Hong Kong Revises Investor Visa Property Investment Rules

Hong Kong has revised its New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), adjusting property investment rules to widen qualifying options for applicants.

The minimum transaction price for residential property under the program has been lowered from HK$50 million to HK$30 million.

At the same time, the cap on countable residential property remains HK$10 million.

For non-residential property, the government has raised the cap from HK$10 million to HK$15 million, with no minimum transaction price requirement.

Details of the Policy Adjustment

• Residential property: Applicants can now qualify with purchases starting at HK$30 million (down from HK$50 million). However, only HK$10 million of this can count toward the CIES investment requirement.

• Non-residential property: The cap on eligible investment has been increased to HK$15 million, and there is no minimum purchase value.

The measures took effect immediately, which emphasized that the changes expand investor choice rather than serve as a direct property-market stimulus.

Overview of the New CIES

The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme was relaunched in March 2024. Applicants must:

• Invest at least HK$30 million in Hong Kong assets
• Allocate HK$27 million into approved asset classes
• Contribute HK$3 million into a designated portfolio

Since relaunch, the program has received 1,900 applications, representing HK$58 billion in commitments. The annualized pace of applications is estimated at 2,400–2,800 per year.

Current Real Estate Market Trends

Hong Kong’s property sector has improved compared to last year but remains below peak activity levels.

• August 2025 transactions: 5,291 deals — up 45% from August 2024
• Year-to-date sales: 42,379 — about 10% higher year-on-year, the strongest pace since 2019

Still, the supply of units priced between HK$30 million and HK$50 million is limited compared to overall transactions.

Experts note that uptake under the New CIES will depend on whether investors can secure properties that match expectations on location, amenities, and prestige, while others may delay decisions pending clarity on supply, mortgage rates, and long-term direction.