Can Corporate Equity Be Used for the Hong Kong Capital Investment Entrant Scheme?

Many business owners considering the Hong Kong investment immigration program encounter a common question: what if the cash in personal bank accounts is less than HKD 30 million, but the value of company shares held personally is very high? Can company equity be used to apply for the Hong Kong investment immigration program?

The answer is yes.

The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme in Hong Kong allows applicants to include qualifying unlisted company equity in their net asset assessment. For owners of Mainland manufacturing enterprises, trading companies, Hong Kong companies, or overseas businesses, this is a noteworthy asset verification method.

However, having a valuable company does not mean all of the company's assets belong entirely to the individual shareholder. Applicants must prove the equity they actually and beneficially own along with its market value.

• Can Company Shares Be Counted Towards the HKD 30 Million Net Worth?

Yes.

According to the regulations of the Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, applicants must prove that they have absolute and beneficial ownership of net assets of not less than HKD 30 million or its equivalent in foreign currency throughout the continuous six-month period before submitting the net asset assessment.

Official Frequently Asked Questions also explicitly state that applicants can use unlisted company equity as net asset assessment assets.

This means that even without sufficient cash deposits in personal names, as long as the corporate shares held possess a reasonable market value and complete supporting documents can be provided, they can be included in the net asset review.

For example:

Holding 80% of the shares in a Mainland manufacturing enterprise;

Holding 60% of the shares in a trading company;

Holding 100% of the shares in a Hong Kong investment company;

Holding equity in overseas unlisted companies.

All these scenarios can be evaluated based on actual shareholding and valuation materials.

• Is a Registered Capital of HKD 30 Million Enough?

No.

Registered capital does not equal the actual market value of company shares, nor does it equate to a shareholder's personal net worth.

For instance, if an enterprise has a registered capital of RMB/HKD 30 million, but the company has bank loans, accounts payable, operational losses, or other liabilities, that registered capital cannot be directly treated as the shareholder's personal net worth.

What truly requires attention includes:

How many shares the shareholder actually holds;

The company's current operational and financial status;

The company's asset and liability situation;

The market value of the shares on the relevant valuation date;

Whether there are any pledges, mortgages, or other encumbrances.

The rules of the Hong Kong scheme require that net assets must be deducted by relevant charges, liens, and encumbrances.

Therefore, business owners need to prepare materials reflecting the actual value of the company rather than merely providing a business license and a registered capital certificate.

• What Documents Are Required for Unlisted Company Equity?

This section is a key focal point that business owners must prepare for during the application process.

According to the official net asset assessment reference guidelines, common documents include:

Company business license or certificate of incorporation;

Register of shareholders and share certificates;

Articles of association and related equity documents;

Latest industrial and commercial registration records;

Company audit reports;

Management accounts or financial statements;

Necessary equity valuation reports.

For Mainland China enterprises, industrial and commercial registration records proving the applicant's actual shareholding status must also be prepared.

Furthermore, official requirements regarding unlisted company equity valuation are explicit: financial proofs corresponding to the valuation date must be provided, and audits from several years ago cannot simply be reused.

• Must Company Equity Be Held Continuously for Six Months?

Special attention must be paid to this point.

The net asset assessment for the Hong Kong investment immigration program requires applicants to maintain continuous absolute and beneficial ownership of net assets of not less than HKD 30 million throughout a specified six-month period.

For unlisted company equity, authorities require focus on two specific time points within the designated six-month period:

The start date of the specified six-month period;

The end date of the specified six-month period.

Both time points require corresponding valuation and financial data support.

Normally, audited financial statements, reviewed interim financial statements, or compliant management accounts can be utilized.

If the company has recently undergone capital increases, share transfers, asset reorganizations, or significant changes in operational status, these factors must also be combined with actual circumstances to determine their impact on valuation and shareholding proof.

• Company Equity and the HKD 30 Million Investment Are Two Different Things

This is the most common point of confusion for business owners.

The Hong Kong investment immigration program actually involves two distinct stages:

Stage One: Proving that personal net worth is no less than HKD 30 million.

Eligible company equity, real estate, bank deposits, securities, and other assets can be considered during this stage.

Stage Two: Completing qualifying investments of no less than HKD 30 million.

This stage requires investing funds into permissible financial assets, real estate, and Capital Investment Entrant Scheme portfolios in accordance with program regulations.

Therefore, owning a company valued at HKD 50 million does not mean its shares can directly replace the HKD 30 million required for permissible investments.

Starting from March 2026, Hong Kong has also optimized investment holding arrangements for eligible private holding companies. However, such companies must meet strict conditions regarding family-owned investment holding vehicles and single-family offices, rather than ordinary operating companies being directly usable right after registration.

Before applying, business owners should plan their personal net worth proof, enterprise equity valuation, and subsequent investment structures separately.

How Easysail Global Can Assist You

If you own a Mainland enterprise, a Hong Kong company, or an overseas business and are considering planning your status through the Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, you can provide your nationality, overseas permanent residency status, corporate equity share, enterprise operation status, and family arrangements to Easysail Global.

Combined with your actual background, we can assist in evaluating:

Whether you currently meet the eligibility criteria for the Hong Kong investment immigration program;

Whether your company shares can be included in your personal net asset assessment;

How to prepare corporate equity and financial documentation;

What issues require attention regarding company share valuation;

How to distinguish between personal net assets and the HKD 30 million investment;

How your spouse and children can simultaneously plan their Hong Kong residency status;

What needs to be noted regarding subsequent investment management and Hong Kong permanent residency.

If you are considering Hong Kong status, overseas residency, investment immigration, a second passport, or long-term family planning, relying solely on online information to make independent judgments is not recommended.

Every entrepreneur's equity structure, asset distribution, corporate liabilities, family background, and future development goals are unique. An application strategy that suits others may not fit you.

Clarifying personal assets and corporate equity structures first, and then determining the application pathway, can minimize the risks of subsequent document requests and structural adjustments.

Easysail Global provides professional global immigration, residency, citizenship planning, cross-border tax, and wealth management solutions tailored to high-net-worth individuals and families worldwide.