Path to Permanent Residency and/or Citizenship

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The CIES grants a path to Hong Kong Permanent Residency through the standard route of seven years of continuous ordinary residence. After this period, applicants who have maintained their investment and have not violated immigration laws may apply for Right of Abode.

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Permanent residents enjoy most of the same rights as citizens, including work and study freedom, healthcare access, and local voting rights in district elections. However, Hong Kong does not offer citizenship through investment, nor does it permit dual nationality under Chinese Nationality Law. A CIES participant would have to renounce their current nationality and apply for Chinese naturalization, a process that is selective and generally limited to those with strong cultural and family ties.

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Applicants should therefore plan their Hong Kong strategy as a residency and permanent establishment solution, rather than a path to passport acquisition. For many high-net-worth families, this is not a limitation but an asset: it preserves existing citizenships while securing Asian market access, education options, and long-term exit flexibility.

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