Application Procedures

The New CIES Office is the dedicated party in coordinating financial assessment of the applications, including Net Asset Assessment, assessments on Investment Requirements and Portfolio Maintenance Requirements, while Immigration Department is responsible for assessing applications for visa/entry permit, extension of stay and unconditional stay.

Net Asset Assessment

Before an Applicant submits an Entry Application to Director of Immigration, he is required to first approach New CIES Office for verifying whether he has fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement. Upon New CIES Office’s verification that the Applicant has fulfilled the Net Asset Requirement, New CIES Office will issue a relevant certifying proof to the Applicant and notify Director of Immigration of the result.

Entry Application – Approval-in-Principle

The Applicant is then required to submit an Entry Application to Director of Immigration within the validity period of the certifying proof. If Approval-in-Principle is given after assessment from the immigration perspectives, Director of Immigration will grant a visa/entry permit to the Applicant for entering Hong Kong on visitor status for not more than 180 days for making the committed investment within the period.

Assessment on Investment Requirements

Upon the Applicant’s completion of making the committed investment within the specified investment timeframe, an Applicant is required to approach New CIES Office for verifying whether he has fulfilled the Investment Requirements. Upon New CIES Office’s verification that the Applicant has fulfilled the Investment Requirements, New CIES Office will issue a relevant certifying proof to the Applicant and notify Director of Immigration of the result.

Entry Application – Formal Approval

The Applicant is then required to submit the certifying proof within its validity period to Director of Immigration, who will in turn resume his assessment on the Applicant’s Entry Application. Upon satisfaction from immigration perspectives, Director of Immigration will grant Formal Approval of the Entry Application. Permission to stay will normally be granted to the Applicant/Entrant and his dependants, where any, for not more than 24 months on time limitation only, subject to the condition that the Applicant/Entrant continues to satisfy the requirements of the Scheme throughout this period.

Assessment on Portfolio Maintenance Requirements

Upon expiry of the initial 24-month period, before an Entrant submits an application for extension of stay to Director of Immigration, he is required to first approach New CIES Office not earlier than 3 months before expiry of his limit of stay for verifying his continuous compliance with the Portfolio Maintenance Requirements. Upon New CIES Office’s verification that the Entrant has fulfilled the Portfolio Maintenance Requirements, New CIES Office will issue a relevant certifying proof to the Entrant and notify Director of Immigration of the result.

Extension of Stay

The Entrant and his dependants, where any, are required to submit an application for extension of stay to Director of Immigration before expiry of their limit of stay, notwithstanding the relevant certifying proof may have not yet been secured from New CIES Office. Depending on whether the Entrant subsequently submits the certifying proof, Director of Immigration will make decision on the application for extension of stay. Upon satisfaction of Director of Immigration from immigration perspectives that the Entrant and his dependants, where any, still meet the eligibility criteria under the Scheme, extension of stay for not more than three years will normally be granted to the Entrant and his dependants, where any. Further applications for extension of stay for not more than three years should follow the same application procedures.

Permanent Residence

An Entrant and his dependants, where any, who upon a period of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong of not less than seven years and subject to any other relevant requirements under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115 of the Laws of Hong Kong), may apply to Director of Immigration for becoming Hong Kong permanent residents in accordance with the law.

Unconditional Stay

If the Entrant is unable to fulfill the continuous ordinary residence requirement while continuously satisfying the Portfolio Maintenance Requirements under the Scheme for not less than seven years, the Entrant and his dependants, where any, may apply to Director of Immigration for unconditional stay (which permits entry and stay in Hong Kong without being subject to any conditions or limit of stay) following the end of the seventh year.