Hong Kong New CIES 2026: Dependants, Same-Sex Partners and 8-Person Limit

Yes. An applicant or entrant under Hong Kong's New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) may bring three groups of people as dependants: a spouse, the other party to a recognised civil partnership or civil union — including a same-sex partnership, same-sex union or "same-sex marriage" celebrated outside Hong Kong — and unmarried dependent children aged under 18. According to the Immigration Department's New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme FAQ page, dependants admitted on this route are not prohibited from taking up employment or study in Hong Kong. What follows sets out what each category requires, how many dependants one online filing can cover, and how tightly their permission to stay is tied to yours.

Who qualifies as a dependant under the New CIES?

The FAQ lists three categories, and nothing beyond them:

A spouse.
The other party to a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, "same-sex marriage", opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union, entered into under the local law in force where it was celebrated and legally and officially recognised by the local authorities there.
Unmarried dependent children aged under 18.

Two conditions sit behind that list. First, an applicant has to demonstrate to the Immigration Department that he or she can support and accommodate both himself or herself and his or her dependants without relying on any return on the permissible investment assets, on employment, self-employment, an office, a business, or public assistance in Hong Kong. Second, the entry of dependants is subject to any other policy applicable to such entry at the time.

What counts as a recognised civil partnership or civil union?

The scheme covers same-sex and opposite-sex civil partnerships and civil unions, not only marriage. The FAQ defines these as a legal institution of a nature akin to a spousal relationship in a marriage, entered into outside Hong Kong and legally and officially recognised in the place of celebration.

Such relationships normally carry all four of the following features:

The entering into and dissolution of the relationship are governed by the legislation of the place where it was entered into.
The relationship requires registration by the competent authority specified under that legislation.
The registration is evidenced in a written instrument issued by that competent authority.
The parties have a mutual commitment to a shared life akin to spouses, to the exclusion of others, on a permanent basis.

The list stops there. De facto spouses, partners in cohabitation and fiancés or fiancées are expressly excluded. This is general-reference summary only and not advice on any individual case; because recognition turns on the law of the place of celebration, applicants should check current Immigration Department requirements or take professional advice on their own circumstances.

Can dependants work or study in Hong Kong?

Yes. The FAQ states that dependants permitted to reside in Hong Kong under the New CIES are allowed to take up employment or study under existing policy, and repeats that they are not prohibited from either. The entrant has the same freedom: an entrant may take up employment, hold an office, be self-employed, or join in or establish a business in Hong Kong.

How many dependants can one online application cover?

Eight. Applicants do not file separately for each family member: if you apply for admission under the New CIES, you can submit an application for yourself and your accompanying dependants altogether through the online application service. The FAQ sets the ceiling at a maximum of eight accompanying dependants in that single online application.

That limit is expressed per filing, so it matters most at the start of the process. It is not the only route into Hong Kong for family members, as the next section explains.

What permission to stay do dependants actually get?

Their stay is linked to yours. The length of stay of dependants is normally tied to that of the applicant or entrant who sponsors them. On formal approval, permission to stay is normally granted to the applicant or entrant and any dependants for not more than 24 months, on time limitation only, subject to continued satisfaction of the scheme's requirements.

Extensions are not automatic for anyone in the family group. A dependant's extension is considered only if the dependant still meets the eligibility criteria for residence as a dependant — including no change of circumstances that would have caused loss of sponsorship, such as a change in the marriage relationship between the dependent spouse and the sponsor, or the death of the sponsor — and the sponsor remains a bona fide Hong Kong resident living in Hong Kong.

What happens at extension time for the whole family?

The same proof runs through every stage. The applicant or entrant approaches Invest Hong Kong not earlier than three months before the limit of stay expires for verification of continued compliance with the Portfolio Maintenance Requirements, and InvestHK issues a Certifying Proof for Fulfillment of Portfolio Maintenance Requirements if the requirements are met. The applicant or entrant and any dependants then apply to the Immigration Department for extension of stay before the current limit expires, even if the certifying proof has not yet been secured.

On approval, extension is normally granted for up to three years. The applicant must be physically present in Hong Kong when applying, and again when paying for and collecting the e-Visa. The FAQ describes first-entry permission as up to 24 months and extension grants as up to 36 months.

Can you add dependants after you have been admitted?

Yes. The FAQ confirms that a person already admitted to Hong Kong under the New CIES may apply for dependants to come to Hong Kong afterwards, pointing to the Immigration Department's separate guidance on residence as a dependant for that route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a same-sex partner join an applicant under the New CIES?

Yes, if the relationship is a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union or "same-sex marriage" that was entered into under the local law of the place of celebration and is legally and officially recognised by the local authorities there. The relationship also has to resemble marriage in substance, with mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of others on a permanent basis. Cohabiting partners and de facto spouses do not qualify.

Do dependants need a separate work permit to take a job in Hong Kong?

No separate work permit is required: dependants permitted to reside in Hong Kong as dependants under the New CIES are allowed to take up employment or study in Hong Kong under existing policy. Their permission to reside comes with no prohibition on either activity.

Can a child aged 18 or over join as a dependant?

No, not within this category. The scheme covers unmarried dependent children aged under 18. Once a child reaches 18, they are no longer inside the dependant definition set out in the FAQ.

What happens to a dependant's status if the marriage ends?

A change in the marriage relationship between the dependent spouse and the sponsor is given in the FAQ as a change of circumstances that would otherwise result in loss of sponsorship. A subsequent extension application would therefore not succeed on the same basis.

Do dependants need a re-entry visa to return to Hong Kong?

No. Non-permanent residents of Hong Kong, including New CIES entrants and their dependants, do not require a re-entry visa or entry permit regardless of nationality or travel document, provided they return within the currency of their permitted limit of stay and the circumstances on which their residential status was acquired remain unchanged.

Can I file dependants if I already live in Hong Kong under another visa scheme?

Yes. The FAQ states that any entry application from a person satisfying the New CIES eligibility criteria will be accepted, whether they reside in Hong Kong or elsewhere. The eight-accompanying-dependants ceiling applies to the single online application for admission under the scheme.