Hong Kong Immigration Programs
Hong Kong Immigration Programs: Complete Guide
Hong Kong offers four main immigration routes for foreign nationals: the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) for passive investors, the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) for high earners and graduates of top universities, the Business Investment (Entrepreneur) Visa for founders starting a company, and the Intercompany Transferee Employment Visa for employees relocated within a multinational group. Each route has different capital requirements, eligibility rules, and paths to permanent residency.
This guide breaks down how each program works so you can identify which one fits your profile, then link through to a full page on each scheme.
Which Hong Kong Visa Is Right for You?
| Your situation | Best-fit program |
|---|---|
| You want residency through passive capital allocation, without running a business | New CIES |
| You earn a high salary or graduated from a top global university | Top Talent Pass |
| You want to found and actively run a new business in Hong Kong | Entrepreneur Visa |
| You’re being relocated by your current employer to a new HK subsidiary | Intercompany Transferee Visa |
Comparison of All Four Programs
| Program | Capital/Income requirement | Employment required? | Initial stay | Path to PR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New CIES | HK$30 million net assets, HK$30 million deployed | No | 2 years, renewed 2+2+3 | 7 years continuous residence |
| Top Talent Pass (Cat. A) | HK$2.5 million annual income | No offer needed initially | 3 years | 7 years continuous residence |
| Top Talent Pass (Cat. B/C) | Bachelor’s from eligible university list | No offer needed initially | 2 years | 7 years continuous residence |
| Entrepreneur Visa | No fixed minimum; must show viable business plan (~HK$1 million typical) | Must actively run the business | Up to 36 months | 7 years continuous residence |
| Intercompany Transferee | Tied to parent company capitalization of HK subsidiary | Yes, employed by HK subsidiary | Up to 36 months | 7 years continuous residence |
How Hong Kong Immigration Pathways Work, at a Glance
Where they differ is the entry criteria and what you must prove at renewal:
- New CIES is purely financial: you park HK$30 million in approved assets and a government-directed portfolio, with no requirement to work or run a business.
- Top Talent Pass is the only route that grants a visa before you have a job or company in Hong Kong — but renewal requires proving genuine local employment or business activity.
- Entrepreneur Visa and Intercompany Transferee Visa both fall under the General Employment Policy (GEP) framework and are judged on the same “substantial contribution” test: a credible three-year business plan, adequate capitalization, a physical office, and a trajectory toward hiring local staff.
Professional Service Fees Across Programs
| Program | Main applicant fee (USD) | Each dependant | Government fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| New CIES | $13,000 | $2,000 | $250/passport (+ CPA fees $2,000–3,000) |
| Top Talent Pass | $4,000 | $2,000 | $250/passport |
| Entrepreneur Visa | $6,000 | $2,000 | $250/passport (+ entity setup, bank account, office) |
| Intercompany Transferee | $6,000 | $2,000 | $250/passport (+ entity setup, bank account, office) |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Top Talent Pass Scheme is generally the fastest entry point because it does not require a prior job offer, existing company, or large capital deployment — only proof of high income (Category A) or a qualifying degree (Categories B/C).
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme requires a minimum of HK$30 million in net assets, of which the full HK$30 million must be deployed into permissible investments and a government-directed portfolio.
Both the New CIES and the Top Talent Pass Scheme do not require you to start or run a business — New CIES is asset-based, and Top Talent Pass Category B/C is credential-based.
Across all four programs, permanent residency requires 7 years of continuous ordinary residence in Hong Kong, regardless of which visa route you entered on.
Applicants who cannot satisfy the ordinary residence test due to extensive travel may instead apply for Unconditional Stay, which removes residency restrictions and unlocks investment or business obligations without requiring full PR status.
Also Setting Up a Company in Hong Kong?
Three of the four programs above — the Entrepreneur Visa, the Intercompany Transferee Visa, and (optionally) New CIES holding structures — require a registered Hong Kong entity. See our Hong Kong Company Formation & Bank Account Setup service for incorporation in 3–7 days.