Hong Kong Investment as Entrepreneurs

1. Residence permit36 months
2. Renew36 months at a time
3. Permanent residencyafter 7 years
4. Citizenshippossible

• Permanent residency 7 years
• Citizenship
• Dual citizenship not allowed
• Language required for citizenship

Country

Hong Kong

Program

Hong Kong Investment as Entrepreneurs

Local name

企業家來港投資

Type

Entrepreneur

Status

Active

Initial duration

36 months

Renewable

Yes (36 mo)

Entry under the General Employment Policy for a person who will establish or join a business in Hong Kong and make a substantial economic contribution. There is no fixed investment amount. The first stay is normally up to 36 months on an employment condition limited to the approved business, with extensions on a 3-2 year pattern. A start-up backed by a listed government programme can be considered on that support.

Tax regime

Territorial

Regime name

Territorial: salaries standard rate 15% then 16%; corporate profits tax 8.25% then 16.5%

Foreign income taxed

No

Capital gains taxed

No

Method

online

Processing time

Up to 28 days

Apply from abroad

Yes

Local representative

Required

The Immigration Department looks at a three-year business plan and forecasts, turnover, financial resources, the investment sum, local jobs and any new technology. No regulation states a minimum sum. The normal education test is a first degree in the relevant field. Good technical qualifications, professional ability or documented experience can be accepted in special circumstances. A start-up proprietor, partner or key researcher may be considered if the business is supported by a government-backed programme with a rigorous selection process. The published examples are StartmeupHK Venture Programme, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Incu-App, Incu-Bio and Incu-Tech, the Cyberport Incubation Programme, the Innovation and Technology Commission's Enterprise Support Scheme, and the Hong Kong Design Centre's Design Incubation Programme. That letter is not required for every application. The applicant must nominate a local sponsor, either a company or an individual who is 18 or over, a Hong Kong resident, and acquainted with the applicant. The permission is an employment condition for the approved business. Another business needs prior approval. Processing is normally four weeks after a complete file and the fee. Extensions are normally finalised in two to three weeks. The first extension in the 3-2 year pattern is three years and later extensions are two years, so the renewal period shown is 36 months. Chinese residents of the Mainland, and nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, are outside the arrangement. An overseas Chinese national with a PRC passport needs foreign permanent residence, or at least one year of residence overseas immediately before the application and must apply from overseas. Dependants are a spouse or a recognised civil partner and unmarried children under 18. Fees match the other specified schemes: HK$600 to apply and HK$1,300 to issue a visa for a stay over 180 days, HK$1,900 a person, about USD 242 at USD 1 = HKD 7.8476 on 9 October 2026. Right of abode is seven years of ordinary residence. Chinese naturalisation is discretionary, foreign nationality must be given up, and no year count or language level is published. No minimum age and no day-count stay rule are published. Dependant extensions require the sponsor to remain a Hong Kong resident living in Hong Kong.

1. Oct 10, 2026

   Added

   added from the Immigration Department's entry arrangement for investment as entrepreneurs. No fixed investment amount, initial stay 36 months, extensions on a 3-2 year pattern, and a government-backed start-up kept inside this route (immd.gov.hk).