visa” by themselves.
If the applicant or his/her authorised representative attend the relevant Immigration office in person to pay, the relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. After payment, the applicant or his/her authorised representative will be issued with an “e-Visa” printed on a sheet of A4 white paper on the spot. The applicant can then download or print the “e-Visa” through the GovHK website or the ImmD Mobile Application.
The applicant must be physically present in Hong Kong at the time of payment and collection of “e-Visa”.