Hong Kong New CIES Application: Process, Investment Requirements, and Compliance

The relaunched New CIES mandates a HKD 30 million investment threshold to secure long-term residency in the global financial hub.

Globevisa details the Hong Kong New CIES approval process, outlining statutory procedures, HKD 30M investment compliance, and residency requirements.

SG, SINGAPORE, August 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Applying for the Hong Kong New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) requires meeting a HKD 30 million capital threshold and complying with the due diligence and financial review procedures of InvestHK and the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Globevisa Group, an international consultancy that submitted the first batch of applications on the scheme's opening day and recorded the scheme's first officially approved case, utilizes its nearly 20 years of local operational experience and data from approximately 6,000 families to outline the New CIES approval process. This guide details the execution standards across asset auditing, compliant investment, and long-term residency maintenance.

New CIES Policy Framework and Asset Audit Criteria

According to the official guidelines, the New CIES launched in 2024 establishes specific quantitative criteria and exemption conditions:

●Capital Threshold: Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to make a compliant investment of HKD 30 million (approximately USD 3.85 million).
●Asset Audit: An independent report issued by a Hong Kong Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is required to prove continuous ownership of net assets of no less than HKD 30 million throughout the six months preceding the application. These assets can be jointly held with family members and calculated based on precise ownership shares.
●Eligibility: The scheme is applicable to foreign nationals, Chinese nationals holding permanent residency overseas, and residents of Macao and Taiwan. There are no mandatory requirements for educational background, language proficiency, or business experience.
●Dependent Applications: The principal applicant may include a spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 in the same application.

Due Diligence and Processing Timeline Analysis

Based on Globevisa’s case processing data, the review cycle for a fully compliant New CIES application typically ranges from six to nine months. The progression speed of the review depends directly on the compliance of the initial asset documentation.

●Asset Documentation and Financial Structuring: In the initial stage, applicants must process complex asset portfolios covering company equity, funds, stocks, or real estate. Failure to align with InvestHK's audit standards early on can result in multiple requests for supplementary documentation. Public records indicate that on March 1, 2024, the day the scheme reopened, Globevisa’s Hong Kong team utilized standardized case preparation to complete the first batch of submissions in the city. The firm subsequently recorded the scheme's first approved case, indicating that early compliance intervention directly reduces processing time.
●Official Joint Review Mechanism: After the CPA report is issued, the case enters InvestHK's net asset review phase (typically lasting one to four weeks). Upon receiving a review certificate valid for 90 days, the application is forwarded to the Immigration Department for identity and eligibility assessment. During this phase, all official documents not in Chinese or English (such as birth certificates) are subject to strict notarization and translation requirements. Procedural omissions can delay the issuance of the Approval-in-Principle.

Investment Structure Compliance and Asset Allocation

Upon receiving the Approval-in-Principle from the Immigration Department, applicants must complete the HKD 30 million compliant investment within a statutory 180-day period. Of this amount, HKD 3 million must be injected into the official CIES Investment Portfolio to support the local innovation and technology sector. The remaining HKD 27 million in permissible investment assets can be allocated to financial products such as equities, bonds, or limited partnership funds (LPFs).

In financial practice, failing to properly structure reinvestment timelines or fund transfer routes carries the risk of the investment not being officially recognized. To ensure the underlying asset paths meet statutory requirements, Globevisa has established compliance protocols with licensed financial institutions, outlining the following primary investment routes for reference:

●RAM: Provides discretionary management services focusing on Hong Kong government bonds for the HKD 27 million allocation. The underlying assets hold an AA+ rating, with historical reference yields ranging from 4% to 5%.
●UOB Kay Hian: Offers discretionary management services for the HKD 27 million allocation, operating under the cross-border risk control systems of the Singapore-based securities firm.
●Standard Chartered: Supports a self-directed investment model for the HKD 27 million, operating within the regulatory and security framework of one of Hong Kong's major note-issuing banks.
●DBS: Supports a self-directed investment model, utilizing its credit rating as a highly secure Asian bank.
●Bank of China: Supports a self-directed investment model, leveraging its scale as the second-largest bank in Hong Kong by assets and deposits.
●Emperor Group: Focuses on discretionary and self-directed investment portfolios featuring Hong Kong locally listed companies, providing diversified securities options.

Visa Activation Mechanism and Full-Cycle Residency Management

After completing the necessary reviews and obtaining the Certificate of Fulfillment of Investment Requirements from InvestHK, the case enters the final stage, culminating in formal approval issued by the Immigration Department. Procedural compliance during the landing phase remains strictly monitored.

●Activation Timeline and Compliance Tracking: Applicants must pay the requisite fees, download the visa, and enter Hong Kong to activate it within a specified timeframe (typically three months) following formal approval. Failure to activate the visa before the deadline invalidates the document and necessitates a complex written explanation process. Globevisa utilizes a node-tracking mechanism to ensure applicants complete the landing procedures on time.
●Long-Term Residency Maintenance: The New CIES operates on a "2+3+3" year visa renewal framework. Through a standardized post-approval service structure, the agency initiates asset status reviews and renewal preparations prior to visa expiration. After seven years of meeting "ordinary residence" or related criteria, applicants can apply for Hong Kong Permanent Residency or Unconditional Stay. The Unconditional Stay option is exclusive to New CIES applicants. This full-cycle management model addresses the operational gap between initial document submission and long-term residency maintenance.

Conclusion

The Hong Kong New CIES is a systematic process encompassing cross-border financial regulations, independent asset audits, and long-term residency maintenance. The rigor applied to early due diligence, mid-term fund compliance, and post-approval visa management directly determines the security of the capital deployment. For global high-net-worth individuals conducting cross-border asset and residency planning, utilizing a service provider with established local operations and a substantial case data foundation serves as a practical measure to fulfill all statutory procedures and compliance requirements.

About Globevisa Group
Headquartered in Singapore since 2002, Globevisa Group is a global HNWI wealth management and cross-border identity advisory firm. Backed by institutional-grade risk control, the firm operates 50+ direct branches globally with over 800 in-house professionals. Having processed 120,000+ cases for clients across 120+ countries, Globevisa specializes in citizenship planning, wealth management, and family relocation, empowering international families to achieve barrier-free global settlement.

Disclaimer: "Hong Kong" herein refers to the Hong Kong SAR of the PRC. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. For definitive policy interpretations, please refer to official HKSAR government publications.

Globevisa Group Team
Globevisa Group
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
TikTok
X