Country guide
Buying property in Hong Kong as a foreigner
Rules last checked 30 October 2026 · 13 official sources · Education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice.
Hong Kong's government has stated that it has never restricted who may buy residential property, and since 28 February 2024 buyers who are not permanent residents pay no extra stamp duty.
What are you doing with Hong Kong?
Returns after tax, what is withheld, and the way out.
Hong Kong charges Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on residential purchases from HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000, rising in bands to 4.25 percent and 6.5 percent at the top, for instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026. Details
Hong Kong charges rates on a domestic property's rateable value: 5 percent up to HK$550,000, 8 percent on the next HK$250,000 and 12 percent above that, plus Government rent. Details
Questions people in this position often miss
- Will I be taxed twice?Depends on your country
The country of the property and the country where the owner lives can each tax the same rent or gain.
- Can I borrow locally?Answered below
yes The Hong Kong Monetary Authority set a maximum loan to value ratio of 70 percent for all residential properties on 16 October 2024 and a debt servicing ratio limit of 50 percent.
- Can I move the money out of my own country?Depends on your country
Some countries cap or review money sent abroad to buy a home, and banks ask where the money came from.
- What do I report at home?Depends on your country
Foreign property, foreign accounts and foreign rent can each carry a form in the owner's own country.
- What is changing soon?Not confirmed yet
Bans, tax schedules and visa routes carry end dates, and a purchase often takes months to complete.
Whether a purchase gives a right to live there, and what living there costs in tax.
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme requires HKD 30,000,000 of investment, and residential property counts only up to HKD 10,000,000 if it is a single property priced at HKD 30,000,000 or more. Details
Hong Kong's government has stated that it has never restricted who may buy residential property, and since 28 February 2024 buyers who are not permanent residents pay no extra stamp duty. Details
Hong Kong charges Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on residential purchases from HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000, rising in bands to 4.25 percent and 6.5 percent at the top, for instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026. Details
Hong Kong charges rates on a domestic property's rateable value: 5 percent up to HK$550,000, 8 percent on the next HK$250,000 and 12 percent above that, plus Government rent. Details
Questions people in this position often miss
- Does buying give me the right to live there?Answered below
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme requires HKD 30,000,000 of investment, and residential property counts only up to HKD 10,000,000 if it is a single property priced at HKD 30,000,000 or more. Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are excluded.
- What happens if I die, or the family inherits?Answered below
Estate Duty was abolished for deaths on or after 11 February 2006 by the Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005.
- Can I move the money out of my own country?Depends on your country
Some countries cap or review money sent abroad to buy a home, and banks ask where the money came from.
- Will I be taxed twice?Depends on your country
The country of the property and the country where the owner lives can each tax the same rent or gain.
- What is changing soon?Not confirmed yet
Bans, tax schedules and visa routes carry end dates, and a purchase often takes months to complete.
Part year stays, the yearly bill, and what the family inherits.
Hong Kong's government has stated that it has never restricted who may buy residential property, and since 28 February 2024 buyers who are not permanent residents pay no extra stamp duty. Details
Hong Kong charges rates on a domestic property's rateable value: 5 percent up to HK$550,000, 8 percent on the next HK$250,000 and 12 percent above that, plus Government rent. Details
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme requires HKD 30,000,000 of investment, and residential property counts only up to HKD 10,000,000 if it is a single property priced at HKD 30,000,000 or more. Details
Hong Kong charges Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on residential purchases from HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000, rising in bands to 4.25 percent and 6.5 percent at the top, for instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026. Details
Questions people in this position often miss
- Does buying give me the right to live there?Answered below
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme requires HKD 30,000,000 of investment, and residential property counts only up to HKD 10,000,000 if it is a single property priced at HKD 30,000,000 or more. Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are excluded.
- What happens if I die, or the family inherits?Answered below
Estate Duty was abolished for deaths on or after 11 February 2006 by the Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005.
- What is owed every year, even if the home sits empty?Answered below
Hong Kong charges rates on a domestic property's rateable value: 5 percent up to HK$550,000, 8 percent on the next HK$250,000 and 12 percent above that, plus Government rent.
- Will I be taxed twice?Depends on your country
The country of the property and the country where the owner lives can each tax the same rent or gain.
- Can I move the money out of my own country?Depends on your country
Some countries cap or review money sent abroad to buy a home, and banks ask where the money came from.
What is owed each year, on rent and on a sale, and what the heirs face.
Hong Kong charges rates on a domestic property's rateable value: 5 percent up to HK$550,000, 8 percent on the next HK$250,000 and 12 percent above that, plus Government rent. Details
Hong Kong charges Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on residential purchases from HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000, rising in bands to 4.25 percent and 6.5 percent at the top, for instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026. Details
Questions people in this position often miss
- What do I report at home?Depends on your country
Foreign property, foreign accounts and foreign rent can each carry a form in the owner's own country.
- Will I be taxed twice?Depends on your country
The country of the property and the country where the owner lives can each tax the same rent or gain.
- What happens if I die, or the family inherits?Answered below
Estate Duty was abolished for deaths on or after 11 February 2006 by the Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005.
- What happens when I sell?Answered below
Hong Kong's Inland Revenue Department states that Profits Tax excludes profits from the sale of capital assets, while a speculative property dealing can be charged depending on the facts. Special Stamp Duty on resale no longer applies to residential instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024.
- What is changing soon?Not confirmed yet
Bans, tax schedules and visa routes carry end dates, and a purchase often takes months to complete.
Who may buy
Choose a nationality to see the rules that apply to it.
Every rule, for every buyer
| Buyer | Property | Reading | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyone else | residential | Open |
|
What it costs to buy
Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on a residential property purchase (Part 1 of Scale 1 and Scale 2)
- Rate
The Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on a residential property instrument executed on or after 26 February 2026 is HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000; HKD 100 plus 20 percent of the excess over HKD 4,000,000 up to HKD 4,323,780; 1.5 percent up to HKD 4,500,000; HKD 67,500 plus 10 percent of the excess over HKD 4,500,000 up to HKD 4,935,480; 2.25 percent up to HKD 6,000,000; HKD 135,000 plus 10 percent of the excess over HKD 6,000,000 up to HKD 6,642,860; 3 percent up to HKD 9,000,000; HKD 270,000 plus 10 percent of the excess over HKD 9,000,000 up to HKD 10,080,000; 3.75 percent up to HKD 20,000,000; HKD 750,000 plus 10 percent of the excess over HKD 20,000,000 up to HKD 21,739,120; 4.25 percent up to HKD 100,000,000; HKD 4,250,000 plus 30 percent of the excess over HKD 100,000,000 up to HKD 109,574,470; and 6.5 percent above that. The rate applies to the higher of the consideration and the value.
- Extra for a foreign buyer
None. Buyer's Stamp Duty, which applied to buyers who were not Hong Kong permanent residents, no longer applies to instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024.
Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on a non residential property purchase (Scale 3)
- Rate
For instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026 the rate is HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000, then the same bands as for residential property up to HKD 21,739,120, and 4.25 percent above that.
Special Stamp Duty (resale within a set period) and Buyer's Stamp Duty
- Rate
Not payable on residential property instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024.
Land Registry fee on registering a transfer
- Rate
- HK$305 where the value does not exceed HK$750,000 and HK$605 above that.
- Registering an agreement for sale and purchase costs HK$375.
- In force from 1 July 2026.
What if the price is…?
- Ad Valorem Stamp Duty on a residential property (a banded scale)HKD 100
Duties and fees under the rules shownHKD 100
- Rates for instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026, on the higher of the consideration and the value. Buyer's Stamp Duty no longer applies since 28 February 2024.
Only duties stated for a foreign buyer of a home are counted: flat rates, flat fees and the standard banded scale shown. Reliefs, exemptions and the buyer's own circumstances can change the result. A planning figure, not a quote: legal fees, agent fees and local taxes are extra.
What an owner pays each year
Rates and Government rent on a domestic property
- Rate
- Rates are charged on the rateable value.
- For a domestic property with a rateable value of HK$550,000 or below the rate is 5 percent.
- Above that, the first HK$550,000 is charged at 5 percent, the next HK$250,000 at 8 percent and the remainder at 12 percent.
- Non domestic property is charged at 5 percent.
- Government rent is charged at 3% of the rateable value.
What if I own it and let it out?
Yearly taxes on owning
- Rates on a domestic propertyHKD 25,000Charged on the rateable value of the property, which is the government's estimate of its yearly rental value, not its price. Domestic rates from January to March 2025: 5% on the first HK$550,000, 8% on the next HK$250,000 and 12% on the rest. Property that is not domestic is charged a flat 5%. Concessions are not included.
- Government rentHKD 15,000Charged on the rateable value of the property, which is the government's estimate of its yearly rental value, not its price. Government rent is charged at 3% of the rateable value.
Total under the rules shown (a year)HKD 40,000
Tax on the rent
Enter a yearly rent to see the tax on it.
A planning figure under the rules shown, not advice. Rates set by councils, reliefs, treaties and the owner's own circumstances can change it, and income tax on rent is usually settled on a return.
Rent from the property
Tax on rent
- Owner living elsewhere
Property Tax is charged on owners of Hong Kong property on the income derived from it, at 15 percent of the net assessable value for the years 2020/21 to 2026/27. The guidance does not show a higher rate for an owner living elsewhere.
Key numbers (2)
| Property Tax standard rate on net assessable rental value | 15% |
|---|---|
| Statutory allowance for repairs and outgoings deducted before Property Tax | 20% |
Selling
Tax on a sale
- Owner living elsewhere
- The Inland Revenue Department states that Profits Tax is charged on profits of a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong and excludes profits from the sale of capital assets.
- A gain from property dealt in as a speculative activity in the nature of a trade can be charged to Profits Tax depending on the facts.
- The Profits Tax rate could not be confirmed here.
- Exemptions
A gain on a property held as a capital asset is outside Profits Tax according to the Inland Revenue Department's statement above. Special Stamp Duty on resale no longer applies to residential property instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024.
Inheritance and gifts
Inheritance and gift tax
- Summary
Estate Duty was abolished for deaths on or after 11 February 2006 by the Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005. No gift tax was found in the pages read, and its absence is not stated as verified.
From your country
The country of the property is only half of it. The country where you live can limit the money you send, tax the same rent and gain again, and ask for forms of its own.
Choose where you live to see what your own country does when you buy in Hong Kong.
Residence through property
New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
- Threshold
- An applicant invests at least HKD 30,000,000 net in permissible investment assets.
- Real estate counts only up to HKD 15,000,000 in total, of which residential real estate counts up to HKD 10,000,000, and residential property must be a single property with a transaction price of HKD 30,000,000 or above where the purchase completed on or after 17 September 2025.
- HKD 3,000,000 must also be placed in the CIES Investment Portfolio.
- Nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are excluded.
- Status
open
Key numbers (3)
| New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme minimum investment | HKD 30,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Residential real estate counted towards the Scheme minimum (cap)from 17 September 2025 | HKD 10,000,000 |
| Minimum price of the single residential property that counts towards the Schemefrom 17 September 2025 | HKD 30,000,000 |
Borrowing, banking and other assets
Borrowing
- Can a foreign buyer borrow locally
yes
- Typical loan to value for a non resident
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority set a maximum loan to value ratio of 70 percent for all residential properties on 16 October 2024 and a debt servicing ratio limit of 50 percent. In July 2025 the Government stated that the Authority does not impose any restriction on the mortgage to income ratio or the loan to value ratio for investors outside Hong Kong, and that each bank decides on loan applications itself.
Questions people ask
Does Hong Kong charge extra stamp duty to a buyer who is not a permanent resident?
Not on residential instruments executed on or after 28 February 2024. Buyer's Stamp Duty and Special Stamp Duty were cancelled on that date.
How is stamp duty on a Hong Kong home calculated?
Ad Valorem Stamp Duty is charged on the higher of the consideration and the value, in bands from HKD 100 up to HKD 4,000,000 to 6.5 percent above HKD 109,574,470, for instruments executed on or after 26 February 2026.
How is rental income taxed for an owner of a Hong Kong property?
Property Tax is charged at 15 percent on the net assessable value, which is rent less rates paid by the owner and a 20 percent allowance for repairs and outgoings.
Is there an inheritance tax in Hong Kong?
Estate Duty was abolished for deaths on or after 11 February 2006.
Can a property purchase lead to residence in Hong Kong?
Under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme a single residential property priced at HKD 30,000,000 or more can count towards the HKD 30,000,000 investment, up to HKD 10,000,000, together with other permissible assets.
What is still open
These points could not be confirmed from an official source yet, so they are not stated as rules.
- The 2011 Legislative Council reply is the most recent official statement found that Hong Kong has never restricted who may buy residential property, and no current official page restating it was found, so rules for non residential property were not stated.
- Rates and Government rent for residential property, including the 2025 progressive rating bands, could not be confirmed from an official page.
- The Profits Tax rate, whether Property Tax applies differently to an owner living outside Hong Kong, and the lack of a gift tax could not be confirmed from an official page.
- Bank account opening terms for non residents, exchange controls, the anti money laundering duties on a buyer, and the Common Reporting Standard treatment could not be confirmed from an official page.
- Legal fees, the Land Registry registration fee, agent commission and the process for buying an uncompleted home (including the stamp duty on the preliminary agreement) could not be confirmed from an official page.
- The Hong Kong Monetary Authority loan to value limit was read from its October 2024 press release, and a later change could not be ruled out from the pages read.
- The list of excluded nationalities under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme is reviewed from time to time by the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department.
Sources
Official pages these figures come from (13)
See what this does to your own numbers
Add a property in Hong Kong next to everything else you own, and see the income and net worth that follow after tax, year by year.
Free to start. No card. Rules checked 30 October 2026.
This is education, not financial, tax, legal or immigration advice. Rules change and depend on the buyer's own facts. Advice from a licensed professional in the country concerned is what settles a particular purchase.