Hong Kong Investment Immigration 2025: A Gateway to China and Global Markets
December 31, 2025 · Hong Kong · 10 min read
Hong Kong investment immigration is making a strong return to the global stage with the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES). With an investment threshold of HK$30 million (approximately US$3.85 million), the scheme is more than a route to residency: it is also an asset allocation strategy in one of the world’s leading financial centers.
Hong Kong Investment Immigration 2025: A Gateway to China and Global Markets
Background: the return of New CIES
After a pause of several years, Hong Kong has officially relaunched its investment immigration program as New CIES, with strategic adjustments designed to attract high-quality capital and top global talent.
By late 2025, the scheme was drawing a positive market response. According to Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD), it received more than 1,200 applications after its first year, which are expected to bring more than HK$37 billion of investment directly into Hong Kong’s economy.
This comes as the central government in Beijing deepens financial ties with Hong Kong. During a working visit in November 2025, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng emphasized Hong Kong’s irreplaceable role as an international financial center and encouraged the city to strengthen its connections with the mainland and the rest of the world.
Hong Kong as an international financial center
Unlike pure residence programs, New CIES is designed to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a “super-connector.” An investor’s HK$30 million cannot sit idle; it must be deployed in active financial markets:
- Permissible financial assets: equities listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX), bonds, fund units, and certificates of deposit (subject to a cap).
- Non-residential real estate: investment in commercial real estate or industrial property is permitted (capped at HK$10 million toward the total investment).
- CIES Investment Portfolio: a mandatory HK$3 million placed in the CIES Investment Portfolio, set up and overseen by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), to support technology and innovation industries.
Strategic benefits: business, tax, and access to China
For high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and business-owning families, Hong Kong offers three core advantages that few other jurisdictions can match:
- A simple, low-tax system: Hong Kong applies a territorial source principle of taxation. There is no capital gains tax, no tax on dividends, and no estate duty (inheritance tax), which makes Hong Kong a highly favorable environment for preserving family wealth.
- Gateway to China (Greater Bay Area): Under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, Hong Kong is regarded as one of the most secure springboards into mainland China’s market of 1.4 billion people, while remaining protected by a common law legal system aligned with international practice.
- Free flow of capital: Hong Kong has no foreign exchange controls, so funds can move in and out freely, which makes international trade and business considerably easier.
Hong Kong vs. Singapore vs. Dubai: how they compare
In the competition to attract globally mobile wealth, Hong Kong is often weighed against Singapore and Dubai. Each destination serves a different strategic objective for investors:
Criteria
Hong Kong (New CIES)
Singapore (GIP)
Dubai (UAE Golden Visa)
Capital requirement
HK$30 million (approximately US$3.85 million)
S$10 million (approximately US$7.8 million) – highest
AED 2 million (approximately US$550,000) – lowest
Focus
Finance and China connectivity
Family offices and regional headquarters (ASEAN)
Real estate and crypto assets
Taxation
Favorable (territorial basis; offshore income generally not taxed)
Favorable (broad tax exemptions)
No personal income tax
Best suited for
Entrepreneurs doing business with China; capital markets investors
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking maximum stability
Real estate investors; lifestyle seekers
Our view: If Singapore is a politically stable “fortress,” Hong Kong is a bustling “trading hub,” offering investment opportunities and access to a market of more than a billion people.
IMM Group: why choose a proven advisory firm?
The global investment and citizenship landscape is constantly changing and increasingly complex. Investors need an advisory partner that not only helps build a strong application but also serves as a reliable anchor for the family’s future. That is why, across all our global investment and citizenship solutions, IMM Group sets itself apart as a strategic advisory partner, working alongside you with experience and integrity.
As a pioneer with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam, IMM Group does not act as a sales agent. We do more than advise — we design investment migration solutions built on:
- Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Having successfully handled hundreds of applications, including complex cases, we conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, including during periods of market stress.
- In-depth professional advice and full transparency: Every IMM Group consultant and case manager holds an international investment migration advisory certification issued by the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team provides a comprehensive analysis of benefits and risks so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
- Integrity and commitment at every stage: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group commits to supporting you from the first step until your family is settled. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to protect client interests and to proactively refund fees when objective risks beyond the client’s control arise (as set out in the service agreement).
- Giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has operated as a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you join us in supporting meaningful initiatives and the social responsibility and human values we pursue.
IMM Group
This article is intended to provide objective, useful general information about this destination and its residency pathways. The content may not reflect the latest legal and regulatory changes. To learn more about the investment and citizenship programs IMM Group officially offers, please see more here
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