Get MatchedThe Passport Brief
HomeCompareAdvisorsAboutPrivate consultation
Asia Pacific · Residency

Hong Kong Capital Investor Entrant Scheme for British nationals

British nationals can use the new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme to seek Hong Kong residence by placing qualifying capital in permissible assets. This page sets out the position and points you to the official source.

Get Matched with a vetted advisor →
Reference
Official authorityImmigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with InvestHK administering the investment side
ProgrammeHong Kong Capital Investor Entrant Scheme
For nationalityBritish
Information current as ofJune 2026
Official source →

Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.

Reviewed by the Passports for Kings editorial team. Last reviewed 28 April 2026.

Eligibility for British nationals

The new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme reopened on 1 March 2024 and is open to foreign nationals who meet the asset and investment tests. British nationals qualify on nationality grounds. The scheme is not open to nationals of the mainland of China unless they hold permanent residence in a foreign country, and nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are excluded.

Each applicant must show net assets to which they are beneficially entitled at or above the level set by the authority. Confirm the qualifying asset amount and the period over which it must be held with the official authority before acting.

Routes

The scheme is built around a single capital test rather than a property purchase. An applicant places qualifying capital in permissible investment assets, which include equities, debt securities, certificates of deposit, eligible collective investment schemes and limited partnership funds. A portion may be allocated to residential or non residential real estate within a cap set by the authority. A separate sum is placed into the CIES Investment Portfolio that supports innovation and strategic industries.

There is no donation route and no language test. The capital is held and managed under the rules of the scheme rather than spent. Confirm the current permissible assets and any caps with the official authority.

Timeline

The process runs through an approval in principle, the placing of the qualifying capital within the set period, then formal approval and entry. An entrant first receives a limited stay that is renewable while the investment is maintained.

Continuous ordinary residence over the standard qualifying period can open a path to the right of abode. Confirm the current processing times and the residence period with the official authority.

Costs

The dominant cost is the qualifying capital itself, which is invested and maintained rather than paid away. Government charges, visa fees and any professional fees sit on top of that.

We do not name or recommend firms. To compare vetted, qualified advisors for your situation, use Get Matched, and ask any advisor for a written scope and fee before you engage them.

ItemIndicative amountNotes
Qualifying capital in permissible assetsConfirm the current figure with the official authoritySet by the scheme, held not spent
CIES Investment Portfolio placementConfirm the current figure with the official authoritySupports innovation and strategic industries
Net asset testConfirm the current figure with the official authorityMust be beneficially owned by the applicant
Government and visa feesConfirm the current figure with the official authoritySet by the authority, change periodically

Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with InvestHK administering the investment side publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.

Common questions

Can a British national apply for the Hong Kong scheme

Yes. British nationals are eligible on nationality grounds. The scheme excludes a small number of nationalities and restricts nationals of the mainland of China unless they hold foreign permanent residence. Confirm your position with the official authority.

Does buying property alone qualify

No. The scheme is based on a capital test across permissible assets. Real estate can count only within a cap set by the authority and is not a standalone route. Confirm the current rules with the official authority.

Does the scheme give immediate permanent residence

No. It grants a limited stay that is renewable while the investment is held. The right of abode follows the standard continuous residence rule. Confirm the period with the official authority.

Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.

Get Matched

Want a steer on this?

We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.

50 programmes7 regions15 nationalitiesEvery fact dated and sourced to the official authority

Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.

Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.

Thank you. Your enquiry is with us.

A member of the team will reply discreetly, usually within one business day, to understand your goals and introduce you to advisors worth your confidence.

The Passport Brief

Not ready to talk? Get the brief.

One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.

We use your email only to send the brief. See our privacy policy.

You are on the list.

Look out for The Passport Brief in your inbox.