With the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme back, the decision is less “Can I?” and more “Who helps me meet rules while managing a live portfolio?” This guide maps the team: brokerage/custody, immigration counsel, and tax/reporting support.
Why a three-legged stool
- Brokerage/custody: Eligible assets, valuation, and attestations on schedule.
- Immigration counsel: Liaison with InvestHK, evidence sufficiency, family applications.
- Tax/reporting: Territorial rules meet global reality; align presence, filings, and bank data.
Shortlisting brokers & banks
Look for Tier-1 platforms with deep HK listings access and automated statements that mirror the scheme’s reporting cadence. Request sample attestations early and confirm your pre-CIES holdings won’t be counted toward thresholds (verify latest guidance).
Law firm selection
Ask for a chronology of recent CIES files, average timeline, and how they coordinate asset substitutions when markets move. Insist on a document matrix (who collects which proof; when).
Reporting partner
Even if you don’t owe profits tax, clarity matters. A local tax team that understands “source” and split-year residency avoids noise later.
Engagement model
- Kickoff: KYC, investment policy, CIES roadmap.
- Portfolio build & reporting templates.
- Submission window and post-approval monitoring.
Red flags
Advisers who position CIES as a real-estate play; platforms that cannot export data in the regulator’s template; firms that refuse to write eligibility opinions.
CTA
Ask each candidate for a CIES calendar (T-minus 12 weeks to approval + rolling reporting).
Editor’s note: The right team treats the application like portfolio operations, not a one-off form.