Investment Migration for
Chinese Citizens.
Chinese-passport-specific options. Capital-controls considerations, dual-citizenship restrictions, popular Caribbean, EU, and Pacific routes.
- China passport rank:
- #68
Common motivations
- 1
Visa-free travel — Chinese passport access is materially weaker than its economic standing
- 2
Family-mobility for descendant education and business
- 3
Wealth-mobility around capital-control friction
- 4
Plan-B citizenship for political-risk hedging
Chinese investment migration is heavily structured around capital-mobility constraints and the dual-citizenship prohibition. The dominant patterns: (1) Caribbean CBI funded through pre-existing offshore assets — St. Kitts is most popular for its banking acceptance; (2) Malta CBI for the highest tier of UHNW capital — €600K + diligence + relocation; (3) Portugal Golden Visa for the EU-citizenship-with-family pathway. Singapore GIP plays a supporting role for Chinese with Asia operations. Hong Kong as a staging jurisdiction has lost some lustre post-2020; Singapore family offices are the dominant pre-CBI venue for capital structuring. The practice handles roughly 100 Chinese files per year — predominantly Caribbean and Maltese, with a long tail across the EU Golden Visa estate.
Best fits for Chinese citizens
St. Kitts & Nevis
Malta
Portugal
Vanuatu
Singapore
Chinese residents are taxed on worldwide income (since the 2019 individual income tax reform). Non-residents are taxed on China-sourced income only. Tax-residency change requires de-registering Chinese hukou + meeting non-residency day-count tests; typical relocation files take 12–18 months to clean. Capital outflow is the dominant constraint — China's capital-control regime caps direct outward remittance at USD 50,000/yr per individual. Most CBI funding goes through structured channels: foreign-sourced income from existing offshore companies, family offices in HK or Singapore, or assets already held abroad. Singapore and Hong Kong remain the dominant pre-CBI staging jurisdictions.
China does not permit dual citizenship for adults. Chinese nationals acquiring a foreign citizenship are deemed to have automatically lost Chinese citizenship under Article 9 of the Nationality Law. In practice the loss is administrative — passport renewal failure rather than active revocation — and many clients hold both passports operationally for a transition period. Travel between China and the new country of citizenship requires a Chinese visa under the foreign passport once Chinese citizenship is formally surrendered. CBI and EU naturalisation are both sensitive — many clients delay formal Chinese surrender until practical necessity forces it.
Speak to a senior adviser
Not Sure Which Programme to Choose?
Book a one to one video consultation. We look at your goals, family and budget, then set out which programmes fit you, with the costs, timelines and next steps.
- Confidential, covered by an NDA
- Led by a senior adviser
- Final price shown before you book
Programme Review
You review your booking and pay securely on the next step.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Chinese citizenship if I get a CBI passport?
Legally yes — China does not recognise dual citizenship. In practice the loss is administrative and many clients operate both passports for a period. Travel back to China under the foreign passport requires a Chinese visa once Chinese citizenship is formally surrendered.
How do I fund CBI given Chinese capital controls?
Through pre-existing offshore assets, family offices in HK or Singapore, or foreign-sourced income from offshore companies. Direct yuan outflow is capped at $50K/yr per individual; multi-year, multi-family-member structuring is the standard pattern.
Which programme is most popular with Chinese clients?
St. Kitts (oldest CBI, strongest banking acceptance) and Malta (EU citizenship, prestige). Vanuatu for fast-processing Plan-B; Portugal for EU citizenship pathway with family.
Does CBI affect my hukou or domicile registration?
Indirectly. Chinese citizenship surrender triggers hukou deregistration; tax-residency change requires day-count compliance. Many clients structure relocation in stages over 18–24 months to manage administrative friction.
Will I lose my current citizenship?
It depends on the law of your current country. Some allow dual citizenship freely, others restrict it or require permission. Take advice before you apply.
Which programmes are open to my nationality?
Eligibility depends on each programme. Some exclude certain nationalities or apply extra checks. The programmes on this page are suggestions; confirm eligibility for your nationality on each programme page or with an advisor.
Explore further
Programmes, guides, insights and tools related to this page.
More on investment migration for Chinese citizens
Chinese investment migration is heavily structured around capital-mobility constraints and the dual-citizenship prohibition. The dominant patterns: (1) Caribbean CBI funded through pre-existing offshore assets — St. Kitts is most popular for its banking acceptance; (2) Malta CBI for the highest tier of UHNW capital — €600K + diligence + relocation; (3) Portugal Golden Visa for the EU-citizenship-with-family pathway. Singapore GIP plays a supporting role for Chinese with Asia operations. Hong Kong as a staging jurisdiction has lost some lustre post-2020; Singapore family offices are the dominant pre-CBI venue for capital structuring. The practice handles roughly 100 Chinese files per year — predominantly Caribbean and Maltese, with a long tail across the EU Golden Visa estate.




