Preloader Close
Close

Recent Search Keywords

Our Services

  • Home
  • Immigration Services
  • Hong Kong
  • HK | New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

Related Downloads

Hong Kong - New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)

Application Procedures and Fees


Hong Kong launched the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (the “New CIES”) on March 1, 2024, with the aim of enriching the talent pool and attracting new capital. This scheme provides a pathway for applicants and their immediate family members to attain permanent residence or unconditional stay in Hong Kong. To qualify, applicants must commit to investing HKD30 million in Hong Kong and comply with other immigration requirements.


Unlike other Hong Kong visas offering a pathway to permanent residence, the New CIES does not require a specific educational background, work experience, or achievements. Its assessment criteria focus solely on the applicant’s investment in Hong Kong. The New CIES pathway to permanent residence involves the following procedures: (1) Net Asset Assessment, (2) Entry Application [Approval-in-Principle], (3) Assessment on Investment Requirements, (4) Entry Application [Formal Approval], (5) Assessment on Portfolio Maintenance Requirements, (6) Extension of Stay, and (7) Application for Permanent Residence or Unconditional Stay. The pathway to permanent residence takes approximately seven to eight years to complete, consistent with all other types of visas.


Kaizen’s Preferential Package Fee for handling a Complete CIES Application is HKD143,980. An additional HKD4,990 will apply for each dependent visa.

The New CIES is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and Democratic People's Republic of Korea.


Note: Wherever possible, we formulate our texts in a gender-neutral manner. If a generic masculine term is used, it is to be understood as without evaluation and includes all gender identities.


1.

Handling and Applications Fees


Our Preferential Package Fee for handling a Complete CIES Application is HKD143,980. An additional HKD4,990 will apply for each dependent visa.

In particular, our package covers the following services:

(1)
 Entry Application for Approval-in-Principle;

(2)
 Entry Application for Final Approval;

(3)
 Two (2) visa extension applications;

(4) Permanent Residence or Unconditional Stay application;

(5) Continuous advice and support throughout the CIES application (Items 1 to 4);

(6) Assistance with the preparation of supporting documentation;

(7) Review of application documents gathered by the applicant(s);

(8) Coordinating with Certified Public Accountant (Practising) in relation to the preparation of New CIES compliant audit reports;

(9) Preparation of the application forms;

(10) Drafting of authorization letters, statements and arguments where applicable;

(11) Lodging of the respective submission packet to Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD);

(12) Correspondence with InvestHK and the ImmD regarding the applications;

(13) Application status reporting to the principal applicant (PA);

(14) Responding to request(s) for additional supporting documents from InvestHK or ImmD, if any;

(15) Coordinating the payment of fees;

(16) Collecting and forwarding of the approved visa label(s) to the address specified by the principal applicant;

(17)

Guidance on the application of Hong Kong ID card(s), where needed.



Note:


The above fees are exclusive of government fees, delivery charges, translation fees, notarization fees, other incurred third-party fees, etc.


2.

Payment Terms and Method


Upon receipt of your confirmation of engagement, we will issue and send an invoice together with the wiring instructions to you for settlement. When arranging the payment, please input our invoice number of account number in the message section and send or email a copy of the remittance receipt to us for our records and faster processing.

To benefit from our Preferential Package Fee, we require full payment in advance. Once the Approval-in-Principle is issued by the ImmD, no service fees shall be refunded.

We accept cash, HKD check, TT and credit card through PayPal. An extra handling fee of 5% will be charged if paid by PayPal. If a China or Taiwan official tax invoice is required, the Value-Added Tax or Business Tax at the prevailing rate in their respective jurisdiction will be charged and collected.


3.

Eligibility Criteria


A. Entry Application

Applicants who satisfy the following criteria may qualify under the New CIES:

(1) Age: the applicant is aged 18 or above at the time of applying for Net Asset assessment with InvestHK;

(2)
 Scope of the Scheme: the applicant must be either:
  • A foreign national, excluding nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba, and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea;
  • A Chinese national who has obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country;
  • A Macao Special Administrative Region resident; OR
  • A Chinese resident of Taiwan;

(3)
 Net assets: the applicant has net assets or net equity to which he is absolutely beneficially entitled with a market value of not less than HKD 30 million Net (or equivalent in foreign currencies) throughout the two years preceding the date the application is lodged for Net Asset Assessment to InvestHK;

(4)
 Investment in Permissible investment assets: the applicant must make the committed investment in Permissible investment assets to which he is absolutely beneficially entitled anytime between 180 days before the lodging of the Net Asset Assessment (or March 1st, 2024, whichever is later) and 180 days after the Approval-in-Principle is granted by the ImmD. (Please refer to Attachment A for further details regarding the Permissible investment assets.);

(5)
 No adverse record: the applicant has no adverse immigration record and meets normal immigration and security requirements; AND

(6)

Financial Sufficiency: the applicant can financially support and accommodate himself and his dependents, if any, without relying on any return on the Permissible investment assets, employment, self-employment, office, business or public assistance in or carried on in Hong Kong as the case may be.



B. Extension of Stay Application

Applicants who satisfy the following criteria may qualify for an extension visa under the New CIES:

(1)

Portfolio Maintenance Requirement: the applicant shall comply with Portfolio Maintenance Requirement (please refer to Attachment B for details). Not earlier than 3 months before expiry of his initial limit of stay, the applicant must request the New CIES Office to verify his continuous compliance to the Portfolio Maintenance Requirement and submit an application for extension of stay to the ImmD before expiry of his limit of stay.


4.

Documentary Evidence and Information Requirements


Applicants are required to provide the following information and documents to support their New CIES application:

For Principal Applicant (PA):


(1) Copy of valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable)

(2) Recent photograph with a plain white background (50mm*40mm~55mm*45mm)

(3) Hong Kong identity card (if any)

(4) Certificate of No Criminal Conviction issued by a competent authority (i.e. Police/Public Security Bureau) where the applicant has habitually resided in the past 12 months. Documents issued beyond 6 months preceding the date of application will not be accepted

(5) Copy of evidence of personal net worth, including bank deposits, real estate, securities and interests in privately-owned businesses

(6) Fulfillment document issued by a Certified Public Accountant (Practising)

(7) Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Net Asset Requirement issued by InvestHK

(8) Copy of contract(s) with the appointed financial intermediary(ies)

(9) Statements issued by the appointed financial intermediary(ies) of applicant’s Permissible investment assets

(10) Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Investment Requirements issued by InvestHK (submitted after or simultaneously with Item 7)

(11) Copy of Macao identity card [for Macao Special Administrative Region residents only]

(12) Copy of household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only]

(13) Copy of Exit Entry Permit for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau [for PRC residents only]

(14)

Proof of the applicant’s permanent resident status in a foreign country. The official documents must show applicant's conditions of stay and limit of stay and be 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]



For Each Dependent:


(1) Copy of dependent’s valid travel document containing personal particulars, date of issue, date of expiry and/or details of any re-entry visa held (if applicable)

(2) Recent photograph with a plain white background (50mm*40mm~55mm*45mm)

(3) Copy of evidence of relationship with the sponsor (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate)

(4) Copy of Macao identity card [for Macao Special Administrative Region residents only]

(5) Copy of household registration in Taiwan and Taiwan identity card [for Taiwan residents only]

(6) Copy of Exit Entry Permit for travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau [for PRC residents only]

(7)

Proof of the applicant’s permanent resident status in a foreign country. The official documents must show applicant's conditions of stay and limit of stay and be 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]



Note:


Case-by-case specific requirements: Based on the PA's country of residence and asset composition, both the PA and/or dependants may be required to submit additional forms and/or supporting documents. Please consult with Kaizen’s Mobility and Migration professionals for further information.


5.

Important Notes


(1) The Director of Immigration has absolute discretion to approve or disapprove an application for residence made under the New CIES. Any investment in the HKSAR is and remains the sole decision and responsibility of the entrant. The Kaizen Group, 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.

(2) The length of stay of dependants of persons will normally be linked to their sponsors.

(3)

The entry of dependants does not apply to former Mainland Chinese residents residing in the Macao SAR who have obtained Macao identity cards for less than seven years, unless they have acquired residence in the Macao SAR through the One-way Permit Scheme.


6.

Application Steps and Estimated Timeline


Step

Procedure

Responsible Party

Working Days (estimated)

1

Consultation and assessment under the HK New CIES Scheme

Client/Kaizen

Client’s Schedule

Stage 1: Net Asset Assessment

2

Preparation of supporting documents towards Net Asset Assessment

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks*

3

Fulfillment document issued by a Certified Public Accountant (Practising)

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks**

4

Submission of Net Asset Assessment Package to the New CIES Office

Kaizen/InvestHK

1 day

5

Issuance of Proof for Fulfillment of Net Asset Requirement by the New CIES Office

InvestHK

InvestHK schedule

Stage 2: Entry Application (Approval-in-Principle)

6

Preparation of supporting documents for Entry Application (towards an Approval-in-Principle)

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks*

7

Submission of the Entry Application to the ImmD

Kaizen/ImmD

1 day

8

Issuance of Approval-in-principle letter by the ImmD

ImmD

ImmD schedule

Stage 3: Assessment on Investment Requirement

9

Enter Hong Kong and activate status

Client

Client schedule

10

Appoint financial intermediary (“FI”) and fulfilling Investment Requirement

Client/FI/Kaizen

Client schedule, < 180 days

11

Preparation of supporting documents in relation to Fulfillment of Investment Requirement

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks*

12

Fulfillment document issued by a Certified Public Accountant (Practising)

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks**

13

Submission of Fulfillment of Investment Requirement package to the New CIES Office

Client/Kaizen

1 day

14

Issuance of Proof for Fulfillment of Investment Requirement by the New CIES Office

InvestHK

InvestHK Schedule

Stage 4: Entry Application (Formal Approval)

15

Preparation of supporting documents for Entry Application (towards Formal Approval)

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks*

16

Submission of the Entry Application (Formal Approval) to the ImmD

Kaizen/ImmD

1 day

17

Issuance of 24-month initial HK residence visa

ImmD

ImmD schedule

Stage 5: Compliance of Portfolio Maintenance Requirement and Application for Extension of Stay

Portfolio Maintenance Requirement

18

Fulfillment document issued by a Certified Public Accountant (Practising)

Client/Kaizen

Annually

19

Annual submission of Fulfillment document to the New CIES office

Client/Kaizen/

InvestHK

Annually

1st Extension of Stay

20

Preparation of supporting documents in relation to the Portfolio Maintenance Requirement (from 3 months before anniversary of Formal Approval)

Client/FI/Kaizen

1-2 weeks*

21

Fulfillment document issued by a Certified Public Accountant (Practising)

Client/Kaizen

4-5 days

22

Submission of Portfolio Maintenance Requirement package to the by New CIES Office

Kaizen/InvestHK

1 day

23

Issuance of Proof of Fulfillment of Portfolio Maintenance Requirement by the New CIES Office

InvestHK

InvestHK Schedule

24

Preparation of supporting documents for extension of stay visa (from 3 months before visa expiry)

Client/Kaizen

1-2 weeks*

25

Submission of extension of stay application to the ImmD (from 2 months before visa expiry)

Kaizen/ImmD

1 day

26

Issuance of 36-month HK residence visa

ImmD

3-4 weeks***

2nd Extension of Stay

27

Same as Items 20 to 26

Stage 6: Application for Permanent Residence or Unconditional Stay

28

Preparation of supporting document for Application for Permanent Residents or Unconditional Stay

Client/Kaizen

3-4 weeks*

29

Submission of Application for Permanent Resident (PR) or Unconditional Stay to the ImmD

Kaizen/ImmD

1 day

30

Grant of PR or Unconditional Stay

ImmD

8-12 weeks***

Estimated total working days

8 Years***



Note:


* The estimated time is based on high cooperation between Kaizen and the client.
** The estimated time is based on a standard composition of assets held or invested by the applicant.
*** The estimated time does not include delays caused by relevant government agencies.



Related Topics: Hong Kong Work Visa (GEP & ASMTP) | Hong Kong Investment as Entrepreneur Visa | Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)


Tags: #hkpr #hknewcies #hkcies #hkimmigration #hkresidency #hklawyer #hkciesfees #hknewciesfees


Should you need further information or assistance, please also browse our official website at www.kaizenvis.com or contact us through the following means:

T:
M:
WhatsApp
Skype:
E:
 +852 2341 1444
+852 5616 4140, +86 152 1943 4614
/ Line / Signal / WeChat: +852 5616 4140
kaizencpa
info@kaizenvis.com