Hong Kong has a population of about 7.5 million and a GDP of roughly US$380 billion. A Special Administrative Region of China, it operates as a free port and international financial centre; its dollar is pegged to the US dollar. Its relaunched Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES, 2024) is featured here.
Last Updated: August 5, 2026
Global Residency Programs Report: Hong Kong
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Introduction
Hong Kong's New CIES Rankings Snapshot
The Global Residency Programs Report 2026 combines five weighted dimensions, each built from its own set of normalised metrics: Quality of Life (30%), Procedure (30%), Mobility (20%), Investment (10%) and Compliance & Credibility (10%). The index is a starting point for individuals, advisors and policymakers to compare 48 residency programs on a like-for-like basis, surface the routes whose strengths match a specific priority, and screen out those that fall short on credibility.
Index | Ranking | Score |
|---|---|---|
Overall Ranking
| 19th | 85.43 |
Procedure
| 21st | 85.61 |
Mobility
| 23rd | 96.5 |
Tax Optimization
| 22nd | 83.33 |
Quality of Life
| 19th | 83.79 |
Investment
| 29th | 81.59 |
Hong Kong's New CIES at Glance
New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES)
Hong Kong relaunched its capital investment route in March 2024 at a substantially higher threshold, targeting high-net-worth investors and reinforcing the city’s status as a global financial centre.
Programme: New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) Legal basis: New CIES Rules (effective 1 March 2024), administered under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115) Indicative minimum: HKD 30,000,000 (approximately USD 3,800,000) Estimated processing: approximately 12 months
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Legal Provision
| New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme Rules (effective 1 March 2024), administered by the Immigration Department under the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115). |
Region
| Asia |
Minimum Investment Threshold
| HKD 30,000,000 (approximately USD $3.8M) |
Year of Inception
| 2024 |
Visa-free Countries
| 178 = 129 (visa-free destinations) + 49 (visa on arrival/ETA) |
Investment Options
| Under Hong Kong’s New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), foreign nationals, Macao or Taiwan residents, and Chinese nationals holding permanent residency abroad can secure right-of-stay entry by investing a minimum of HKD 30 million (approximately 3.85 million USD). This capital must be divided: at least HKD 27 million (approximately 3.46 million USD) must be deployed into permissible financial assets — such as equities, debt securities and approved collective investment schemes — and/or commercial real estate (or residential properties transaction-priced at HKD 50 million or above, ring-fenced to count up to an aggregate real-estate cap of HKD 10 million). The remaining HKD 3 million (approximately 385,000 USD) must be ring-fenced and placed into the government-managed CIES Investment Portfolio to support local innovation, technology and strategic industries. To qualify, the primary applicant must be at least 18 years old, prove a net-asset cushion of at least HKD 30 million throughout the preceding six months, and maintain the investment over an initial 24-month period, extendable in 3-year increments and potentially leading to permanent residency after seven years of continuous ordinary residence. |
Physical Presence Requirements
| No minimum stay requirement |
Family Member Inclusion
| Spouse, dependent children under 18 |
Dual Citizenship Allowed
| Yes |
Path to Citizenship
| 7 years (permanent residence/right of abode) |
Average Processing Time
| 12 months |
Conclusion
The 2026 Global Residency Programs Index 2026 makes one thing clear: there is no single best programme, only the best fit for a given set of priorities. A decade of reform has left the sector more transparent, more compliance-driven and more diverse in the routes it offers (from regulated funds and entrepreneurial ventures to lifestyle and long-stay options) so that residency has matured into a credible, durable planning tool rather than a shortcut. Whether the goal is mobility, tax efficiency, quality of life or an eventual second passport, the value of this 2026 GRP Index lies in matching the right route to the right objective, grounded in evidence rather than marketing.
Footnotes
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Explore More with Related Reports
The 2026 Global Residency Programs Index is a research benchmark produced by Global Citizen Solutions and its Global Intelligence Unit. It scores and ranks 48 of the world’s leading residency programs across 46 jurisdictions.
The Global Passport Index 2026 measures that value across 197 countries and territories, synthesising fourteen indicators across three weighted pillars: Enhanced Mobility, Investment, and Quality of Living.
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