New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)

What is Capital Investment Entrant Scheme?

This is a visa scheme reintroduced by the Hong Kong government. If you've invested at least HKD30 million in the permissible investment assets, you may get a chance to stay in Hong Kong, subject to the terms of the CIES rules and the Immigration Ordinance.

Scheme details

You must be:

  • a foreign national (Afghanistan, Cuba and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are excluded. The list of excluded countries / regions will be reviewed by the Security Bureau / Immigration Department 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);
  • a Macao Special Administrative Region residents;
  • a Chinese national who has obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country; or
  • a Chinese resident of Taiwan

The above may not constitute the full exhaustive list of eligible persons applicants.[2]

You must:

  • aged 18 or above when applying for Net Asset Assessment;
  • have net assets of not less than HKD 30 million (or equivalent in foreign currencies) throughout the 2 years before the application;
  • make investment of not less than HKD 30 million (or equivalent in foreign currencies) in the Permissible Investment Assets;
  • have no adverse immigration record; and
  • capable of supporting and accommodating yourself and your dependents when in Hong Kong

The above may not constitute the full exhaustive list of eligibility criteria.[2]

  • Equities[1]
  • Debt securities[1]
  • Certificate of deposits (subject to a cap of HKD 3 million)[1]
  • Subordinated debt[1]
  • Eligible Collective investment schemes (including eligible funds, real estate investment trusts, investment-linked assurance schemes (ILAS) and open-ended fund companies (OFCs)) (the total investment amount of LPFs and OFCs is subject to an aggregate cap of HKD 10 million)
  • Ownership interest in limited partnership funds (subject to a cap of HKD 10 million) registered under the Limited Partnership Fund Ordinance (the total investment amount of LPFs and OFCs is subject to an aggregate cap of HKD 10 million)
  • Non-residential real estate (subject to a cap of HKD 10 million)

The above may not constitute the full exhaustive list of permissible investment assets.[2]

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Footnote

Other point(s) to note

  1. Investors should note that all investment involves risks. Prices of securities may go up as well as down and may even become valueless. Investors should not only base on this website alone to make any investment decision, but should read in detail the relevant risk disclosure statements.
  2. The content of this webpage is for general information and reference only. It is not, and is not intended to be, a solicitation, recommendation, or advice on, or offer of any investment services or products. You should note that all investments involve risks (including the possibility of loss of the capital invested). Prices or value of investment products may go up as well as down and past performance is not indicative of future performance. You should not only base on this material alone to make investment decisions, but should read the relevant offering documents of the investment products (including the full text of the risk factors stated therein) and risk disclosure statements of the relevant investment products in detail before making any investment decision. You should carefully consider whether an investment is suitable for you in view of your own investment objective, investment experience, investment tenor, financial situation, risk tolerance abilities, tax implications and other needs, etc., and should understand the nature, terms and risks of the investment products. You should obtain independent professional advice if you have concerns about your investment. The content of this webpage has not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong.
  3. RMB currency risk
    RMB is subject to foreign exchange control and restrictions by the Chinese central government. There may be additional rules, regulations and restrictions under contemplation or to be issued by any authorities in mainland China that may be relevant to RMB conversion. You should take reasonable steps to check for updates and details before giving instructions for RMB conversion.
    The exchange rate of RMB may vary from time to time. There is no guarantee that RMB will not depreciate. The exchange rate of RMB traded outside mainland China (“Offshore RMB”) will be affected by, amongst other things, foreign exchange control imposed by the Chinese central government from time to time. You will incur currency conversion costs (being the spread between the purchase and sale of Offshore RMB) and be subject to exchange rate fluctuation risks in any such currency conversion.
  4. Foreign exchange risk
    If the eligible products that are traded by you are not denominated in RMB, you may have to convert RMB into the relevant foreign currency when you invest in that foreign currency denominated eligible product. You will be exposed to exchange rate risk. Besides, if the relevant foreign currency is subject to exchange control, it is possible that you may not receive the relevant foreign currency upon redemption or sale of the relevant foreign currency denominated eligible products. The relevant foreign currency denominated eligible products may also be subject to liquidity risk, credit and insolvency risks of the product issuers.
  5. Risk Disclosure of Investment Funds
    You should note that all investments involve risks (including the possibility of loss of the capital invested), prices or value of investment fund units may go up as well as down and past performance information presented is not indicative of future performance. You should read carefully and understand the relevant offering documents of the investment funds (including the fund details and full text of the risk factors stated therein) and the Notice to Customers for Fund Investing before making any investment decision. Investment funds are investment products and some may involve derivatives. You should carefully consider your own circumstances whether an investment is suitable for you in view of your own investment objective, investment experience, preferred investment tenor, financial situation, risk tolerance abilities, tax implications and other needs, etc., and should understand the nature, terms and risks of the investment products. You should obtain independent professional advice if you have concerns about your investment.
  6. Important Risk Warning of Bond or Certificate of Deposit Product
    • Bonds and Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are investment products. The investment decision is yours but you should not invest in a bond / CD unless the intermediary who sells it to you has explained to you that the bond / CD is suitable to you having regard to your financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives. Your intermediary is under a duty to assure that you understand the nature and risks of this product, and that you have sufficient net worth to be able to assume the risks and bear the potential losses of trading in this product.
    • Bonds are not deposits and should not be treated as substitute for conventional time deposits.
    • Certificate of Deposit is not a protected deposit and is not protected by the Deposit Protection Scheme in Hong Kong.
    • Investors who purchase bonds / CDs are exposed to the credit risk of the issuer and guarantor (if any) of the bonds / CDs. There is no assurance of protection against a default by the issuer/guarantor in respect of the repayment obligations. In the worst case scenario, any failure by the issuer and the guarantor (if any) to perform their respective obligations under the bonds / CDs when due may result in a total loss of all of your investment. Renminbi (RMB) is not a freely convertible currency. As such, investors trading bonds and/or CDs denominated in RMB are subject to additional risks, such as currency risk.
    • The above is not an exhaustive list of risk factors. Please refer to the section on “Risk Factors” in the relevant “Bond / Certificate of Deposit Trading Services” Factsheet to understand other risk factors applicable to bonds and CDs.
    • The information displayed does not constitute nor is it intended to be construed as any professional advice, offer, solicitation or recommendation to deal in Bonds / CDs. You should be aware that all investments involve risks (including the possibility of loss of the capital invested). The prices of Bonds and CDs may go up as well as down and past performance is not indicative of future performance. You should not only base on this information alone to make investment decisions, and should carefully consider whether an investment is suitable for you in view of your own investment objective, investment experience, investment tenor, financial situation, risk tolerance abilities, tax implications and other needs, etc., and should read the relevant product offering documents and terms and conditions (including the full text of the risk factors therein) in detail before making any investment decisions. You should obtain independent professional advice if you have concerns about your investment.
    • No guarantee, representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made as to the fairness, accuracy, timeliness, completeness or correctness of any general financial and market information, news services and market analysis, projections and/or opinions (“Market Information”) provided above and the basis upon which any such Market Information have been made, and no liability or responsibility is accepted by us in relation to the use of or reliance on any such Market Information whatsoever provided in the website.
    • You must make your own assessment of the relevance, accuracy and adequacy of the information provided and make such independent research / investigations as you may consider necessary or appropriate for the purpose of such assessment. We do not make any representation or recommendation or assessment as to whether or not any of the investment(s) mentioned are suitable or applicable to any persons and thus shall not be held responsible in this regard.
  7. This website is provided by Hang Seng Bank Limited. We are regulated and authorised to carry out banking activities in Hong Kong SAR. The products and services represented within this website are intended for Hong Kong customers.
    This website is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction, country or region where the distribution or use of this material is restricted and would not be permitted by law or regulation. If you are outside of Hong Kong, we may not be authorised to offer or provide you with the products and services available through this website in the country or region you are located or resident in.

Remark(s)

  1. The investment must be traded in HKD or RMB governed by the authorised institutions and the Banking Ordinance.
  2. The information provided is intended as a general guide. For full details on the Scheme, please visit the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme official website at https://www.newcies.gov.hk/ Hang Seng makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. The information is subject to change without notice.