What Are the Requirements for the Hong Kong Investment Immigration Program?

When high-net-worth families explore obtaining a Hong Kong identity, one of the most common questions they search for is: what are the requirements for the Hong Kong investment immigration program?

What people commonly refer to as "Hong Kong investment immigration" primarily points to the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (NCIES). This scheme is not a simple transaction where you "invest 30,000,000 HKD and instantly get an identity." The applicant's identity category, asset holding structure, investment methods, and subsequent investment maintenance must all comply with the strict program requirements.

Therefore, if your family has long-term needs in Hong Kong asset allocation, children's education, business development, or identity arrangement, this pathway is well worth examining in depth.

• What Identity Qualifications Must an Applicant Possess?

According to the current regulations of the Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submitting their net worth assessment application.

The scheme currently covers foreign nationals, Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country, residents of the Macao Special Administrative Region, and Chinese residents of Taiwan.

This point is particularly crucial for Mainland Chinese applicants.

Simply holding a Mainland Chinese resident identity does not mean one can directly apply through this scheme. If the applicant is a Chinese national, they must determine whether they fall within the scope of the scheme based on factors such as whether they have already acquired foreign permanent residency.

Thus, Hong Kong investment immigration cannot be judged solely by whether your assets are sufficient; the applicant's identity qualification itself is a vital prerequisite.

• What Is the Net Worth Requirement?

Applicants are required to undergo a net worth review conducted by InvestHK.

In accordance with current requirements, throughout the entire period of six months immediately preceding the date of submitting the net worth review application, the applicant must continuously and absolutely beneficially own net assets or net capital of not less than 30,000,000 HKD (or equivalent in foreign currency).

What matters here is not merely whether your account happens to hold 30,000,000 HKD on a specific day, but whether the assets truly belong to the applicant and whether they can be substantiated through bank assets, securities, corporate equity, real estate, or other qualified documentation.

For entrepreneurs, if assets primarily originate from business operations, equity holdings, dividends, or investment returns, document preparation is often more complex than simply presenting bank deposits.

• How Must the 30,000,000 HKD Be Invested?

After meeting the asset criteria, applicants must also complete investments of no less than 30,000,000 HKD in accordance with the scheme's regulations.

Under current mandates, at least 27,000,000 HKD must be invested in permissible investment assets, which include approved financial assets and/or eligible real estate. An additional 3,000,000 HKD must be placed into the "CCIES Portfolio" managed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited.

Therefore, the 30,000,000 HKD for investment immigration is neither simply deposited into a bank nor entirely up to the applicant's sole discretion regarding what to invest in.

Asset categories, account arrangements, investment timelines, and subsequent holding periods must all adhere to the strict rules of the program.

• How Long Can the Status Be Maintained After Investment Completion?

Once the applicant completes the relevant investments and passes the review, the Hong Kong Immigration Department will proceed with processing the entry application.

Upon formal approval, the applicant and eligible dependents are typically granted an initial stay in Hong Kong of no more than 24 months. Thereafter, provided they continuously comply with investment management regulations and relevant immigration requirements, they may apply for extensions, usually for not more than three years at a time.

Approved applicants are also permitted to work, hold positions, be self-employed, or participate in and establish businesses in Hong Kong; they are not restricted to acting merely as passive investors.

• Can Spouses and Children Apply Together?

For clients whose goal is family identity planning, this aspect is extremely important.

According to current policies, eligible applicants may apply for dependent visas for their spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18. The duration of stay for dependents is generally tied to that of the principal applicant, and dependents may also work or study in Hong Kong in accordance with prevailing policies.

Consequently, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme is not merely an individual financial arrangement; it can be strategically planned alongside children's education, family residency, and long-term futures.

How Easysail Global Can Assist You

Easysail Global integrates your nationality and permanent residency status, family assets, corporate background, source of funds, investment arrangements, children's education, and long-term Hong Kong planning to help you analyze whether the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme is right for you.

If you are currently considering a Hong Kong identity, investment immigration, or long-term family planning, we advise against making decisions based solely on the "30,000,000 HKD investment threshold."

Every family's asset structure, corporate profile, source of funds, children's education, residency arrangements, and future objectives are unique. A pathway that suits someone else may not necessarily suit you.

You can share your basic profile with Easysail Global, and we can help you evaluate:

Whether you fall within the target demographic of the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;
How to prepare and document your 30,000,000 HKD net worth;
How to structure your investment assets;
How to distinguish between corporate assets and personal assets;
How to plan for your spouse and children together;
What key issues require attention regarding visa renewals and future Hong Kong permanent residency.

For high-net-worth families, the true consideration in Hong Kong investment immigration is not merely meeting the investment figure, but seamlessly aligning your identity, assets, family, and long-term vision.