CIES | DBS Treasures Private Client

Capital Investment Entrant Scheme

About CIESCapital Investment Entrant Scheme (“CIES”) is a migration programme offered by The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR Government”). It enables eligible persons to reside and pursue development in Hong Kong through capital investment in the form of financial assets. The scheme was introduced in 2003, and has not been open for new applications since 15 January 2015.

In the chief executive’s 2023 policy address, it is proposed for a new CIES to be implemented which will allow eligible persons to attain Hong Kong residency through investing not less than HKD30,000,000 in the permissible investment assets. Further details of the new CIES has been announced on 19 December 2023 by the HKSAR Government.Let us contact you

Scope of CIES

CIES is applicable to:

Foreign nationals;
Macao Special Administrative Region residents;
Chinese nationals who have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country; and
Chinese residents of Taiwan.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for admission under CIES, the applicant must :

be aged 18 or above;
have net assets of not less than HKD30 million throughout the two years preceding his/her application; and
have invested not less than HKD30 million in permissible investment assets.

Permissible Investment Asset Classes

An applicant must make an investment of a minimum of HKD30 million in the permissible investment assets, including investing a minimum of HKD27 million in the permissible financial assets and non-residential real estate (subject to a cap of HKD10 million), and placing HKD3 million into a new CIES Investment Portfolio. The Portfolio will be set up and managed by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited to make investments in companies/projects with a Hong Kong nexus, with a view to supporting the development of innovation and technology industries and other strategic industries that are beneficial to the long-term development of Hong Kong's economy.

Permissible financial assets include:

Equities listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and traded in Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) or Renminbi (RMB)
Debt securities denominated in HKD or RMB and issued by an eligible issuer or fully guaranteed by an eligible guarantor
Certificates of deposits denominated in HKD or RMB issued by authorized institutions with a remaining term to maturity of not less than 12 months at the time of purchase
Subordinated debts denominated in HKD or RMB issued by authorised institutions
Eligible Collective Investment Schemes

DBS Service Scope for CIESDBS Private Bank and DBS Treasures Private Client are the leading private banking brands in Asia. With a wealth of expertise and experience, our team of professionals have structured a suite of CIES related services to help you fulfil the eligibility criteria of the scheme and manage your assets with ease.

Our services include scheme consultation, customised portfolios of investments in permissible assets and statutory reporting of assets, etc. As your trusted wealth management partner, we also provide comprehensive financial solutions in wealth planning, capital market and financing to serve your sophisticated needs.

For more information about our services, please contact us at (852) 2290 8822 or let us contact you.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein is intended as a general guide for reference only and not exhaustive. For the latest information on CIES, please visit the website of the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government at http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/capital_investment_entrant_scheme.html and the announcement of the Hong Kong SAR Government at https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202312/19/P2023121900385.htm.